Wow I am exhausted that was a beautiful journey but excruciating so ill keep it brief because I am very tired been up before the sun was up today and came after the sun was down.
We climbed through a primitive canyon where we seen a huge herd of many deer. We had to cross ravines, creeks, trudge through snow and even a steep muddy cliff. I almost slide had to dig my fingers deep in the mud or it may have not gone well for me.
But with subzero temps, hands getting muddy, wind chills etc it was rough at times. Jarrod had to use a water bottle on my hands to get the mud off it was frozen so it made my fingers turn like stone crazy stuff lucky I do not have frost bite. My kid thinks I am nuts as I sank my fingers four inches into the earth lol like a monster but its either that or fall miserably.
We then climbed below the Nipple its a volcanic dome or peak rather no trails to rock climb to the top its rugged. We got onto the Pacific Crest Trail hiking along cliffs above Blue Lakes down a snowy narrow trail below these crags.
In turn we made our way to Lost Lakes boy that is a pretty gem and trust me they are lost because they are hard to find and not easy to get to. The forest we went through all the pine trees had snow on them it was a winter wonderland.
Eventually we made our way back up the snowy cliffs above the lake and ascended to the Nipple. There are crags so you have to be careful but as you climb around them they have these 1000 cliffs straight down its intense if you do no like the heights you wont like this.
But the views multiple lakes, snowy peaks many of which we climbed, three national forest, three passes, the forestdale divide and Hope Valley below its stellar. Its at least one of the top ten summits I climbed or scenic hikes I have done since I moved up this way almost seven years ago. Many of the places I hiked or climbed you could see from that peak plus we signed the log book at the peak I wrote a nice message on paper they have a ledger with all sorts of stuff in this ammo box.
The descent was rough almost straight down lose rocks but we made it to a trail which took us a couple miles through rugged forest with switch backs, granite rocks bigger then houses, creeks and huge fallen trees where we came out onto the road then hiked a couple miles up it taking these dirt roads on the other side of the peak where my truck was.
It was good to get some heat going plus the heated seats because we had subzero temps all day some places had snow other places did not. I been hiking in this area all month but we had an end of summer surprise cold front and snow storm so some peaks have 7′ of snow easily the Nipple had some but not as bad as the others. But I got to see the Evergreen trail from high above that is the trail we took to Summit City a ghost town a couple times this month so it puts the area into perspective.
We hiked in a dark overgrown forest but it was quiet the sunset was nice a crescent moon out but I am glad to be home. I did not expect it to be this cold or this wintry up here yeah maybe the end of October but this time of year this is rare then again it is the mountains. They throw you some surprises but Fila shoes did alright but would have preferred the water proof hiking boots. But I made it and now I am nice and warm.
I took some killer scenic photos today some wild flowers to but not many left seen a herd of deer it was amazing all standing on a ridge looking down at us. My ankle brace held up fine but I hit a rock with the other ankle and sprained it just my luck but so goes life it was worth what I got to see today and spend time with my boy. He wanted an amazing hike for his birthday I gave him one it killed me trust me allot of mind power to climb to the top of the sierras especially with it being winter up there.
Not much bigfoot activity heard some vocalizations the woods had some branches break but nothing. I figured out the reason why you see we had drought till this past winter for a few years. These creatures need water that is how they migrate but today I seen falls, icicles, creeks, wet meadows, lakes overfilled that the trees are underwater and ponds. This creature no longer has to scramble to find water because its everywhere the past few years tracks would be found in odd places or near trails because they had to find the water not so much anymore just incredible.
It was a good day lost my GPS had it in the mesh but took a fall in deep snow there are some crevices and ravines they are deep. So you cant just jump them but follow them rather and it can be slippery trying to cross them and so I fell slid never realized it fell off. Its all good though the GPS had problems with it bought it less then a year ago and it never worked right. Sometimes shit happens stuff breaks or comes up missing on hikes. I did get to carry my German machete sword so one toy for another. Maybe losing the GPS was a good thing.
Guess I need to rest in the morning in the Bills and Denver game then I play football at the dome. Will have to see how that goes everything aches on me I took a beating in those mountains today. When you carry 50lbs on your back from morning to night climbing cliffs, crawling on all fours through mud, hopping ravines etc it knocks the wind out of you.
I think ill have some left over Italian chicken then turn in a good day beers, good Tahoe bud, allot of adventuring and we got a months worth of hiking in one day probably about seven miles worth. I love the sierras though this is my home or my second one. I would not pass this up for the world but I will say this was a rugged hike it had some dangers in it too it is the mountains you could stumble go off a cliff you have no room for errors just like you can free to death and people come up missing up here all the time too.
I found some hidden caves too on the primitive part of my hike below these cliffs some up on them. Thought about peaking my head into the lions den who knows bigfoot but the kid was with me did not need him seeing some bear deciding to eat me for lunch but I did find some below this volcanic dome who knows maybe they are lava tubes might have to one day go check them out when the snow and mud is gone. I came home quite muddy, dirty etc its mess up there right now my friends but some views are worth the sacrifice . If you are on my main facebook you will see I took some photos for you guys so you could follow my journey a little and see some photos. Just a taste of things to come a teaser more or less:) have a great night everyone going to relax ill be dreaming of Bigfoot tonight I know he is out there and I wont give up:)
Namaste,
Lord Rick
