When you reach the summit of the highest mountain in the particular mountain range that you are climbing, it's an accomplishment. Then you realize that it is called Slide Mountain because of the long, steady, gradual climb to the top from the front side (like a slide). You eventually figure out that you didn't do enough research to realize what you where getting yourself into for the 930 ft. drop off the back side and it becomes an "aw shit." Then when you get yourself, your wife, and your dog past the point of no return... it's priceless...
These pictures can't really ever do justice to several of the technical climbs we had to do. (you can't take pictures when you are holding on and praying) Lowering all of our gear down on parachute chord and then descending a crevasse by pressing out with both arms and legs on each side until we got down to the next ledge. One horizontal cross had us leaning up against the rock face while we side stepped on a four inch ledge for 40 feet. The drop behind us was 50 feet. (with Sarge on the lease wondering why we were moving so slow)
These pictures can't really ever do justice to several of the technical climbs we had to do. (you can't take pictures when you are holding on and praying) Lowering all of our gear down on parachute chord and then descending a crevasse by pressing out with both arms and legs on each side until we got down to the next ledge. One horizontal cross had us leaning up against the rock face while we side stepped on a four inch ledge for 40 feet. The drop behind us was 50 feet. (with Sarge on the lease wondering why we were moving so slow)
This was the type of challenge that I brought myself up here for, I just didn't realize that I was going to put my wife (and my hard-headed dog) in the middle of it. But then again, she did ask for it...
Enjoying your story! Keep writing.
ReplyDeleteI have a book about trail building. It talks about how trails on the east coast were made to get away from the city and experience nature. Since mountains were suppose to be difficult, they tend to make the trails straight up the mountain.
On the west coast, trails were made for logging and mining, so they tend to have easier slopes for the mules and men carrying equipment. On the other hand, 4-5000 ft gains are common and when you get off the trail, you're on your own.
But even though the mountains are smaller back east, the climbing can be just as tough!
What a day! It was grueling, but so worth it. The colors are beautiful right now. I never felt unsafe with you leading. I felt challenged, I felt pain, I felt I wanted a pedicure, but never unsafe. And wasn't it much more interesting than your "run-of-the-mill" workout on a treadmill!! You know when we started out and we were climbing up Slide, the leaves on the trail were brilliant! Amazing what colors and shades of color God paints! The sun was shining through the trees enough to catch the red, orange, gold, green against the brown of the soil. I LOVE Autumn!! The stones were wet from the rain, different colors and shapes that are never dull in nature. The Balsam groves (is that what they were?) smelled Heavenly-they brought to mind Christmas, home, family, fresh air,... But...by the time we were coming down Wittenburg...those damned leaves were slick, the loose rocks were treacherous, and those windy roots were killing my ankles!!! Thanks, my love, great hike!!!
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