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| Hiking | 8.25 Miles |
3,313 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.25 Miles | 7 Hrs 30 Mns | | 1.27 mph |
| 3,313 ft AEG | 1 Hour Break | 15 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | More people out than I expected, but they mostly turned back at the saddle. Packed boot tracks over snowshoe tracks gave way to bad boot tracks above the saddle, so I stopped carrying the shoes and cut some tracks of my own for a short way, before returning to the established tracks once they left the bristlecones on the ridge and found their proper place on the trail. I had the summit to myslef for about 35 to 40 minutes on a day that felt more like January, and looked similar, than November. Pine Valley Mountains were clearly visible, but I was not able to see the Henry Mountains. Winter air, clear., dry, with great long range visibility, has arrived. Snow is impressive for this early, and depending on the storm cycles, I might find myself back up here hiking the winter route (Dutchman) on 5 or 6 feet of snow in 2 months or less.
Hiking down I quickly left the trail once below treeline and headed straight down hill, going rather slow but enjoying the forest for the varying components that make it up, and not just the trees. It's been years since I was up here in winter, with my shoes sliding through feet of virgin snow, groaning underneath, the sound of days old ice deposits falling from the tree limbs, and passing flocks of mountain chickadees passing by, and smell of the spruce in winter. I look forward to #95 in real winter. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
