woodstrider
New member
So, as I am walking along today I was thinking on a series of hikes that I have made over the years to Pikes Peak, CO. IT got me thinking about an incident on one of those trips that I think about and wish that I had "gone the other way".
I have relatives that live in Mantiou Springs, Co and over the years I have visited them and made several stabs at Pikes Peak- about 4 altogether. The first time I was about 19 years old and I almost lost my life, though at the time I hardly realized the danger that I was in. I started for the summit one Aug. day, the temperatures already in the 80's. I was hardly the experienced hiker that I am today and I was dressed in shorts, tee-shirt, sneakers and my Uncles rain-shell. MY equipment for this strenuous hike consisisted of a PB&J sandwhich and a quart of water. As I started up the trail I soon caught up with an elderly gent. He looked like the very spirit of John Muir- dressed as he was in sturdy black shoes, black trousers and a clean button-down white shirt. As we hiked more or less together we chatted. He had intended to go to the half-way point in the trail- Bar-H Camp- and then turn around, but once there he decied to go on and we formed an ad hoc team. Above Bar-H Camp the trail soon climbs above treeline and the temperatures dropped into the 30's. We were some distance from the summit- at least 1-2 miles when I sat down on a boulder and became too disoriented to hike on. I was hallucinating and felt very apathetic about continuing on and urged my companion to go on with out me. He absolutely refused to go on without me and while concern for my own safetly was almost nil I did want him to go on. Finally, after much cajoling and a threat or two I did stand up and we hiked on to the summit together. He probably saved my life.
I returned to Mantiou Springs and Pikes Peak several more times, and on one occassion I went on a hike with my Uncle. On that hike we started for the summit on a day that did not promise good weather, but we thought that we would give it a try. We did not get far before it began to rain and by the time that we reached the Bar-H Camp it was pouring and the thunder was so loud that it rattled my bones with every crash. We huddled together for a few minutes and my Uncles thought that we should turn around. I was only 20 or 21 and and I did not know that my Uncle was paying me alot of respect by allowing me to also decide for myself whether to go on or not. I decided to go on- to at least try and we parted ways- my Uncle descending and I continuing up. Well, I got about a mile or less when I started to climb out of the trees. I stopped and looked around me, at the rain and the thunder and lightening- which were all intensifying. Alarm bells began to go off in my head and I just knew that I did not want to be here anymore, so I turned around. Just then I heard my Uncle calling my name- he had decided not to let me decide and had turned around to get his foolish young niece. We ended up running down hill, back to the trailhead and my shin splints were so bad that I could not walk for 3 days.
It was more then ten years before I could return to hike Pikes Peak. I was still not an experienced hiker- going out on a fair day once or twice a year does not the seasoned hiker make- but still I looked forward to hiking up Pikes Peak. My Uncle and I hoped to be able to make the summit this time, but as things worked out I ended up hiking by myself. All was going well and as the day progressed I slowly made my way up the mountain. Well above treeline I met another women hiking by herself and I was glad to see another women who was also not afraid to hike by herself. She had two hiking poles and depended on them a great deal. When I asked about the poles she explained that she had some physical problems and considered this hike to be an important statement about her relationship to her health. I had nothing but respect for her and yet I noticed how slowly she was hiking along, even when compared to my own pace and even on the level parts of the switchbacks. We weathered out a passing thunderstorm together and the day got old. But still, I stayed with her- respecting her desire to hike solo to the summit, yet staying close because I felt that she was not going to make the summit before night fall. As she stopped again and again for a break, and as the breaks got closer together I was reminded of my own brush with hypothermia. Less then a mile form the summit I made the decision to go on ahead to the summit, by myself and get help. My own family awaited my return and I was already over due and I felt it best to alert someone on the summit about this women. I did not have ant emergency gear at all- not even a flashlight, though this women had very good gear and assured me that she had a flashlight. At the summit I reported her presence on the mountain and then I hitch-hiked down the road. I was hours over due and my Aunt and Uncle were furious with me.
I never did hear another word about her and sometimes I think that all was well and she hiked to the summit and was fine. Sometimes, though, I wonder... The decision to go on to the summit is one that haunts me to this day and I felt I should have stayed with her until we both got to the top.
So- now my question... Is there a decision that you have made hiking/backpacking/climbing that you would make differently today, in retrospect? I do think that monday morning quarterbacking is usefull and can teach us something.
I have relatives that live in Mantiou Springs, Co and over the years I have visited them and made several stabs at Pikes Peak- about 4 altogether. The first time I was about 19 years old and I almost lost my life, though at the time I hardly realized the danger that I was in. I started for the summit one Aug. day, the temperatures already in the 80's. I was hardly the experienced hiker that I am today and I was dressed in shorts, tee-shirt, sneakers and my Uncles rain-shell. MY equipment for this strenuous hike consisisted of a PB&J sandwhich and a quart of water. As I started up the trail I soon caught up with an elderly gent. He looked like the very spirit of John Muir- dressed as he was in sturdy black shoes, black trousers and a clean button-down white shirt. As we hiked more or less together we chatted. He had intended to go to the half-way point in the trail- Bar-H Camp- and then turn around, but once there he decied to go on and we formed an ad hoc team. Above Bar-H Camp the trail soon climbs above treeline and the temperatures dropped into the 30's. We were some distance from the summit- at least 1-2 miles when I sat down on a boulder and became too disoriented to hike on. I was hallucinating and felt very apathetic about continuing on and urged my companion to go on with out me. He absolutely refused to go on without me and while concern for my own safetly was almost nil I did want him to go on. Finally, after much cajoling and a threat or two I did stand up and we hiked on to the summit together. He probably saved my life.
I returned to Mantiou Springs and Pikes Peak several more times, and on one occassion I went on a hike with my Uncle. On that hike we started for the summit on a day that did not promise good weather, but we thought that we would give it a try. We did not get far before it began to rain and by the time that we reached the Bar-H Camp it was pouring and the thunder was so loud that it rattled my bones with every crash. We huddled together for a few minutes and my Uncles thought that we should turn around. I was only 20 or 21 and and I did not know that my Uncle was paying me alot of respect by allowing me to also decide for myself whether to go on or not. I decided to go on- to at least try and we parted ways- my Uncle descending and I continuing up. Well, I got about a mile or less when I started to climb out of the trees. I stopped and looked around me, at the rain and the thunder and lightening- which were all intensifying. Alarm bells began to go off in my head and I just knew that I did not want to be here anymore, so I turned around. Just then I heard my Uncle calling my name- he had decided not to let me decide and had turned around to get his foolish young niece. We ended up running down hill, back to the trailhead and my shin splints were so bad that I could not walk for 3 days.
It was more then ten years before I could return to hike Pikes Peak. I was still not an experienced hiker- going out on a fair day once or twice a year does not the seasoned hiker make- but still I looked forward to hiking up Pikes Peak. My Uncle and I hoped to be able to make the summit this time, but as things worked out I ended up hiking by myself. All was going well and as the day progressed I slowly made my way up the mountain. Well above treeline I met another women hiking by herself and I was glad to see another women who was also not afraid to hike by herself. She had two hiking poles and depended on them a great deal. When I asked about the poles she explained that she had some physical problems and considered this hike to be an important statement about her relationship to her health. I had nothing but respect for her and yet I noticed how slowly she was hiking along, even when compared to my own pace and even on the level parts of the switchbacks. We weathered out a passing thunderstorm together and the day got old. But still, I stayed with her- respecting her desire to hike solo to the summit, yet staying close because I felt that she was not going to make the summit before night fall. As she stopped again and again for a break, and as the breaks got closer together I was reminded of my own brush with hypothermia. Less then a mile form the summit I made the decision to go on ahead to the summit, by myself and get help. My own family awaited my return and I was already over due and I felt it best to alert someone on the summit about this women. I did not have ant emergency gear at all- not even a flashlight, though this women had very good gear and assured me that she had a flashlight. At the summit I reported her presence on the mountain and then I hitch-hiked down the road. I was hours over due and my Aunt and Uncle were furious with me.
I never did hear another word about her and sometimes I think that all was well and she hiked to the summit and was fine. Sometimes, though, I wonder... The decision to go on to the summit is one that haunts me to this day and I felt I should have stayed with her until we both got to the top.
So- now my question... Is there a decision that you have made hiking/backpacking/climbing that you would make differently today, in retrospect? I do think that monday morning quarterbacking is usefull and can teach us something.
