14 Attachment(s)
Not a big trip, but a trip. Wesach June 7.
Yeah, it's not a 7 day traverse on the Ortler. Or a non-supported 2 week Alaskan mission, but hey. It was a trip. And I'm old fat and slow. So I will report!
It's been a lot of days since Feb 7. That's when I had a tune up done on the knee (debridement) and had to hang up the sticks for a bit. I had planned on a ski day by June 1, pretty much from Feb 7 on so it was nice to finally get out there and test the old joint. It had been a pretty cold and wet spring so I knew Wesach, up the south douglas logging road, would have lots of snow. I knew Maisie would be stoked for a hike in the mountains and getting into snow again. I know I was.
Attachment 494756
Had to move a few random rocks from the road. The road was pretty good though getting up to 20km/hr only happened a few times. Mostly 0 - 5km/hr.
Attachment 494757
The alder and willow were a fair bit tighter than the last time I was in here. And I also had a chevy zr2 which was a lot narrower. I knew rubbing compound was in the forecast.
Attachment 494758
Attachment 494759
End of the road. a 32 point turn later truck was parked and ready for the exit.
Attachment 494760
Up's the way
Attachment 494761
Skins on an hour later. Pretty civilized, though with proper route finding and any semblance of fitness, probably would have took anybody else 45 minutes.
Attachment 494762
With any self-respecting summer ski trip there should be some dry skinning.
Attachment 494764
I love this part of the hike in. The skinning gets easier and the views get better.
Attachment 494765
Attachment 494766
Ah, the alpine! I know you guys living at 10,000 ft may take it for granted, but for us sea level dwellers it's always glorious!
Attachment 494767
Just another gratuitous alpine shot with my dog. Sorry, not sorry.
Attachment 494768
Maisie gets the high point. Good hike, knees felt fine.
Attachment 494769
Obligatory selfie, look back shot.
Attachment 494770
There's always a very good feeling when you get back to the truck after a solo mission. This was no exception. It'd been a number of years since I was in this amazing little zone and it was gratifying to be looking at a "glory day" line I climbed with my buddy Phillipe up the north face of Wesach peak for much of the climb up. Yeah, fuck 25 years ago.... Oh well, at the end of this little mission, I was just super fucking happy that me knees both felt great! So great in fact that I went for a decent little mountain bike ride yesterday, followed by picking up the tennis racquet (after a year... fucking knee..) and hitting about a hundred serves. Feels good to be back.
