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| Hiking | 1.18 Miles |
439 AEG |
| | Hiking | 1.18 Miles | 1 Hour 10 Mns | | 1.36 mph |
| 439 ft AEG | 18 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Day 3 (Hikes 6 & 7) –
Hike 6 – After a very brief .25 mile RT “hike” to check out Hagens Point / UN 8891, [located just before mile post 133 as you’re driving down Rt. 366], I drove down to the pullout by mile post 132.4 in preparation for my final peak of the day [and of my trip]: Twilight Peak.
Hike 7 – Of the 11 peaks I bagged on my trip, Twilight is the only one not listed on the 2012 copy of the SAHC peak list that I found online, and it’s the only one that does not have a name on topo maps. Huge thanks to Preston for bringing this amazing peak to the attention of the hiking community [ description ] ! Like a fairytale ending to my Pinaleno peak-bagging adventure, this “underdog” of a peak with no formal/official name on the topos was not only my hands down favorite in terms of best views, it was also the hands down most fun to bag, [and the most rewarding].
I’d drawn myself a route based on the diagram Preston provided in his photoset [ photo ] … but I couldn’t resist the temptation of barreling almost straight up the steep but soft, pine-covered slope for a more direct route. With almost no brush to contend with and several animal routes that proved quite helpful in making my way up the steep slope, it didn’t take long before I reached the ridgeline. Looking at Route Scout topo, I was only a few hundred feet from the summit, but when a massive boulder crag suddenly popped into view, my heart sank. At first glance, it barely looked doable without ropes/gear. And, [while I knew there had to be a doable route up based on Preston’s write-up], the definition of “doable” has definitely taken on new meaning for me since the acute onset of the equilibrium issues that started back in mid-June.
Before giving up hope, I followed the route that led toward the right side of the boulder crag, and the way up then became obvious. Under normal circumstances, my reaction would be, ‘Hell yeah, bring it on!”; but with the equilibrium issues, I didn’t know if I’d be able to make it up safely. I immediately ditched my trekking poles and pack and then started to slowly tackle the boulders. To my pleasant surprise, I had healed enough to be able to enjoy most of the short climb up, and there was only one spot that proved a little challenging; however, with the help of a few sturdy branches / tree roots, it didn’t take me long to reach the top. After that, it was an easy stroll over to the highpoint on the crag, [which interestingly enough did not feel craggy once on top]. However, before heading for the highpoint, I paused on the lower end of the boulder crag to marvel at the extraordinary 360 views that surrounded me. At barely over 9,300’, Twilight Peak was not even among the highest five peaks I summited that weekend, but the views from its summit were the hands down most beautiful.
As I made my way toward the highpoint, the second Twilight Peak came into view. My first thoughts were: ‘Even if my equilibrium was 100%, there’s no way in hell this is doable without ropes/gear, [at least from this side of the crag]!’ Interestingly enough, [after having completely written off even attempting to summit the second Twilight Peak], I suddenly noticed what appeared to be a relatively straightforward route leading right to it after having wandered a few feet down the gentle NW side of the first summit in order to take in the views from a different vantage point. There were a few boulders to negotiate, [along with some thorny vegetation that will likely make it impossible for one to pass by without receiving a few love pokes], but aside from that, it was a relatively straight shoot [for a bushwhack] to the other summit of the Twilight Peaks. The views from this second were also sensational, and I really enjoyed the vantage point that this slightly lower peak offers, [especially looking back on the taller peak]. As cliffy as it may look [in the photos that I’ll eventually get around to posting!], there is a little ‘bridge-like’ section of boulders and dirt that make it possible to walk/scramble from one peak to the other, almost as the crow flies, [minus, of course, the extra vertical distance of gained/lost AEG]. While I was never able to find a summit register on either of the two Twilight Peaks, having made both summits was far sweeter than signing a summit log.
The return trip was a breeze in all regards. Unlike the ascent, which was slightly challenging, the manner in which I maneuvered down off the boulder crag proved to be incredibly easy and fun, [even with the equilibrium issues]; and the steep but super soft, pine-covered slope was a blast that required almost no effort. With 11 peaks bagged over the course of 3 calendar days [or in a 48 hour time span], I could not have asked for a more incredible trip; and with the peak that offered the best views, most enjoyable ascent/descent, and biggest challenges [that I overcame], I could not have asked for a better finish than the short trip to the twin summits of the Twilight Peaks. |
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| God save the Prom Queen, cuz [reality check!] AEG's King...! |
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