As the end of the year approaches, time for a retrospective. What peaks did you climb this year? (ok, Moosie...we know your list will take a whole page!!) What did you learn? What are your plans for 2009?
I'll kick things off...
Nathan and I hiked up Humphreys Peak in Arizona back in September. That brought his state highpoint total to 40 and mine to 42.
Plans for 2009 are still developing but I'd like to do Hood and Rainier next summer.
Lets see... June I climbed an unnamed mountain near Pechanga, we called it Mt Pechanga since you could see the casino. July was Mt Whitney's MR Route August was San Jacinto Sept. was San Goronio Oct. was Mt Baldy Nov. was Santiago Peak Dec. This Past weekend was Strawberry Peak via the rock face climb/use trail January I think we are going to snow shoe or hike depended on snow conditions up Devil's Slide Trail to the fire look out on Tahquitz Peak
Our goal is 1 peak a month until we return to Whitney in July 09 but it's going to get harder with winter weather finally seeming to start up.
Attempted Williamson and Tyndall in June. Missed Williamson due to lazyness and just hung out in the bowl.I had already climbed it in 1991 and could not get the drive. Now Moosie will know what happened as we ran into her that morning when she was on her way to Tyndall. Missed Tyndall the next day because of what turned into a bout of Noro Virus which probably explains the missing drive the day before. Worst hike out of the Sierras I have ever had. Made up for this trip when we climbed Gannett Pk, the high point of Wyoming in August. HP #14 for me!
Gilbert via Treasure Col Muir, and Whitney via Main Trail (great day!) Sill via North Couloir, and Gayley East Vidette, and Gould Split from Red Lake Cloud's Rest Red and White
Biggest miss -- At the base of the summit block on Thunderbolt when the lightning started.
Other misses-- Cartago, weather Emerson, lack of interest
I took my daughter to Yosemite this past summer. She is a typical “My Space” “I pod” 17 year old who was happy to visit Yosemite and said, “ but, we are not going on any long hikes”. She isn't interested in hiking or mountains
On our way in we visited Glacier Point and she took one look at Half Dome and said “I want to climb that”. I was excited that she was willing and after checking in to our room in the valley we went to the trail head to check it out for the next morning. We both couldn’t sleep and around 4am I asked her if she wanted to get up and start.
We were on the trail at 5:30 and made it to the first waterfall in the cool morning twilight.
I figured the rock stairs up past Vernal and Nevada falls would be hard on her and we may have to turn around, but she was cheerful and tireless as only a teenager can be and we continued up.
We continued up past Little Yosemite Valley and then up towards the approach to Half Dome, surrounded by vistas, beneath a classic cloudless Sierra blue sky.
I had only read about Half Dome and when I first saw the steps from a distance my thoughts were how are we going to get up that rock to get to the cables, but after moving closer we could see the tiny figures switch backing their way up the rock.
At the base of the cables she turned to me and said she was having a bout of nerves and “I don’t think I can do this” but with a little encouragement from me and an assurance that she only needed to go the first few feet ,she started up.
Soon she was jumping from board to board laughing and encouraging the others.
I didn’t tell her that I was probably more scared than her, I guess its part of being a parent, I am always afraid of thrill rides when my kids are with me. And climbing the cables is more like an amusement park ride than a mountain.
We had someone before us who clipped in with a harness and consequently was slow going past each pole. This was a blessing as we had plenty of time to rest on the steep slope.
We made the top and were totally thrilled to have pulled off such an accomplishment on the spur of the moment.
An old friend of mine use to say “spontaneity is the key to intensity”.
On the way back she was tired and sunburned and sore with blisters on her feet, but happy.
As for me I am just happy to be able to do these hikes and blessed with my health and family. I probably did another dozen peaks this year and a few failed attempts, but Half Dome with Lauren is the one I will remember.
Frank A "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together"
We also did alot of trails to different places but I'll keep the list to Peaks only.
I think we have done over 50 hikes this year. Obviously most in the Angeles Forest close to home. The scenario goes like this: Drop the kids off at school in Palmdale at about 0715, run to the forest, hike 4-10 miles run back and pick the kids up by 1330 hours. Vacationed in Lassen Volcanic National Park wife and kids and I did several hikes along with Peaks listed. Kids are 7 and 10.
Mount Waterman- Jan and Sept. Mount Williamson(Angeles Forest)- May Mount Hillyer- April, May, September Mount Islip- June Mount San Antonio (Baldy)- August Telescope Peak- July White Mountian Peak- August Mount Whitney- August Mount Baden-Powell- May, June, September, November Mount Lassen Peak (Lassen Vocanic NP)- July Brokeoff Mountain (Lassen Volcanic NP)- July Mount Mooney and Devils Peak (Angeles Forest) September Josephine Peak- Feb. Mount Lawlor- March Mount Emma and Old Mount Emma-March Mount Gleason-January Liebre Mountain- January Winston Peak- October Mount Akawie (Buckhorn)- October
A few others that I haven't logged yet.
Not the big mountains but it keeps us busy and outside.
I don't keep a log so this won't be a precise list like the rest of yours. I hike pretty much every week, mostly in S. Calif. >>Mt. Baldy via the Ski Hut Trail at least 12 times, including 3 times in Sept. alone and the group hike with Kurt in October; three time via Bear Flats including once doing the great circle route up from the Village and out the 3Ts.; once up "Register Ridge." >>San Gorgonio once from S. Fork and once via Vivian Creek. Two other starts without reaching the summit. >>An incomplete Mt. Whitney MT in August. >>10 days hiking in the Maritime Alps of France and Italy, beautiful trails but no peak bagged. >>But the very best of all was going up Mt. Bierstadt in Colorado (14,060) with my 17 year-old granddaughter - her first summit ever.
Mt Baldy 8 times, 2 Devils Backbone and 6 Ski Hut Trail San Gorgonio once by Vivian Creek, once by Fish Creek “Three Ts”… Timber, Telegraph and Thunder (up Icehouse to Mt Baldy) Cucamonga Peak Grand Canyon (down South Kaibab and up Bright Angel 90% of Kilimanjaro, got to 17,700’ and pneumonia kept me off the top.
Skydiveken Congratulations Bro! Isn't being a Dad awesome. Here's my list but the best summit was Whitney Anne Scofield born 3-1-08!!! My list is really small. :-(
March: Baldy 2X April Jepson Peak May Whitney and Baldy August Baldy September San Gorgonio November San Gorgonio and Jespon
Hopefully will do more next year but what's most important, especially for our Nation is to get off that couch and just get out!!! Merry Christmas everyone...
