Six and five week countdown

As I sit down to write this entry to recap last two week's training, I find myself very sadden.  I found out last night that an Alpine Ascents group had perished on Rainier late last week.  Six climbers, two guides and four guided climbers, fell 3,300 ft to their deaths off the Liberty Ridge route.  It hits so close to me as the lead guide was Matt Hegeman.  He was my lead guide on Rainier last year.  It's hard to believe he is gone.  You can read more on this story in the Seattle Times.  My prayers go out to all of the climbers and families involved in this tragic accident.

Matt Hegeman making great burritos at Muir last year.

Last year's climbing team.
Matt is on the far left.

Despite this sad news, let me report on the past two week's of training.  It started with a combination hike of South Valley Park and Deer Creek Canyon Open Space.   Billy and I racked up 9 miles with 52 lbs on my back.  Jeff joined in for the Deer Creek section only and racked up 6 miles. We were also accompanied by an avid runner, Terri.  We hiked up the Plymouth Creek trail to the Golden Eagle trail.  This gave us about 1,500 ft of elevation gain.

Plymouth Mt

 Billy and Terri

 Looking out over the Hogback and Denver

 Jeff with some building storm clouds

On the Golden Eagle trail

My next outing was with my family over Memorial Day weekend.  We headed up to Boulder to hike up Green Mt.  We started from Chautauqua Park.  We meandered around the Bluebell/Ski Jump trails, then followed the Amphitheater Rock trail to the Saddle Rock Trail.  There was a lot of erosion on the upper trails.  Ladders had been put in where the trail was washed out.  It was fun climbing a 12 ft ladder with a full 55 lbs pack on.  We junctioned with the E.M.Greenman trail and descended to Gregory Canyon.  The Canyon had seen its share of washout too.  We had an enjoyable 6 mile hike ending with a picnic in the park.  I gained about 1700 vertical feet.

Heading up Amphitheater trail

Looking down on one of the ladders

My boys over Boulder

My wife and my friend the backpack

Rock scramble fun!

Overlook in Gregory Canyon

Awe, Mom and our boys

Memorial Day was a ski mountaineering day on Berthoud Pass.  Billy and I headed up for my 31st ski day of the 2013/14 season.  I just can't say no to skiing and winter!  We ascended the East side and skied Sentinel Chute/Hanging Meadow.  The snow was sketchy as there was 4 new inches and the temps didn't get below freezing the night before.  Wet slides and sloughs were all around us.  After a few turns we headed for safety in the trees.  We skinned a longer route next, up the West side and boot packed/post-holed Russell Peak (12,300 ft).  At the summit we found Oatmeal bowl (the South facing slope just West of Russell and the beginning of a magnificent cirque) looking very inviting.  The sky was deep Colorado blue with white cotton ball clouds.  There was enormous overhanging cornices on the East face of this cirque, which had recent activity of breaking off and running down slope.  We felt the cornice was our prime hazard and had to move through the lower slopes and runout fast.  The snow conditions had something else in store for us.  The snow was so wet, heavy and slow you couldn't do anything than go slow.  It made turning difficult.  I had visions of my ACL tearing on each turn.  We made it down into Pumphouse area safely.  It was difficult to negotiate this terrain because the snow was so sticky.  Once we reached the road we walked up to the top of the pass in ski boots with skis strapped on our packs (part of our training).  It was about a half mile.  We gained 1700 ft elevation for the day.

Billy on Russell's summit with Oatmeal bowl in the backdrop.

On Thursday of the same week, Jeff, Billy and I headed to Goat Mt in Waterton Canyon.  We carried heavy packs, mine being 58 lbs.  We started late at 9 am.  It was already warm in the mid 80's (I usually begin melting above 75).  The trail up Goat is steep and rough initially.  Once you gain the ridge the trail is overgrown by scrub oak and is rocky.  There are many false summits and bumps you go up and over.  There is no escaping the sun on the trail.  Temps rose to near 90 degrees, ugh!  We were turned around on the seventh bump due to thunder clouds billowing in front of us.  Thunder claps were heard in the distance.  A ridge without cover is no place to be in a lightning storm.  Down we went fairly fast.  We made it out safely.  A good 3 hour and 20 minutes of hiking and 1500 feet of elevation gain.

 The initial climb out of the Waterton Canyon road

 On the steep trail

 Panorama view from the ridge down on Waterton

 Thunder clouds building

Heading down.  The trail briefly follows the road above Lockheed's headquarters .

On Saturday our team, minus Billy (he had to work), headed up to Chief Mt and Squaw Peak again.  We started at 6:45 am.  We all carried heavy packs- mine at 60 lbs.  Jeff brought his two dogs who raced up and down the trail.  We climbed up Squaw first then down to the trail junction up to Chief.  The Squaw trail was snow free.  Chief was a different story, it had snow most of the way in the trees.  We post-holed a few times which made the going slower.  We reached the summit of Chief around 9 am.  After some fueling up and rest we headed down to the road at the true Chief trailhead and repeated the climb up chief a second time.  Jeff dropped out as the snow was too much for him to manage the dogs and not use trekking poles.  Ben, Derrill and I summited again before some weather passed through.  We made it down safely after hiking a total time of 6 hours and 45 minutes.  We gained 2800 vertical feet in the day.  That put me at 6,000 feet of elevation for the week.  My right ankle and feet ached on Sunday for sure!

 Heading out early with gear on our backs.

 Climbing up the stone steps to Squaw's summit

 On top of Squaw

 Jeff on Chief's summit the first time.  Is he trying to fly a kite?

 Nope, he's holding onto Wiley

  Summit of Chief the second time with a storm a brewin' over Evans.

At the time I am finishing up writing this post, we are at the four week mark until we fly out to Rainier.  It is going to come fast.  We've got some intense training the next two weeks to come.  Thanks for reading!