| Climbing Sugarloaf! |
[May. 16th, 2011|08:09 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  accomplished | ] |
My weekend was...AMAZING! Climbing Sugarloaf all alone was so peaceful and lovely. NO ONE was on the mountain. It was rainy and overcast, so only an idiot would bother. Unfortunately, because of the mist, I couldn't see to choose a reasonable ascent route and just headed up willy-nilly, on what quickly became a very steep black diamond section. There I was, towards the end, feeling really wiped out and beating myself up for being in such "lousy" shape. But when I looked at a map the next day I realized that it was just too steep to ascend there. DUMB!
Well, I'm still getting the hang of this ski-mountaineering thing. I learn more every time I have to face new challenges. Like: DO NOT OVERPACK!!! I went way, way overboard, planning for every possible emergency, not even thinking about how there are plenty of shelters all over the mountain--the little huts at the lifts? hello? Also, temps were in the 50s and tended not to go down that far even at night. So I brought way too many extra layers "just in case I got stuck overnight." Also, even though the tele boots aren't all that comfortable to walk in, it sure beats CARRYING them (which I only did for the first twenty minutes). That was stupid. But I was worried that I'd reach some point where I would not be able to walk in the tele boots...wha??? At least I didn't bring the snow shoes...omg, that would have been the LIMIT!
Of course with the ridiculously heavy pack throwing off my balance, skiing down was quite the challenge too--especially since I was on a black or double black (not sure which) section. Once I got to a blue I was fine. Kinda wishing I'd gone UP that way as well...It's all about the planning.
On an especially steep section of my ascent, I lost my balance and tumbled down the mountain a bit, hat going one way, camera the other, me all over the place. I managed to STOP, and there I was, all disoriented, feet, legs, and skis every which way. But I had my beloved Tilley hat firmly in my grip! Ha! Once I managed to get myself back up, I felt like I was missing something. What? No clue. I figured it was just my imagination. Well, later I realized my KEYS were gone, so I'm pretty sure they came unclipped there. DUMB, wearing my keys on the loop instead of safely stowed. I thought it would be more "convenient." Yeah. Now I have to buy replacements for the car and for the bike lock, as well as make a copy of the tenant's front door key. But, lesson learned.
I realized that my keys were gone at an especially strenuously point in my climb, so I decided that my frustration point had been reached. I couldn't see above or below me. I had no idea how close to the summit I was, and even if I did make it, I would have been in a cloud! Anyway, I sent my location to Google using the Latitude app. on my Android. You can see where I turned around:
View Larger Map
Zoom in, and if you follow the trails up, you can see how they all sort of converge towards the right of the photo. That's the summit! About 1,000' up! If only I had been able to SEE IT, I would have been driven by hope. But I had not idea how much farther and I was really concerned about getting down safely with my legs being so tired. Yeah, I know, wah-wah-wahhhhh. Just sayin' though. This defeat will make my ultimate victory all the sweeter. Next year then! I'll make this my tradition, to climb and ski Sugarloaf after they close. I got so much joy being on that mountain. It was wonderful to be absolutely free up there, no one in sight, all under my own power. Yes, "dangerous" to climb alone like that in that weather, but that's part of the joy. Just trusting in your own will and strength to make it. I feel good today too--just a little sore yesterday and a little less today. So yes, my fitness level is pretty awesome! |
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