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31 May ~2009
I headed up this weekend to climb to a 12000 foot alpine ridge that is already snow-free. It is in a rocky southwest-facing basin, which doesnt hold snow for long when the weather starts to warm.Getting up to the snowfree ridge was difficult to say the least. I went off trail up a very steep slope for a mile, then worked my way through a snowy canyon and up the other side. It took 6 hours to travel the mile and a half to timberline, while gaining 1500 feet. A third of that was with snowshoes.
It was worth it. After a long night's sleep (in the tent at at 8pm), I got up at the 5:30 sunrise, and crossed the rocky basin to some elk trails that climbed to my ridge. The elk chose a perfect route - up to the northwest a few hundred yards, and then a sharp curve to a subridge of the main spine.
The only tough part was about 2/3's of the way, when the soil was so loose that the trail disappeared. I worked my way along the lower edge of some rocks, and held on to them for some stability in the loose soil. One gave way and tumbled down the very steep slope, giving me a hell of a fright. Fortunately all three border collies were above.
I was apprehensive about crossing back down after that. I handled it by mentally calming myself, suppressing any fear, no matter how justified. I made it without incident.
Morning snow has a good crust for traveling. By 11am it starts to soften, which unfortunately was the time I was hiking down. Crossing up the south side of that snowy canyon was gruelling. I had to make a step, packing down the snow with my snowshoe so it would support my weight (and my 50 pound pack). I then made another step with my other foot, and that way made it up the slope , although it took a good hour to go a few hundred yards.
It was a long day coming out, and I was thinking that the chances of an injury in such conditions are probably fairly high. (snow and steep mountainsides)
It is my personality, at least for the past 10 years or so, to welcome loneliness and hardship. They simple you down, so that you can awake at dawn on a hidden mountainside with nothing pulling you away (down), and take in the beauty of a wilderness morning with an open heart.
I was stiff getting out of the truck after the drive down the mountain. (meaning I could barely walk). When I let Ben and Mollie out of their crate, Ben hesitated before jumping off the tailgate. I picked him up and set him down on the driveway. Both of us are probably pushing our limits up there.
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