Climbing | Hrakaroo

Summiting Mt. Hood 2022

Sun, 08 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Background

In March 2022 I was accepted into the Mazamas BCEP program which taught basic rock and snow climbing skills. This was a fantastic experience and I highly recommend the program if you are in the Northwest and are at all interested in hiking and climbing. Once the program completed I signed up to join the Mt. Hood Climb scheduled for May 8, 2022 (mothers day), which was eventually pushed back to the following Wednesday (May 11th) due to weather conditions. There were a total of nine people (including the climb leaders) in the climbing group.

The day before

The day before the climb I drove up to Timberline Lodge and parked in the lower parking lot that allows climbers to camp/park overnight. In the weeks before the climb I had built a flat “bed” in the back of my Honda Pilot so I could put a sleeping pad down and stretch out.

It’s a really good idea to get to the parking lot the night before and start to acclimate to the altitude. Timberline lodge is at around 6,000 ft of elevation and the top of Mt. Hood is 11,249 so the more time you have to acclimate the better.

Six of the nine people from our group opted to show up the night before with three people driving up the morning of the climb. Initially we were planning to start our climb at 1am the next morning, but due to temperatures being lower than expected we were able to push our start time back to 2pm.

As the temperature heats up it can cause the ice and snow to soften creating dangerous climbing conditions as rocks and ice are more likely to break away and fall on you. Additionally, warmer temperatures weaken the structure of snow bridges over crevasses which increases risk. Ideally you want to climb when everything is frozen solid and stable.

So after rechecking my pack several times I finally went to sleep around 8pm.

The day of

Getting Ready

For a start time of 2am I should ideally have woken up at 1am to begin getting ready, but due to nerves I awoke up closer to 12am and was unable to fall back asleep. So at 12:30am I gave up trying and started getting ready for the climb. The day before I had prepared oatmeal in a thermos with hot water which made for nice warm breakfast. After breakfast I started to get my gear on and mentally prepare for the climb.

In addition to everything in my pack, I was also carrying one of the climbing ropes we were bringing in case we needed it going over the bergschrund. This added around 15 lbs to my pack and was a bit awkward to carry as you have to sling it over your pack. (I was also carring the fuel for the teams stove in my pack as we were required to bring it, but this only added a nominal amount of weight.)

Starting the climb

Just before 2am we started off. The night was amazingly clear but exceedingly cold. As we were hiking up we could see the headlights from other climbers further up the mountain who had left earlier.

The first part of the climb takes you to the top of the Palmer Lift and the route you take is along the “road” the snowcats create when coming back after grooming the ski slope. So the snow is pretty compacted and you can climb it easily in just your mountaineering boots and without crampons. (Crampons are great, but they are heavy, increase the likelihood of tripping, and generally slow you down.)

Silcox Hut

At approximately 3am we reached Silcox Hut and two things had already happened. First, two people decided to drop out of the climb as they were not feeling well. (It should be noted that both of these people were from the group that decided to drive up the morning of the climb so they did not have the extra six plus hours to acclimate to the altitude.)

Secondly, my water was starting to freeze. I had made the mistake of using a bladder for my water with an attached hose for drinking. This was the same setup I had used on multiple hikes and ski trips so I thought that as long as, after taking a drink, I blew air into my hose I could keep it mostly thawed. The problem was that the nozzle had collected water and was mostly frozen solid. After a lot of work I managed to get it somewhat unclogged and had, what would turn out to be, my last sip of water until after I was off the summit. In retrospect this was a huge and possibly dangerous mistake on my part and I should have carried backup water in my pack.

Somewhere between Silcox Hut and the top of the Palmer lift we started to get whiffs of the fumaroles on Mt. Hood which smells strong of sulfur.

Top of Palmer

At 4:40am we reached the top of the Palmer lift. The sun was starting to come up a bit but it was still really cold.

For the climb up to the Hogsback (and summit beyond) we would be in deep snow and no longer on a groomed trail so we needed our crampons, helmets and ice axes.

I was also able to switch off carrying the climbing rope to another climber so for the rest of the time my pack was 15 lbs lighter which made a considerable difference.

We had brought snowshoes for the climb, but after looking at the steps already dug for us by the previous climbers, we decided to stash our snowshoes near Palmer and go on without them.

You can see the shadow of the mountain on the landscape below.

Hogsback

Once we reached the Hogsback we were able to see the different routes to the summit. The Pearly Gates looked safe enough and the bergschrund was sufficiently covered that we felt comfortable climbing to the summit without ropes. This allowed us to stash our ropes and harnesses which removed a considerable amount of weight from our packs.

Fumaroles

At the Hogsback you can also see the fumaroles to either side of the path to the Pearly Gates. It’s important to watch your step near them because while they are warm, it’s really the lack of oxygen that will kill you before the heat will. That said, they are rather stunning in the snow.

Pearly Gates

We were forced to wait a bit at Hogsback as there were a lot of people trying to get through the Pearly Gates and the section right before the Gates themselves is the bergschrund, which you want to pass over as quickly as possible.

Going through the Pearly Gates was one of the more surreal experiences of the entire climb. First, the angle is rather steep so a lot of the climb is on your hands and feet. The climbers before us had already cut steps into the snow so it isn’t particularly hard, but it is slow going and some areas are only wide enough for two people (one going up and one going down) so you are forced to go as slow as the person ahead of you is going. Secondly, the natural ice sculptures that have been created from the snow and wind are stunningly beautiful.

Of course, the entire time I was climbing up through the Pearly Gates I had it in the back of my mind that I would shortly be having to climb down this as well.

The Summit

Once you pass through the Pearly Gates the top of the mountain actually levels off a bit and the summit is mostly flat with only about a 10-15% incline.

The view from the top is nothing short of breathtaking. The sun was out and we could see for miles. It was, however, very cold and we still had to down climb through the Pearly Gates.

The climb down

While climbing up through the Pearly Gates you can plan out where you are going to step, but the way back down requires a lot more trust. This is where having spikes on the front of your crampons and mountaineering boots really pays off. For most steps I would kick my foot into the snow a couple of times until I had created a slight indentation and then use the spikes to hold the majority of my weight. My mountaineering boots had a full shank so as long as my toes were secure I could stand up securely with the majority of my foot suspended by just my toes.

Initially this was hard for me to relax into, but after a while I really started to trust my equipment and the climb down became a lot easier.

Plunge stepping down to Palmer

Once we were back at the Hogsback my water tube finally thawed enough that I was able to get a drink. After that we collected the ropes and harnesses we had stashed and headed down to Palmer.

We started out on the trail we had taken getting to the Hogsback, but quickly drifted off and were mostly plunge stepping down to Palmer. Some of the folks in our group tried glissading down, but the snow was pretty deep which made for slow going.

Glissading

At Palmer we collected the snow shoes we had stashed and got back onto the groomed snowcat trail. We also quickly discovered that while glissading in the deep snow was difficult, glissading on the groomed snowcat trail was really easy. I had brought with me some medium gauge plastic that worked okay as a sled as I was able to glissade for probably 75% of the way from Palmer back to Timberline.

Back at the car

Finally back at the car we packed up our gear and drove into Welches to have lunch. After lunch I went into the parking lot, got into my sleeping bag and took a four hour nap before finally driving home.

Gear

What follows is a full listing of all the gear (to the best of my memory) that I had with me on the hike. With the exception of my water situation and some slight changes for my feet and hands, the rest of my gear really held up well and I don’t think I would change much, if anything, for the next time.

Feet

Hiking socks
Scapra Charmoz HD mountaineering boots
Hikenture leg gaiters
Grivel crampons
Snowshoes

I also have some Sealskinz socks which I’ll likely be wearing next time and I’m experimenting around with a couple different brands of heated socks. The Sealskinz, in addition to being waterproof which is a nice just-in-case feature, really trap in the heat, so these with the heated socks should be pretty nice.

The snowshoes I borrowed from a friend, but since this trip I have purchased my own pair from REI using their 20% off coupon. Not long after I purchased mine I noticed that Costco was also selling snowshoes as a seasonal item at the start of winter so that might have been another option, but I don’t know how heavy they are.

Pants

Zero Degree base layer leggings
Kuhl Snow/Hiking Pants

The Kuhl are fantastic. They are rugged enough for hiking in, insulated and priced reasonably.

Torso

Zero Degree long sleeve base layer
Quick dry t-shirt
Mountain Hardware Gore-Tex Infinium thin hooded coat
32 Degree Heat down jacket
Columbia hooded rain coat

The down jacket was a cheap one I bought off of Amazon for like $40 for camping and the Mountain Hardware and Columbia jackets I purchased at the Columbia employee store for a discount.

Head

Balaclava
Thin beanie hat
Mountaineering Helmet
Headlamp
Glacier glasses

Before leaving I loosened my helmet so that I was sure I could wear it easily over the balaclava and beanie. The balaclava was actually something I received for free from a local go kart race track. It was cold enough that the condensation that collected on my balaclava from breathing through it froze as well.

The beanie hat is an Omni-Heat one from Columbia so it has gold dots on the inside which really do a great job of reflecting the heat back.

Hands

Glove liners
Three finger gloves
Garmin Fenix 7

Mittens would have been ideal, but in order to try to keep some dexterity I opted for three finger gloves which have a dedicated finger for your thumb and index finger, and then a mitten like pouch for your remaining three fingers. This caused my index finger to get really cold so next time I’m either going to invest in heated gloves, or get some mittens. If I do get mittens I’ll probably use some of the chemical heating packets which I can stuff down in the outer glove.

The Garmin is useful as it has an altimeter so you can figure out how close you are to different milestones. It also has the ability to record your entire climb and has a full map which you can use in a pinch if you get lost.

Backpack

Ten essential items
Rock climbing harness
2 Nalgene 1L water (next time)
Thick hat (for when I wasn’t wearing my helmet)
Blue bag (just in case)
Extra glove liners
Extra glove shell (five fingers)
Small waffle sitting pad
Cell phone

My backpack is a Mountain Hardware 25L Scrambler I purchased from the Columbia employee store. In addition to being a perfect size it also has loops on the outside for two ice axes and I was able to easily attach my hiking poles and snow shoes.

I’ve listed two 1L Nalgene bottles which, of course, I didn’t have on my trip but really really wished I did. It’s important that you store the bottle upside down in your pack so when it starts to freeze it doesn’t seal the bottle shut. Instead I had my water bladder (which I didn’t list) but which was such a bad idea I’m leaving it off my list.

For the beginning part of the climb I had my crampons in my backpack which worked out well, but wrapping them so they don’t rip your backpack is a bit of a trick. I ended up using a mailing envelope but I might look to see if I can get/make a leather pouch for next time or see if I can somehow attach them to the outside of my backpack.

Misc

Ice axe
Hiking poles
Snacks and energy cubes
Glissading sled

Although I was only carrying one ice axe, I really think two would have been a better idea and wouldn’t have added much weight.

For the glissading sled I had made mine out of some shelf liner plastic from Home Depot but it really didn’t hold up well. While riding down one corner folded in on itself and I kept having to stop to fix things and by the time I was finally down it was mostly ruined. Since this trip I’ve gone to Tap Plastics and purchased a sheet of thicker, but still flexible, plastic and have constructed a better sled.

Closing thoughts

10/10 would do it again

I had a fantastic time overall, the weather was near perfect and the climbing was excellent. The ice sculptures near the summit are unworldly and something that you really need to see in person to believe. It was also amazing standing at the highest point in all of Oregon and being able to see for miles around you.

The cold was no joke

I think overall I underestimated how cold it was going to get. In addition to my water tube freezing and leaving me without water for the majority of the climb, my fingers and toes also suffered. I suspect that I have Raynaud’s disease which causes my body to abandon my fingers and toes pretty quickly when I get cold. Although I was wearing gloves and glove liners, my fingers still became very cold and numb. Plus, putting on my crampons, opening my backpack and even just getting my snack bag opened required me to take off at least my outer glove layer which didn’t help. I also started to lose feeling in my toes around Palmer and continued to lose more feeling in my feet for the rest of the climb.

Normally once I warm up the feeling comes back into my fingers and toes pretty quickly, but not this time. For at least the first week after the climb (and some of the next) I still had loss of feeling in my toes, thumbs and forefingers. This was unnerving and at the time I wasn’t quite sure if I would ever regain feeling. Eventually, slowly, the feeling did come back and now I’m back to normal, but it’s not something I really want to repeat.

For next time I have purchased some battery powered socks and mittens that I’m hoping will keep me warmer. Plus, I’m going to be taking some of those chemical hand warmers with me as well.

Summiting Mount St. Helens in 3+1 Days

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Background

In July 2019 my friend Tobin and I decided to hike the full Loowit loop trail around Mount St. Helens. Both of us are experienced hikers and in reasonable shape and figured we could probably complete about 10-14 miles a day. The total distance around the mountain is about 35 miles, so we figured it should take us approximately 3 days to hike. We also managed to secure two passes to climb to the top of St. Helens for Aug 2nd which extended our trip by one day.

In order to climb to the top of Mount St. Helens you need a permit, which can be difficult to obtain depending on when you want to climb. The summer permits often sell out very quickly so initially we assumed we would not be able to climb to the top. Even so, we signed up on a reseller web site and about a week before we were set to climb we were contacted by someone who had two extra passes as some people in their party backed out at the last moment. Further, the person lived in Seattle and was only a short distance from Tobin, so two days before we were set to leave Tobin drove to their house and bought the two passes from the seller. The guy was really nice and didn’t mark up the cost and just charged us the $20 or so per pass that he had paid.

The trip

Where to start

The first challenge was figuring out where to enter the Loowit trail and which direction to hike (clockwise or counter clockwise). Since there is only one trail up to the summit and our passes were for Aug 2nd we had a hard requirement of being near Monitor Ridge on the night of Aug 1st. Initially we thought we would enter at Sheep Canyon trailhead and hike clockwise on the trail. This would put us around Windy Pass on the first night and close to June Lake on the second night. (In retrospect this was probably not a great plan as Windy Pass isn’t named ironically. It is windy as hell and camping there would have been a trick.) However, the night before we were planning on leaving we realized the trailhead we were going to use had been washed out and we had to scramble to come up with a new plan.

The new plan was to park at the Windy Ridge trailhead and hike counter clockwise around the mountain. Tobin is from Seattle and I’m from Portland so we met at Spiffy’s at I-5 and Highway 12, stashed his car in a gravel parking near the 76 gas station and drove my car to the trailhead.

Spiffy’s is a bit of a dive restaurant off I-5 but there were not a lot of other places around and we knew we wanted to get some take away sandwiches. I showed up first, walked in and started looking at the menu. While I was deciding, an older guy with a “get off my lawn” look to him walked in with a small lap dog in his arms. The hostess informed him that the dog would need to wait outside which caused him to get really upset and he demanded/yelled that it was a “therapy dog.” The hostess wasn’t having any of it and told him that he needed a permit or some sort of license if it was a therapy dog. At that point the guy yelled at the hostess “go fuck yourself you fucking whore” and stormed out. That was also the exact moment at which Tobin walked into the restaurant and only heard the insult as the guy stored out. We looked at each other and both cracked up laughing as it was such a bizarre way to start the trip. To her credit, the hostess handled it really well and the sandwiches were pretty good.

The trail head is at the end of NF-99, super easy to find and there is plenty of parking and a flush toilet bathroom. There are also some interesting informational signs that talk about the eruption and slow recovery of the area. We were a bit eager to get started so we didn’t linger too long. We ate the sandwiches we had picked up at Spiffy, sunscreened up and headed off.

Our packs weighed around 24lbs and since Mount St. Helens is well known for not having much water each of us was also carrying close to three liters.

Day 1 - 12.2 miles

Starting

For the first 1.7 miles the hike is along a winding gravel road. It’s blocked off from cars and well maintained, albeit not terribly interesting. At the end of the gravel road it’s still another 1.2 miles until you actually connect to the Loowit trail.

As we were hiking counter clockwise around the mountain we headed to the right and started on the Loowit trail. At this point the scenery looks sort of like rolling hills with the mountain in the distance. You can clearly see where the “blow out” was from the eruption but the walking is pretty easy.

Loowit Falls

Around a mile into the trail there is a turn out to go see Loowit Falls. It’s about 0.6 miles off the tail but well worth checking out. Although you can see the falls, you can’t actually get near it and even getting down to the water is a challenge.

We did meet up with a forest ranger just before we got to the turn off for the falls and chatted with him a bit. We asked the ranger if the waterfall was worth the extra hike (as we had a long ways that day). His answer was something like “yeah, it’s pretty good” which we didn’t find very convincing. I think we even said, in a joking way, “you are not exactly selling it here” to which he then responded very excitedly “it’s a 200 ft waterfall made of glacier melt coming out an active Volcano!” He was awesome and convinced us to go and waterfall was amazing.

Once we were back on the main trail it was another 0.8 miles until Willow Springs. Near Willow Springs there was actually water running across the path and if we had needed water this would have been a great place to fill up. It was also the last time we would find water until we stopped for camp that night.

Restricted Zone

After Willow Springs the scenery gets significantly more barren and rocky and the mountain looks blown out.

This is also the recovery area so no camping is allowed and really, it would have been hard to find a good spot to camp if we had wanted. This goes on for 5.4 miles, but the trail is pretty easy to see and mostly flat. In a couple of places we did drift slightly off the trail but thankfully others have erected rock piles that make getting back on the trail pretty easy.

Castle Ridge

As you get close to Castle Ridge the scenery starts to change significantly. The trail gets close to the ridge itself in sections and it’s a steep drop down. Tobin also recognized Huckleberries so we stopped at several big patches before continuing on.

From Castle Ridge it’s 1.4 miles down to the Toutle River. The start of this section is a switch back on a sandy incline that could be challenging to walk at time. At times it could take a fair bit of concentration but it wasn’t impossible. (I would not advise either this section or the ridge for smaller children.) After the sandy incline you enter the forest and continue your switchbacks down. It was here that Tobin discovered wild Salmonberries within reach of the trail and we were again stopping periodically.

Toutle River

The last section down to the river itself is basically a steep cliff for which the forest rangers have attached ropes for hikers to use. It requires going down backwards, with your feet walking down the cliff as you go hand over hand on the rope. Once you get over the initial shock it is actually rather easy to do.

When we were there the Toutle River was around 5 feet across and we were able to cross easily by jumping across rocks. We set up camp next to the river and the sandy floor made for a really plush ground. It was honestly one of the best night sleeps I’ve ever had camping.

There were lots of places to set up our tents and when we arrived we were the only people there, although another group did arrive just before dusk.

Day 2 - 10.2 miles

In the morning we packed up, filled our water bottles and used the ropes on the other side to climb out. The path to climb out was easier than the one to climb down and we probably could have managed it without the rope.

Our goal was to hike down near the Summit trail, find a spot to camp and hopefully water nearby. The other campers at the river were hiking the mountain in a clockwise direction and said they didn’t see any water other than June Lake. So our fall back plan was to find a camping spot around the Summit trail, dump our packs and hike down to June Lake for water.

Crescent Ridge

Right out of the river the hike is a brutal uphill climb that takes you from 3200 ft to 4700 ft in 1.7 miles. It’s almost entirely in the trees so you don’t get much of a view either. We did stop to take a couple of breaks on the hike up as we were still finding wild Salmonberries and Huckleberries. The Huckleberries especially were perfectly ripe and really good.

About 1.5 miles after reaching the top of that climb the trail crosses another ravine which again requires the use of attached ropes to climb in and out of. There was no water to cross in this one.

After that the next 4 miles is a really nice and relaxing hike through some beautiful scenery..

However, once we reached the trail for Summit Route we realized that “finding a camping spot near by” was virtually impossible. The trail is really cut into a steep mountain side and the flora is pretty thick on either side of the trail. We either had to hike back a mile or so to where there were some flat areas to camp, or hike forward and hope it flattened out. Hiking back would have taken us further away from water so we decided to go forward.

Chocolate Falls

Almost exactly two miles from Summit Route is Chocolate Falls and we decided to make camp there as there are plenty of flat areas nearby just before you cross over the falls. However, if you venture a little ways towards the cliff (and away from the falls) you will find a really nice circular camping area, complete with a fire pit (which we did not use). However, being so far off the path was really nice as we were not bothered at all by people passing on the trail and we felt secure about leaving our stuff there while we hiked to the summit the next day.

Chocolate Falls is named as such because the water contains a lot of sediment and takes on a chocolate milk color/consistency. But there was water and by straining it through a bandana and our Sawyer squeeze bag we were able to filter it enough to drink.

Using the bandana was not part of our inital plan but the water had a lot of silt in it and Tobin had a brand new bandana with him. Regretfully the bandana was red and had probably only been washed once so when we were straining the water it took on a very pink color. Even after using the Sawyer squeeze bag it still had a bit of a pinkish hue to it, but it didn’t seem to contribute any taste.

Day 3 - 8.2 miles - The Summit

Up until now our weather had been perfect but this morning it was raining. We had initially thought we would start on our summit hike at 8am, but the rain was coming down hard enough that we just stayed in our tents for a couple of hours to see if it would clear. By 11am the rain was starting to let up enough so we decided to get going before it was too late. Both of us took our backpacks but only brought with us some food, water, warm clothes and our permit.

We now had to backtrack the two miles back to the Summit Route. This was mostly uphill and because of the rain we were getting soaked every time we brushed up against the plants on the sides of the trail.

Summit Ridge

This was not an easy hike. The very start of this path is like a normal, albeit steep, trail but it quickly turns into climbing over volcanic boulders. There isn’t really a trail to follow anymore, but the route is marked by posts which are placed just close enough together that you can just see the next one.

We passed a couple of people coming down who had gone up very early that morning and mentioned that the entire top of the mountain was pretty well fogged in and there was not much to see. Still, we were determined and continued up. The entire hike is about 2.1 miles, but it is very slow going.

About 2/3rds of the way up we met a forest ranger who told us that “there is a crack at the rim and it appears that a section is about to fall in,” so we should stay back several meters from the edge. He also mentioned that because of the weather he was guessing that of the 100 passes that were issued for that day, probably about 20 of them were going to actually be used.

Pumice Path

As hard as the hike was so far, the pumice path that is at the end is even harder. The incline is very steep and with every step up you take you slip back down almost a half a step. It’s like this for almost half a mile and the pumice easily doubles the distance. There is also not a clear visual for how far you still have to go so it can seem a bit unending at times.

The top

The good thing about waiting those three hours before leaving camp is that by the time we did reach the top the clouds were clearing and we could see all around the mountain. Unfortunately, the clouds in the crater did not clear so we never really got a good full look inside, although from time to time we got a couple of good glimpses.

Otherwise the view from the top is really amazing and I’m glad we made the trip. We did walk part way around the edge and we did see the crack the ranger was talking about. Because of the scale of everything, looking over the edge didn’t seem like a huge drop, but apparently it’s something like a 2600 ft drop.

After spending about 30 mins at the top we headed down which gives you a totally new perspective on just how far you have climbed and how much on a ridge you really are.

By the time we reached our camp at Chocolate Falls it was getting dark. We decided to grab some more water but then ended up just leaving it in our bottles so we could filter it the next day.

Day 4 - 12.3 miles

The next morning we were awakened by the sounds of runners going down the trail. It turns out that there were several races going on that day, with one of them being a full run around the mountain.

It also turns out that Chocolate Falls does not normally run in the mornings as it needs the afternoon sun to melt the snow. So it was really fortunate we had collected water the night before as it was totally dry that morning.

It was a 1.2 mile hike to the cut off for June Lake and shortly past that past a creek that was flowing and allowed us to get more water. This water was clear and didn’t need to be double filtered. After that it was 4.8 miles to Pumice Butte. The hike was really beautiful and you can see several other mountains in the distance. We stopped often for Huckleberries and the very occasional Salmonberry and to move off the path at times for runners.

Pumice Butte

Several people claim you can get water near Pumice Butte but all the water we saw was very stagnant and didn’t look good at all. The 1.8 miles of The Plains of Abraham are flat, long and because of the time of day we were there, very hot.

At the end of the Flats we could have opted to take a short cut back to the car (and my feet were killing me by this point), or we could continue on the Loowit trail and complete the full loop. We opted to complete the full loop and just before we headed up Windy pass we crossed a running creek and were able to fill up on water one last time.

Windy pass

The climb over Windy pass was harder than I was expecting as you have a steep climb up, and short jog forward and then a steep switchback back down. Also, deceptively, they have put posts that run up to the left, giving the impression you have to climb much higher than you actually do. I’m not sure if this was someones idea of a joke or if there is another trail up that way.

In any case we made it down and eventually made it back to the spot where we first started on the Loowit trail. From there it was 2.5 miles back to the car and by now we were feeling every step of it. Also the winding gravel road has several false turns where you can easily fall into thinking that the car is “just ahead”.

The car

Getting back to the car we changed into clean(er) clothes and headed back to Tobins car, stopping off at Plaza Jalisco’s Mexican restaurant for dinner.

Retrospective

Equipment

Boots

Tobin was wearing hiking shoes while I was wearing hiking boots. Although my boots did better when it was wet, and when we were climbing over the boulders, I think in the long run wearing hiking shoes would have been a better call. They are lighter and since we were on a trail for a majority of the time I think the boots were, perhaps, overkill. And by the last day, especially that last 2.5 miles, my feet were killing me. Tobin commented that his feet hurt as well, but I think the boots were adding to my discomfort.

Socks

I should have brought more socks. In the past when I’ve hiked for a couple of days (2-4) I usually bring just two pairs of socks, but for those hikes I’m often spending the day at the destination or wearing my camp shoes. For this trip we were hiking every day and it would have been really nice to put on a clean pair of socks every morning. Tobin washed his out in the river which seems to have helped, but really I just think at least one pair of socks a day is the minimum and perhaps two.

Camera

Tobin and I both brought cameras with us, but while I just brought my cell phone (because, hey, it has a camera in it) Tobin brought an actual digital camera. However, since I had my phone off for the majority of the trip, taking a picture meant that I had to stop, take out my phone, wait for it to turn on, take a picture and then shut it down and put it away again. Tobin, on the other hand, had a handy pouch on his belt and was able to quickly take out his camera to take pictures. I had thought that non-SLR digital cameras were a thing of the past, but after this trip I now included a digital camera in my packing list.

Water

Similar to the camera, Tobin’s backpack also enabled him to carry at least one liter of water where he could easily reach and drink from it. Mine was attached to the back of my backpack making it a pain and often I had to ask Tobin to get my water for me. As a consequence I probably drank less than I should have. I need to either figure out a better way to hook up a bottle, or get one of those camel packs.

More space

I had brought with me some fleece pants and a fleece top and while these don’t weigh much, they do take up a fair bit of space. Weight wasn’t really an issue on this trip, but space was. As it was, my bag was packed really tight which required extra time packing up in the morning and trying to get to anything in my pack. Since this trip I have replaced some of the gear in my pack with things that just take up less space so I can treat my bag as more of a simple stuff sack.

Bivy or Tent

I really like sleeping in a bivy but at the last moment I decided to swap my bivy for a tent which I feel was a good call. I like using a bivy because they are fast to set up and overall just more fun. However, on this trip it would have been miserable sleeping in the bivy when it was raining and the 3 hours we hung out in the tent before climbing to the summit. I’m also not sure I would have been as keen on leaving my bivy out when we were hiking.

Sleeping pad

I had a blow up air pad while Tobin had the waffle mat. I think the air pad is more comfortable, but you do run the risk that it could rupture and then you can be in some real trouble. I did have a small patch kit with me, but I’ve never used it and I’m not sure how well it would work if I had to patch my air pad at night. Additionally, the air pad is noisy as hell when you move around on it. It makes a sound that is similar to rubbing a balloon. For next season I think I’m going to try using a waffle pad and see how that works. I also like that the set up for the waffle pad is super quick.

Hiking gloves

I didn’t have a good pair of hiking gloves with me and I really wish I did. I did have some fingerless gloves (aka hobo gloves) which convert to mittens, and while they were warm enough they were not the best for climbing with. Ultimately I need to get a good pair of gloves that are warm enough for the evenings, but also rugged enough to climb over boulders with. Or, if no such glove exists, then perhaps two pairs, one for warmth and one for climbing.

Folding chair

I have also added to my bag a folding chair. Yeah, I could just sit on stones and trees and the such, but after a long day, and in the morning, it is nice to be able to sit on a real chair. Sitting on the stones and logs meant that I was constantly trying to find a comfortable one or leaning to the side as I am sitting. The new folding chairs are down around a pound now so I’m hoping to try this out on my next hike.

Sawyer squeeze bottles

These things are awesome. When we got home and cleaned it out it was amazing how brown the water was and how much they filtered things. They are awesome, I just wanted to point that out.

Hike

Bugs

Normally I’m bothered by mosquitoes but I don’t think we encountered any on this trip. Perhaps this is due to the general lack of water but even the flies were not that bad.

Overall

All in all we had a fantastic time and hiked a total of 42.9 miles. The changes in the scenery were really interesting and the rope climbs and wild berries made for an interesting trek. Even though we had to scramble to find an alternative, I really think entering at Windy Pass and working counter clockwise worked out well for us. The only disappointment was that the weather wasn’t clearer when we were at the top, but it just means we will have to return sometime.

Forest Rangers

And finally, I want to give special thanks to the awesome forest rangers we met along the way. They are super fun to talk with and a treasure trove of information. They are also the ones that go through each year and set the ropes so you can climb down and up the cliffs. So thank you!