Yes, yesterday I tried to hike a peak. I thought it would be no big deal. Summit County has had less than its share of snow this year, and recently almost NONE, so the majority of trails are very packed down with snow. This has been bad (for skiers and the environment) but good (sorta) for hikers. It makes it much easier to access the trails (they are not lost under snow) and easier to maneuver on them. Thus far, I've managed to get pretty high up with microspikes on, and I have loved it!
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| Humbug Hill with Ross |
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| Top of Mt. Royal with Stacey! |
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| On Ptarmigan with Christin! |
So, when my schedule said to "hike a peak" I thought PERFECT! I will go up to Wheeler Lakes. Technically not a peak, but it is a lot of climbing and I had not done this trail in years -- YEARS! -- and, when I did do it, it was in the summer. I have some pretty good memories of this hike in the summer, so why not try it in the winter?
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| Here's my favorite memory -- this was the first hike we ever did where we awarded the kids with a mini soda at the top. Boy, did they LOVE IT!!! |
Disclaimer: I don't really like "snowshoeing". I guess I find snowshoes cumbersome and hard to manage. When we invested in snowshoes many years ago, I got the best "running snowshoes" on the market and STILL felt like it was hard to hike, let alone run in them. It is probably me. And that I just need to spend more time getting used to them, etc. etc.
So when I showed up at the trailhead, and the path looked somewhat packed down, I thought "eh, I'll go with my microspikes, no need for snowshoes." Oh, the lies we tell ourselves.
Lesson #1: When going on a snowshoe hike, wear your snowshoes.
The first 3/4 mile is a connector from parking to the trail, and within the first quarter-mile, I was contemplating turning around and getting my snowshoes from the car, but... maybe if I just go a little further? And, sure as sh*t, when I got to the main trail, it was packed down -- SWEET! See, I knew those instincts were wrong. And, so I went, happy as a clam to be hiking in the winter. Good views, awesome weather, etc. etc. Totally in my happy place.
Lesson #2: Just because you CAN do it without snowshoes, doesn't necessarily mean that you SHOULD do it without snowshoes.
See that there? (below) I look at the trail now and realize how much easier it probably would have been if I just TOOK/PUT ON THE DARNED SNOWSHOES. But, I think my "I can do this" and fear of using something I wasn't totally comfortable with held me back.
So I kept going!!! Until I couldn't.
There was a spot where the trail split in two, and neither looked very manageable. I went one way and postholed some. No bueno. So I went back and went the other way and was postholing up to my thigh. It was at that point that I was worried I might not be able to get out at some point. And, being alone, wanted to be smart. Plus, postholing is no fun.
So, I turned around here:
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| Turnaround point. |
I kinda wish I had a picture of myself sunk into the snow, just to show you how bad/stupid I was for trying without snowshoes, but (a) I was alone and (b) I wasn't exactly chipper about that at the moment. More frustrated with the snow, and that I would be turning around...
Lesson #3: Just because you don't hit the destination, doesn't mean you can't check off some other goals on the way!!!
The second half of the hike, I got to conquer another of my fears -- running down in the snow. Now, it was slow... and it wasn't always running. And, I did my share of falling (thankful the snow was forgiving!!!) But, the other hikes I went on I didn't run down and this time I was determined to at least try. Try I did. Fall I did. Maybe next time, I will do it (the falling) less.
Overall, I was so glad I did this hike! (I guess you can't really call it a snowshoe because I left the snowshoes in the car! See: Lesson #1.) It was such a pretty morning to get out and be adventurous. I am slowly getting out of my shell I have been in the past couple years, and getting back to some things I love. It is amazing how you can change (without even knowing) and take so long to figure out that you like being one way over another. I am starting to get back there. It'll be a journey, but here I am.
This also brings me back to this blog. I haven't written in it in almost 2 years. 2 YEARS!!! I stopped writing regularly a long time before that because I thought, "who really wants to read what I have to write" and... that may be true! But what I realize is that I am not doing it for anyone else, just myself. I want to record these adventures and have something to look back on. Even if it is NOT getting to the top of a peak today. I need to love life and ALL the adventures it brings. As well as continue to take them and make memories!
Cheers! and, if you have made it this far, thanks for reading.
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