Sneffels

For starters, do not ever camp at the Blue Lakes Trailhead at the end of August. That is a bad decision. I got there on a Friday night after finishing up a week of teaching. Jacqueline was still working in Zion, so I had to entertain myself in some way. I took a short walk and as soon as it was dark, I got myself to bed. I figured that would be a good decision to get some sleep. There were so many hunters(?) there with their ATVs that they were driving around right near my tent until 10pm and then again starting at 4am. Needless to say, I was up early and a little frustrated. Right as I was getting ready to set out on the trail, a guy with a big truck stopped to ask me if I knew where something was. 

I told him that I just moved here and have no idea, but who was he looking for at 5 in the morning. I left that scene behind me and was soon out on the trail. I was moving quickly as the trail started out in a wooded area on the side of a big ridge. I wondered when I would get a view of Mt. Sneffels considering I had no idea what peak it was. I was starting to see some mountains as dawn light was crawling its way across the skyline. The Blue Lakes was a short hike from the trailhead and I was beginning to approach it at 7am. There was a big waterfall pouring down so I knew I was getting close. 

There were many campers asleep as I came upon the lakes. I figured that this would be a good place to camp if I was to venture up here again. I had breakfast at the lower lake. It was pretty with the peaks rising right out of the cirque that the lake filled. There was a bit of snow left on the peaks above. I wondered what the blue color was as looking at the lake in the early morning hours did not make it look particularly blue. I found the trail from the campsites and made sure to not disturb the parties fast asleep. This is where the trail began to climb steeply. The trees started to melt away and soon I was hiking through the high alpine scrub. 

The trail was bomber at this point as I approached the middle lake. It looked very undisturbed so I made sure to throw a rock in it. Just around the corner from the middle was the upper blue lake. This seemed to be the largest and it also was in a large cirque. From here the trail climbed steeply. Switchbacks after switchbacks and as I looked above, I wondered how the trail could manage to be built on such a steep area. I quickly realized when I got there that it was not very well built. The trail became very small loose scree that took much effort on my part to avoid slip sliding away as Paul Simon would say.

 I was actually a little bit wrecked in the nerves when I finally got to the Blue Lakes Pass. This put me right at a great vantage point to check out Mt. Sneffels. I could not figure out what was the right way to go from here. There was a jagged ridge that climbed directly above where I was and there also looked to be a steep scree slope on the other side of the mountain. My three choices were to either climb the ridge directly in front of me, go down and climb the scree slope, or go back from where I came and say screw climbing this peak on this day. I chose option 1 after considering each one after I saw a party with yellow helmets climbing above me. I figured I would follow them. 

This was definitely the more dangerous decision as there were some places where I was actually climbing, climbing. I believe this would be either considered 3+ or 4th class. I figured out soon enough that I was taking a different option to get to the top of this peak. Eventually I caught up with them and talked to them for a bit. They were a nice couple. I broke away from them since they were moving much slower, but eventually bumped into them again when I took the wrong route. I was able to pick my way through until I hit the normal route. From there it was smooth sailing to the top where I carved a place from the mass of people. Up until I reached the summit, the only people I saw on this day once I hit the trail were these two people with yellow helmets. The summit was filled with people as I hit the summit at 10:30AM. I enjoyed the view from the top of this 14+ summit which was awesome. The San Juans offer a multitude of craggy peaks to gaze upon. 

I got one of the many to take my picture and then was on my way down. I chose to go down the easy route and this was a good choice. While also steep with lots of loose rocks and a lot more people, it was definitely the safer alternative. The other way I felt at times that I had to reach the summit so that I could get down this easier way. It proved to be the greater choice even though at the bottom I still had to go back up to get to the Blue Lakes Pass. I knew that the rest of my day would be relaxing once I got past the steep sections on the trail. I was successful by sometimes butt sliding and other times moving inch by inch. From there it was speed hiking as it was all downhill. As I passed the upper two lakes, I got to see the lower lake in full blue. I could see why this would be a popular destination. I enjoyed my lunch as I sat on a big rock and soaked in the scenery.
It was only ten after one as I made my way through the campsites and down the three mile trail to my car. I was back home by four thirty and the afternoon as I appreciated the beautiful areas that surrounded my new home in Norwood, Colorado.

Lone Cone

Well the day to finally make the big move was here. Jacqueline's dad and my dad both came out to help us pack to exit Springdale for Norwood, CO. My dad came with us to drive our U-haul the nine hours. We made it without any problems. When we got to our new home, there was a lot of work to do. The grass was growing out of control. There was wood scattered everywhere. We also had quite a few bees' nests around the house. To add to that, we had to unpack and I had to start work. Without my dad and Jacqueline to get to work around the place, I would have had weeks of work to do. While I figured out how I was going to teach math this year, my dad weed wacked, chopped wood, painted with Jacqueline, while Jacqueline organized the pad.

 I helped a little in the evening, but I learned how overwhelming the whole process was going to be of teaching six classes my first year teaching.Eventually on a Saturday, we all took a break. There is one peak that overlooks the town of Norwood and it reaches 12613 feet above sea level. I knew that eventually I was going to have to climb this peak, so why not get it over with immediately. We got all our stuff together, except for our camera which we foolishly left on the porch and loaded into the Xterra. We had some dirt roads to navigate, but with the GPS and some directions we made progress. 

We made some right turns, but for some reason missed an easy dirt road right in front of our faces and lost some time getting to it. We finally made it and I got a lesson in 4WD as we had to use it for the last four miles. Eventually we found the beginning of the hike and we were on our way. We started out on an old dirt road that went through the trees. Soon it opened up and we got a good view of the mountain. It looked rather large from where we were standing, but this was definitely a mountain with some depth perception issues as we were already at quite a high elevation. We entered back into the trees heading straight for the mountain. 

We found ourselves on the eastern side of the mountain, but we knew we wanted to go up the Northwest route, so we had to traverse along the base of the North Face. This was all alluvial deposits from past avalanches and rockfalls. It was downhill, then rocky, then uphill until we hit the ridge. The beginning was vegetated with a bit of scrub, but soon we were above treeline. I was feeling good and the crew was trailing behind. Jacqueline was not a big fan of the steepness and the loose rocks. She was doing well just moving a bit slower than usual. The old man was moving steady. I knew I would never feel this good again coming straight off my season of backcountry. 

The top kept inching closer and unlike other mountains we could see the actual top. As we swung around, we could see both sides of the mountain dropping away, one steeper than the other. The final push was on and we made the summit. It was only 10:30AM when we stood on top. It was a nice summit with a long view on all sides. Lone Cone is the first peak as you approach the 14ers, but it really did not feel all that big. We had the whole mountain to ourselves on this day, though and we could enjoy the summit. We took some pictures, had our brunch, and were on our way back down. Jacqueline was a little worried about the steepness of the terrain and she was taking her time on the way down. 

She was half butt sliding, half walking. Eventually we got to less steep terrain and she was a little more comfortable. It was beautiful to be in the mountains, so different than the hundred degree weather we were used to in Zion. Eventually we got down to treeline and had to traverse our way back. We got a little off course, but found our way back to our route. I was using the GPS and while helpful, it did not do the job of a sense of direction. We were back to the car just a little bit after noon with a lot of the day still left to go unpack our house. It was great to spend the day with my beautiful wife and my dad climbing a mountain that we would soon see from our house every day. Soon my dad and my wife would leave me to start my teaching. Jacqueline was going back to finish work, while dad was done being helpful like a good dad can be once he is retired.

Russell Gulch

Well, it came upon quickly, but this was now my last day of work. Amazingly, though, I was doing something new even though this was the last day. I talked Kelsey into going through Russell Gulch which she had done recently with Brad. She was not insanely psyched about it, but I could not do Das Boot - Subway for the third time this summer. The Russell Gulch entrance to the subway is a very similar route except for when you have the chance you enter the drainage instead of staying high.

 Tim and Matt were along for the trip. I knew we were going to have a good time. When we got away from the Subway drainage, it was actually quite a long walk before we got to any of the rappels. I enjoyed the canyon is it went from narrow to open throughout. It was definitely dry and was mostly a sandy wash. 

When we got to the first rappel, it was actually a long one, but the shortest one in the canyon. It was funny that it made me nervous even on this last day going through a new canyon. This one was an awkward start, but an easy drop into a pothole and then another little drop after that. We all did it with ease. Then we got to do the longest rappel. This one was awesome. Just a nearly vertical wall with an easy start. It was about a 75 footer with just pure easy going vertical. We ended it down on a sandy bottom. So sweet! Last one we got to ended free hanging. I went last and just loved it. Everyone else did the hanging the pack thing. I was not about to switch it up, but I had no problem. The only thing I have ever hung the pack for was Englestead and I was not about to do it for Russell Gulch. The rappel was great and we finished with a sandy bottom to land in. 

The rest of the canyon was not long and ended with a hike around into the traditional Subway entrance. Now it was one last paid trip through the Subway. Already harnessed up and ready to go it was an easy trip. Swimming, short rappels, and beauty and we were taking off the harnesses ready to finish the 4 miles out. Of course on the trip out I got to deal with a no permit jerk who would not respond to me and tried to outhike us out of the canyon. We called out the LE on the radio though so he had his day. It was just unfortunate that we had to deal with that. I am so sick of people just doing things they are not supposed to out in the backcountry. Respect it and follow the rules that everyone else has to follow. Well it was a bad way to end such a great day. I had a good time spending it with Tim, Kelsey, and Matt. 

They were all quality bc rangers, even if Tim was an interp ranger. The day was sadly done and so was a fun trip and backcountry season. I wondered if I would be back in a Park Service uniform again. I wouldn't doubt it.

Northgate Peak

Well our days at Zion were coming swiftly to an end. This was brought to the forefront of our minds by the going away party that Annette and Greg had so graciously thrown us a couple of days before. It was a great turnout to get all of our friends from the park to come on out. Brad put together a slideshow and we had some good eatin', drinkin', and pongin'. Matt, Liz, and Annette were the real troopers who stayed up late into the night with us just b.s.ing. I was glad, but the other hard part about leaving Zion was leaving all the limitless possibilities out there for exploring. I took the liberty to do a little exploring on one of my last days of work. Having no one to hike with, I went out by myself for a hike on the Northgate Peaks/Wildcat Canyon Trails. The Northgate Peaks is a trail I have been on quite a few times, but to the end only twice. This time instead of stopping at the viewpoint at the end, I scrambled on down into the valley in between the peaks. There was a use trail that I continued on and led me to the base of one of the peaks. I knew this was a little bit off my route, but since I never stopped to take a lunch break, I figured I had 45 minutes to explore. I used it on this day to climb Northgate Peak. There was a route up it that I just had to follow. It was faint in places but common sense kept me going until I reached the top on a scorching hot day. The view from on top was incredible and I took a few minutes to soak it up. The reds, oranges, whites, grays, greens, all blended together to make a splendid view. Zion really is one of the most amazing places on earth. Well I scrambled back down and resumed my normal day of work. Saw a half dozen people that were pleasant. I caught a horned lizard wandering across my path also. I wanted to check the condition of the Wildcat Spring, but I never could get to it. I walked the distance necessary, but once I got to the spot it was located, there were so many stinging nettles I could not get to it. I tried quite a few times, but I kept leaving in pain without any luck. Thankfully, I brought enough water to make the trip back to the trailhead without needing to fill up, but I liked to keep extra with me. On this day, though, I had to go back without it. I was glad that I was not on a long backpack coming out of Hop Valley and this was my first water source for 19 miles. That would have been miserable. Well, I wandered on back enjoying another hot hiking day in Zion. I only had a desk day and another canyon day left to finish out my season and possibly my park service career. Who am I kidding, I am sure that being a seasonal in the park service will find its way into my future plans.