ram
Member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2013
- Messages
- 116
Harvey and Jean joined Jenny and I for a 5 day trip up into the Colonial Group, near Diablo, Washington. Harvey is a famed canyoneer and backpacker and regular partner of Steve Allen's. Jean, while an athlete, was new to this type of mountaineering. Jenny and I agreed to facilitate. It is under appreciated how much experience matters. In stiff boots, on talus, loose rock, steep snow, no step is easy. Those who do it a lot, know when and how to "stick" were we step. This can be a mystery to those less seasoned. Then the effects can cascade, as the inexperienced person uses way more energy, takes much more time to cover the same ground, minus the muscle memory others may have developed by doing this dance in the past. In this way, the newby becomes exhausted.....OR...if you're Jean, you just bare down more and use your toughness to carry on. Then you use your conditioning to recover.
Thus it something of a reach, to ask someone to ascend from 1,150 feet to 6,500 feet above sea level with only two miles of it trailed, carrying a 5 day pack. Oh and she lives near sea level. I reasoned that once up there, we would keep the same camp for the duration. The non-trailed sections were steep, hand over hand scrambling with foot paths of use, with many a tree grabbed, leading to steep snow, into our camp. At 58 1/2 years old, I was the junior member by over 3 years. I hoped that I had not overreached. I was asking a lot of others.
The day was hot, the bugs mild. The sweet poured off of us. Slow and go at a sensible pace. Taking extra food breaks and soon the goal is neared. Hoping the snow recently in the shade, stays soft. It does and we arrive in our camp 9.5 hours after starting. Harvey eyes me with disapproval for asking so much from his significant other. Jean is tired, but recovers overnight. The mission is accomplished. We reside in alpine heaven. Harvey forgives me.
The next day, we lounge and leave camp late, with the mountains on the docket, that are close at hand. The process of introducing the new and necessary skills for "moving" in this country continues. Jean is a fast study and Jenny a fine teacher and Harvey a doting friend. Balance on snow, self arrest, the dangers and nuance of the transitions from snow to rock to snow.......a classroom on the fly. We arrive on the summit to great satisfaction and sense of accomplishment. The views our reward. I take my gaiter off and a swollen and discolored leg greets me. WHAT? Doesn't hurt. Not hot to the touch....WHAT?....I am on blood thinners, having had blood clots in February (another story). Cause for concern. Wouldn't you know it! The only place we have cell service is on this peak. And I remember my doctors phone number? What a hypochondriac!! Or maybe you will think differently after seeing the pictures. They recommended heading down to seek medical care. We decided the 2nd mountain was out and I figure out how to move with a looser boot and this works over the coming days. Damned if I am going down that hill!
Back to camp for dinner and another sunset in the high alpine. Jean has grown a whole new set of skills. The forecast for 2 nights out is bad. If my leg cooperates, it might be time for the centerpiece of the neighborhood. But I am getting ahead of myself. First the hike in and Pyramid Peak in pictures.
A tough approach
Up the big hill
A wonderful transition into night
Our home for 5 days
A mountain to climb
summit
The view
Not good
Docta...diagnose me from 1500 miles away sight unseen
Jean, learning the ropes
Down, down, down
Jenny as anchor
Alpenglow from camp
Slideshow
[picasa]https://picasaweb.google.com/108034287150978265447/PyramidPeak#[/picasa]
Featured image for home page:
Thus it something of a reach, to ask someone to ascend from 1,150 feet to 6,500 feet above sea level with only two miles of it trailed, carrying a 5 day pack. Oh and she lives near sea level. I reasoned that once up there, we would keep the same camp for the duration. The non-trailed sections were steep, hand over hand scrambling with foot paths of use, with many a tree grabbed, leading to steep snow, into our camp. At 58 1/2 years old, I was the junior member by over 3 years. I hoped that I had not overreached. I was asking a lot of others.
The day was hot, the bugs mild. The sweet poured off of us. Slow and go at a sensible pace. Taking extra food breaks and soon the goal is neared. Hoping the snow recently in the shade, stays soft. It does and we arrive in our camp 9.5 hours after starting. Harvey eyes me with disapproval for asking so much from his significant other. Jean is tired, but recovers overnight. The mission is accomplished. We reside in alpine heaven. Harvey forgives me.
The next day, we lounge and leave camp late, with the mountains on the docket, that are close at hand. The process of introducing the new and necessary skills for "moving" in this country continues. Jean is a fast study and Jenny a fine teacher and Harvey a doting friend. Balance on snow, self arrest, the dangers and nuance of the transitions from snow to rock to snow.......a classroom on the fly. We arrive on the summit to great satisfaction and sense of accomplishment. The views our reward. I take my gaiter off and a swollen and discolored leg greets me. WHAT? Doesn't hurt. Not hot to the touch....WHAT?....I am on blood thinners, having had blood clots in February (another story). Cause for concern. Wouldn't you know it! The only place we have cell service is on this peak. And I remember my doctors phone number? What a hypochondriac!! Or maybe you will think differently after seeing the pictures. They recommended heading down to seek medical care. We decided the 2nd mountain was out and I figure out how to move with a looser boot and this works over the coming days. Damned if I am going down that hill!
Back to camp for dinner and another sunset in the high alpine. Jean has grown a whole new set of skills. The forecast for 2 nights out is bad. If my leg cooperates, it might be time for the centerpiece of the neighborhood. But I am getting ahead of myself. First the hike in and Pyramid Peak in pictures.
A tough approach
Up the big hill
A wonderful transition into night
Our home for 5 days
A mountain to climb
summit
The view
Not good
Docta...diagnose me from 1500 miles away sight unseen
Jean, learning the ropes
Down, down, down
Jenny as anchor
Alpenglow from camp
Slideshow
[picasa]https://picasaweb.google.com/108034287150978265447/PyramidPeak#[/picasa]
Featured image for home page:
