Jim lombard
New member
As winter approaches I was wondering which of the high peaks was the most brutal for you due to weather, trail conditions, illness etc.
For me it was Mt Moriah (yes Moriah )in January of 2001. It was just my second "official" winter hike and I was hiking with a seasoned veteran. It should've been fairly straightforward but even with snowshoes and taking turns breaking trail we were both winded by the time we reached Carter ridge. Somewhere after the left turn for Moriah my companion turned back with cold feet. I decided to push on and try for the summit........it couldn't be that bad, the map seemed to show it barely a mile from where we were.
The snow was deep in places, I'd break through to my knees and after about the third false summit I thought of turning back. My own feet had gotten cold by now, again the thoughts of turning back were creeping up one me. I caught up with a couple whose tracks I'd been following and in a short-time was at the final steep part before the summit. It was completely socked in and now snowing hard, just a quick peek and slide back down. I tried to stay with the couple on the way down but they were moving too fast, I was exhausted.
The trail was wide and easy to follow and my feet seemed to be warming up. I figured by now Steve was in his truck, warm and comfortable so I didn't try and run down the trail.......I don't think I could've anyway. I've been up a few since then, even some of the Presidentials but to me that was the hardest so far. And there was nothing quite like the feeling of triumph as I emerged onto the trailhead parking lot that afternoon. I've been hooked ever since.
#1 Moriah
#2 WildcatD
#3 Madison
#4 Washington attempt
#5 Garfield attempt
For me it was Mt Moriah (yes Moriah )in January of 2001. It was just my second "official" winter hike and I was hiking with a seasoned veteran. It should've been fairly straightforward but even with snowshoes and taking turns breaking trail we were both winded by the time we reached Carter ridge. Somewhere after the left turn for Moriah my companion turned back with cold feet. I decided to push on and try for the summit........it couldn't be that bad, the map seemed to show it barely a mile from where we were.
The snow was deep in places, I'd break through to my knees and after about the third false summit I thought of turning back. My own feet had gotten cold by now, again the thoughts of turning back were creeping up one me. I caught up with a couple whose tracks I'd been following and in a short-time was at the final steep part before the summit. It was completely socked in and now snowing hard, just a quick peek and slide back down. I tried to stay with the couple on the way down but they were moving too fast, I was exhausted.
The trail was wide and easy to follow and my feet seemed to be warming up. I figured by now Steve was in his truck, warm and comfortable so I didn't try and run down the trail.......I don't think I could've anyway. I've been up a few since then, even some of the Presidentials but to me that was the hardest so far. And there was nothing quite like the feeling of triumph as I emerged onto the trailhead parking lot that afternoon. I've been hooked ever since.
#1 Moriah
#2 WildcatD
#3 Madison
#4 Washington attempt
#5 Garfield attempt