New adventures

In 10 days, Cicely, Stu, Chris, Andrea (a different one) and I are going to spend 10 days in Southern Utah. Hiking, Climbing, Floating on Rivers, Driving, Camping and just about anything else we can think of that sound like fun.

When we get back Cicely, John and I are going to climb Mt. Rainier. We are a little nervous for this. I think that we have gotten into good enough shape, but it a really big hill to walk up. I guess it boils down to the fear of the unknown.

Cicely and I climbed Mt. Ellinor on Sunday, a lady got hurt at the top of the chute. She was down climbing, slipped and lost control. She apparently broke her knee and her shoulder. She was with 3 other ladies on the mountain. I had to lift her out of the glissading trough that had been created. Glissading is when you sit on you butt and slide down the mountain with an ice axe for a brake. The trough was about 4 feet deep in places and looked a lot like an Olympic Bobsled run. This sound like a lot of fun, but the visibility was piss poor, and the trough was so deep that if it hit the fan, you couldn't get out, and will get hurt.

We passed her on the way up. We also passed another lady that was going down to make a call for help.

Cicely and I got to the top of the Mountain, and under the conditions, it was not an easy climb. It was absolutely gorgeous on top. We climbed up through the clouds and right at the top we broke through and could see, Mt. Baker, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. St. Helens. All of Western Washington was under the cloud cover as I am sure most of you know. There was nothing but clouds and mountains as far as you could see. I want everyone to be able to see what that looks like. (Sorry, no pictures, in order to see things like that you have to earn it.) Cicely and I found ourselves staring at Mt. Rainier. With that...apprehensive excitement. I can't wait.

On the way back down we stopped and check on the hurt lady and she was getting cold, and was scared. We gave her an extra seat for insulating her butt from the snow, I gave her my warm down coat, and a light stick in case it got dark she could light up her location for the rescue climbers. I hope she sends that stuff back to me.

We then boogied down the hill, and at the bottom saw the sherrif's department getting ready to get her down.

All too often, people go up into the mountains, without the ability to get themselves down in an emergency. I could have gotten her down, but the rescue climbers were on the way. There have been 4 people serioulsy hurt trying to glissade on Mt. Ellinor in the last week and a half. It is dangerous, don't do it unless you know how. And for Pete's sake learn how, it is a total blast.

Climbing and hiking is the most rewarding sport that I have ever been involved in. There is nothing like working your ass off, for sometimes months, to get to see places that rarely get seen.

We are headed to the land of Moab, Utah. Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, with stops along the way of Zion National Park, Bryce National Park, and the Grand Canyon. When we get back, the big hill. I will be taking pictures.

See you on the flip side.

AC