tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89344760418681087322023-11-16T10:22:20.953-08:00Into the SkyIn August of 2010 my life was changed irrevocably: the diagnose? rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Dramatic pause...truthfully, there is little drama to this story, simply a new set of facts that went on to redefine my diet, exercise, relationships and love for mountains.
Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-72592048686013454242017-01-14T22:39:00.001-08:002017-01-22T17:13:10.671-08:002016 in Review + 2017 and Fully Medicated<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"If ever I can't see, the magic around me, please take my hands off my eyes." </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Cloud Cult</span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It has taken several 2017 weeks to make sense of 2016. Reflection takes time, but mostly it takes space: stand too close to a mirror and you'll see why.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<h3>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Here is a quick look at the 2016 by the numbers:</u></b></h3>
</div>
<div>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u></u></b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="data:image/png;base64,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" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>***Only mountains w/2000 feet vertical gain or better are counted</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u></u></b></div>
<div>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u></u></b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u></u></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Total Mountain Summits (2,000+ vertical):</b> 155</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Total Vertical Feet (Ascent): </b>370,700 feet</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Longest Day: </b>32 miles (Rattlesnake Wilderness)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Shortest Day: </b>0 miles (illness - homebound)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Highest Point: </b>13,809' - Gannett Peak, Wyoming </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Lowest Point: </b><i>See 'Shortest Day'</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Coldest temp on a summit (F): </b>-12 (-25 windchill) - Mount Sentinel</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Highest temp on a summit (F): </b>99 - Mount Sentinel</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Most Mount Sentinel Summits in one outing: </b>3 (Ridge-Trail-Triple)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b>Mountain Summit Highlights of 2016 (this is only a fraction!):</b></u></span></h3>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>1) El Capitan Winter Ascent (March): </b>Nick, Brandon and I made a leisurely foray into the absolutely stunning Como Peak cirque in the Bitterroot Mountains in March. We spent three days exploring and climbing El Capitan, the 2nd highest peak in the Bitterroot Mountains. The weather was incredible and the company was top-notch.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUafYwpUQL-bU_BLFnrNk3NTfNavCWHosk_GaLTzmPEANcWVq1XWA8gt682F5-zeonN8FqG0akX2CAXNL_rYh0pToMvOpg0WB9FuyqkCCcrD5yv43XYH3G5HadAOEBrzSc8bcDKAdXW-t/s1600/El+Capitan+-+summit+ridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUafYwpUQL-bU_BLFnrNk3NTfNavCWHosk_GaLTzmPEANcWVq1XWA8gt682F5-zeonN8FqG0akX2CAXNL_rYh0pToMvOpg0WB9FuyqkCCcrD5yv43XYH3G5HadAOEBrzSc8bcDKAdXW-t/s400/El+Capitan+-+summit+ridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick and Brandon on the summit ridge of El Capitan in the Bitterroot Mountains.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2) Gannett Peak - The Long Way (August): </b>Brandon and I climbed the high point of Wyoming under absolutely perfect conditions. Again, taking our time, we enjoyed the 50+ mile round-trip journey to, up and from Gannett Peak in the Wind River Range. We encountered very few people along the way and had the summit day to ourselves!</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__FgtaNNRgLZUAfKfXI3utsGClMorOQuFPJiDLb3t0JC26Znz7mfiHNw8PphEzmuIemdDAVLZEzlfXiuC-ia7kwfr7c-Gi9ncYu4Ukhh6hOK6cFBXyP4KYvB5-WasxrE1GtssOYkcpSyg/s1600/Summit+selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__FgtaNNRgLZUAfKfXI3utsGClMorOQuFPJiDLb3t0JC26Znz7mfiHNw8PphEzmuIemdDAVLZEzlfXiuC-ia7kwfr7c-Gi9ncYu4Ukhh6hOK6cFBXyP4KYvB5-WasxrE1GtssOYkcpSyg/s320/Summit+selfie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brandon and I on the summit of Gannett Peak.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) Lolo Peak - On the Windiest Day (May): </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Linds and I climbed Lolo Peak - her first time w/ice axe and crampons - under some pretty extreme weather conditions in May. Upon reaching the North Summit, we were forced onto our bellies as the hurricane-force went threatened to rip us off the mountain. We slowly crawled away, regained our feet and returned to the land of the living. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuSavklAf4d2juxj_MaEh5Ww-gDwQxRppdXmjH9h-6_s_tOHWzEigzN8_GSkbR6cWXgLENvVG6svbrOJp0Mno09bjOiSHDbfxZAy5grCcXmtmqDXFfhTJ6U3FGXrsQZdn-dIA5Re8F6rF/s1600/Glass+of+milk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuSavklAf4d2juxj_MaEh5Ww-gDwQxRppdXmjH9h-6_s_tOHWzEigzN8_GSkbR6cWXgLENvVG6svbrOJp0Mno09bjOiSHDbfxZAy5grCcXmtmqDXFfhTJ6U3FGXrsQZdn-dIA5Re8F6rF/s400/Glass+of+milk.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linds ascending the north ridge of Lolo Peak in a blizzard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4) Mountaineer Peak - A Bushwhacker's Paradise (October): </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We didn't know it then, but Cory and I had ventured into the Mission Mountains on what was to be the final summer-like day of 2016. Under blue skies and unseasonably warm temps, we journeyed up, up and up in the general direction of Mountaineer Peak. I will refrain from sharing the mishaps of the day as they are numerous and embarrassing to those involved (Cory and I). Where the trail ended, the adventure began. We bushwhacked our way around Lucifer Lake, up to Picture Lake and the foot of the real climb. A the foot of The Garden Wall, Mountaineer Peak looms 2,500 feet above and 3/4 mile distant via a boulder/talus-filled couloir. We made the descent sans shirts.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9MuLZte8__UAIWOTbf0-wbJeDm8nOZXw39IC_CfvAviRUlI67uuwhxzyZpJvesdEs8hvwhdCIiGP25AhhoMcHMM9u7AomIcJ2VKHY_3464JKHAGbSp8ejEiuexT8CFyz-cK8JDNtQABw/s1600/Summit+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9MuLZte8__UAIWOTbf0-wbJeDm8nOZXw39IC_CfvAviRUlI67uuwhxzyZpJvesdEs8hvwhdCIiGP25AhhoMcHMM9u7AomIcJ2VKHY_3464JKHAGbSp8ejEiuexT8CFyz-cK8JDNtQABw/s320/Summit+photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snapshot of Picture Lake and Lucifer Lake from Mountaineer Peak.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPRih0x4ph_9y4tV8OTOmbfrD2_sTS64c8xDBRmvQ9naOQZpEz8_mebgiOD_cOG70sTROfsH37mDlEmEMqwYmdvj12buEiaEv_fgApCE7gFHYfc6V0KP6JZ7Ft39XjzXeEQKog2acJpgt/s1600/Cory+battling+willows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPRih0x4ph_9y4tV8OTOmbfrD2_sTS64c8xDBRmvQ9naOQZpEz8_mebgiOD_cOG70sTROfsH37mDlEmEMqwYmdvj12buEiaEv_fgApCE7gFHYfc6V0KP6JZ7Ft39XjzXeEQKog2acJpgt/s320/Cory+battling+willows.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cory in the willows somewhere in the vicinity of Lucifer Lake.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5) Lolo-Sweeney Peak Traverse - Across the Bitterroots (November): </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nick had the brilliant idea to traverse Lolo and Sweeney Peaks from Mill Creek to Sweeney Creek. And brilliant it was. The dawn-to-dusk outing including walking on dirt and snow, snowshoeing, ice axing, down-climbing and smiling. The route was somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 miles and 7,000 vertical feet of ascent and very slow going at times! Similar to Mountaineer Peak, the day turned out to be among the finest days of its season (fall).</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhSkNr19_LbTNxRBc4fItn1u1KaloJlKVqrDkbDODhqqxsHhLEFGIfTragHrXsWcYCVf-qL3QaqQAYgmHG0C2N85fRdRLIUT4KC3V4OjozWEOasO8vY_gfAnAdM45c7WGrM_n_UeC-qqU/s1600/Nick+going+up+on+Sweeney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhSkNr19_LbTNxRBc4fItn1u1KaloJlKVqrDkbDODhqqxsHhLEFGIfTragHrXsWcYCVf-qL3QaqQAYgmHG0C2N85fRdRLIUT4KC3V4OjozWEOasO8vY_gfAnAdM45c7WGrM_n_UeC-qqU/s400/Nick+going+up+on+Sweeney.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick, as we near the summit of Sweeney Peak, with Lolo Peak in the background.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6) Stuart Peak - The Many Faces Of (Year-Round): </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After three years of attempting a once-a-month summit of Stuart Peak (18-miles, 4,200 feet), I succeeded! Each of the last three years, although I had reached the summit 12+ times/year, I had failed to summit one month for varying reasons (i.e. injury, illness). This year, the goal was to hike/climb Stuart every month of 2016 by every possible route (I count 8). I achieved half of the goal: although I did summit every month, I missed one route on account of avalanche conditions. Here are the routes I hiked/climbed:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- South Ridge</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Southeast Face</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- East Ridge</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- South Ridge-East Ridge Traverse</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Northeast Face (my favorite climb!)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Northeast Ridge</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- North Ridge (standard route)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- West Slope</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitK-NsMILKcjCu9sZfxS4I5aPxzyNVeIc2MmqyLwvWfLijyOd3yClsydxPb5Tso5UdIrSCKR81ziPzeLuTW7oHdt5fW7cSGI2XM0s3Jn8KKRZMw2FUIKjJy8SBViTUA13pMsCQPWWLVcB/s1600/12th+Stuart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhitK-NsMILKcjCu9sZfxS4I5aPxzyNVeIc2MmqyLwvWfLijyOd3yClsydxPb5Tso5UdIrSCKR81ziPzeLuTW7oHdt5fW7cSGI2XM0s3Jn8KKRZMw2FUIKjJy8SBViTUA13pMsCQPWWLVcB/s320/12th+Stuart.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit self-portrait on the final summit of 2016. This proved to be<br />
the most arduous of the year on account of deeeep snow. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7) Rocky Mountain Traverse - Take Two (September): </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cory and I made an attempt on Rocky Mountain - the high point of the Bob Marshall Wilderness - in May but were thwarted by blizzard conditions on a sketchy route (rime ice coated everything). Thrilled with the terrain, Cory and I returned in September for one of the most splendid days in the mountains of 2016. We made our way leisurely up the route and topped out via the West Face route, a fun scramble up and around ramps. Near the summit, I gained a ramp only to discover a pair of perfectly camouflaged ptarmigan - I near stepped on them! We enjoyed our time on the summit and descended down the east ridge and scree sleeps of the north face. A perfect day out.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTivKU5JmoNrBxzOqDYFZBsX7nMCr1ak_rmwaadhzsVwSNdOvUo0vmYAKNiOn2CX5675XF_sehFupxxM7KPEytPmKd_TId6gf7CxVykf3bQd0XGvdvfZR_WjW6w5W-e4Uryku9wPPSVu6/s1600/Rocky+Mountain%252C+summit+ridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTivKU5JmoNrBxzOqDYFZBsX7nMCr1ak_rmwaadhzsVwSNdOvUo0vmYAKNiOn2CX5675XF_sehFupxxM7KPEytPmKd_TId6gf7CxVykf3bQd0XGvdvfZR_WjW6w5W-e4Uryku9wPPSVu6/s400/Rocky+Mountain%252C+summit+ridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cory nearing the summit the Rocky Mountain after gaining the ridge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8) Mount Sentinel - Triple-Dip (untimed): </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hungry for something strenuous, Mike (and his dog George) and I did a couple of laps on Mount Sentinel via the Ridge Trail (TH to summit to TH to summit to TH). Mike and George departed and I went up once more for good measure. This untimed, leisurely-paced 'Triple-Dip' was a significant step in the direction of letting go of the constant need for timing/setting PRs. </span></div>
<div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; widows: auto;">
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9) Ranger Point - Redemption in the Bitterroot (July)</b>: </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lydia, Dave and I had a 3-day, 2-night lark in the Bitterroot Mountains. We - really they - packed in a 30+ lb inflatable kayak - amongst all the other camping gear - 9.5 miles to our Big Creek Lake campsite. We paddled around and enjoyed some fabulous conversations. And some background...</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">...In the summer of 2015, I did a solo overnight to the area with the intention of climbing several peaks. I climbed Ranger Peak via the knife-edged and heavily pinnacled East Ridge. While bypassing one of the final pinnacles some rocks fell, one of them pegging me in the shin. Committed to the route and getting down to tend to my swelling leg, I was forced to climb up and over Ranger Peak and descend the headwall of the Ranger Cirque and bushwhack my way back to Big Creek Lake: a very exciting outing. The point is, I didn't get to Ranger <i>Point, </i>a subsidiary peak on the ridge. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Flash forward to the first paragraph of this entry, July of 2016, and I found myself eager to have a go at Ranger Point. It isn't much of a jaunt from Big Creek Lake. I poised myself for a speed ascent and completed the round-trip in ~2 hours w/an ice axe. Unfortunately, on the descent I slipped on a moistened slab of granite and banged my knee <i>and </i>cracked my camera filter. Oy vey.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllF6fy8rpP8pCptF5T4DgYL4WSW6OYpIt-BpCDRJKPtqx6cW-HtzINkrKH4jKP-Y2AheTl1D9MjYhExdUaXfeM6ISzPp2tjXHMZ3vbFH6Gx7UGyf88pDVf9uqUgo_DaVG9LYD6K26pQjo/s1600/Ranger+Point+selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllF6fy8rpP8pCptF5T4DgYL4WSW6OYpIt-BpCDRJKPtqx6cW-HtzINkrKH4jKP-Y2AheTl1D9MjYhExdUaXfeM6ISzPp2tjXHMZ3vbFH6Gx7UGyf88pDVf9uqUgo_DaVG9LYD6K26pQjo/s400/Ranger+Point+selfie.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the summit of Ranger Point. Big Creek Lake - where we camped - is visible in the center.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10) Point 8,000 - The Longest Way (July)</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">: During a 40-mile 3-day, 2-night Rattlesnake Wilderness backpacking trip with a couple of friends (and Linds - we are more than friends), I made an early morning foray to the northern-most point of the Wilderness Area. Although I failed to reach my objective (McCleod Peak), I had a lovely outing on a high-sustained ridge to the summit of the unnamed Point 8,000.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial", "helvetica", sans-serif;"><b><u>2017 and Fully Medicated:</u></b></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I entered 2017 fully medicated, that is, on the full regimen of RA drugs: Humira (injection) and Arava to suppress the ol' immune system; prednisone to control inflammation;</span><span style="font-family: "arial", "helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> and celexa to ward off the specter of depression. They are working! After some rough patches of 2016 - struggling to dress myself and use my hands in any meaningful ways - I finally acquiesced and joined the ranks of those on the battlefield, actively fighting rheumatoid arthritis. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial", "helvetica", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">For the first time in six years, I have opted not to set any weekly or monthly mountain goals: speed ascents, records, mountain frequency, etc. Instead, I have decided to take the year off. This does not mean that I will be inactive. On the contrary, I will continue to maintain a base level of fitness and embark on semi-regular forays into the mountains. The goal is to give my body a year of rest, to listen to <i>and </i>respect its desires irrespective of arbitrary standards.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking forward, I do have several objectives - body-willing - in 2017 that I am pumped about:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">- McDonald Peak traverse (Mission Mountains, MT)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">- Granite Peak (Beartooth Mountains, MT)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">- Mount Hood (OR)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">- Rattlesnake Wilderness Traverse (from Arlee to Missoula)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">- High points of Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex - Great Northern Peak, Rocky Mountain and Red Mountain (in-a-day)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">That's it. Nothing more, maybe less. If there is a goal in 2017, it is to slooooow down, focus on landscape photography and to enjoy feeling good. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Be well,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Brian</span></div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-87855141616828786682016-08-31T15:58:00.001-07:002016-08-31T15:58:15.063-07:00When socks become corsets (and other adventures in rheumatoid arthritis)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13hMzJ9LIOtWKjZ_jZqyG3CIXMQPnuneSG-ySAdC3vFw1on3C1LnK6NvFuEaDzM2PHPL4vix5Ynbq2hugJ7_34k6MquCVUiOsIkWMtrAsN-sckETC0rs1ExSivxK6TiGXIhEDdq2ss5hl/s1600/Cory+near+the+summit+of+Rocky+Mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13hMzJ9LIOtWKjZ_jZqyG3CIXMQPnuneSG-ySAdC3vFw1on3C1LnK6NvFuEaDzM2PHPL4vix5Ynbq2hugJ7_34k6MquCVUiOsIkWMtrAsN-sckETC0rs1ExSivxK6TiGXIhEDdq2ss5hl/s320/Cory+near+the+summit+of+Rocky+Mountain.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>On the summit ridge of Rocky Mountain in the Bob Marshall<br />Wilderness over the past weekend. </i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had the humbling and utterly premature - by at least 50 years - experience of being dressed by another person this morning. Linds had the distinct honor of playing the part of my arms and hands as I clumsily, and quite painfully, ticked off the rudiments of my morning rituals. Left to my own devices, I would have been contented to go about my day in nothing more than boxer briefs. And, in the immortal and wholly sacrosanct words of Kurt Vonnegut, "so it goes."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be fair, I could have dressed myself. It would be misleading to suggest otherwise. The process simply would have taken five times as long and been rich with more four-letter words than should be uttered before 7:30 on a Wednesday morning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a strange beast. As with many conditions, particularly those whose symptoms are rooted in chronic pain, its manifestations are as wide-ranging as its keeper. Imagine: pain as unique as the innumerable snowflakes that descend from the heavens. Beautiful. Painfully and tragically, beautiful. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been a solid four or more years since I have experienced anything like a major symptom of RA. That all changed in the middle of January when distant, yet distinct, twinges of pain begin returning to my hands and arm joints. Not unlike the topography of the Wind River Range in Wyoming as one moves closer to its central thrust, the peaks of the pain have been steadily rising and the valleys along with it. And so it is with RA, and I imagine, with all chronic pain: the intensity of pain in the valleys grows to match the initial levels of pain first experienced on the peaks. Over time the pain simply exists in the background. Some days it is infuriating and many days it is mild nuisance, like doing dishes. The past eight months have been marked by a movement towards the central thrust of - what I hope to be - the highest peaks of this wholly metaphorical pain experience.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it was today that I found myself on the verge of helplessness as I readied for the day. It is indeed a strange feeling to find oneself sitting on the edge of one's bed engaged in a stare-down with a pair of socks wondering, "how in the hell do I get those things on?" Confounding. The socks may as well have been a corset, an item of clothing of which my knowledge base begins and ends with its spelling. Utterly foreign.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the thing: in spite of struggles and warranted moments of sincere frustration, I am happy. First off, it could always be worse. Cancer, neurological disorders, diabetes, heart disease, asthma: all these things, all threatening life to varying degrees, scare the hell out of me. And people suffer from them! Bah! Yes, it could be worse. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Secondly, it could probably be better. Yes, it - life absent of chronic pain - would be better. When deeply mired in the pain, as I am now, this equates to hope. It WILL get better. It always has and always will. I know it will. Empirically I know this to be true and as a hopeless optimist, I highly suspect it will come to pass. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And back to the first point, about my circumstances being worse, they could most assuredly be! I do feel an infinite level of gratitude for the continued health of my legs. In spite of all of the upper body pain, my legs and hips continue to perform pain-free and gracefully. With my first love being mountain travel, I am incredibly grateful that this is the case. In my early days with RA, my knees would routinely balloon up with fluid and require draining and cortisone shots. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's next? Well, I have an old friend, Humira, an injectable RA med, waiting patiently for me in the refrigerator. Tonight, we will be reunited and I will humbly accept the circumstances in which I find myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Onward and upward,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brian</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">P.S. I am nearing the 100th summit mark (2,000 feet of ascent or better) for 2016. Additionally, I am a couple of weeks out from standing on top of Mount Sentinel for the 600th time and on top of ol' Stuart Peak for the 50th. Stay tuned throughout the next couple of months as I reinvigorate this blog with tales from the mountains! In spite of the RA setbacks this summer, it has easily been the richest in terms of mountain travel. </span><br />
<br />Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-636369481201051342016-02-28T12:18:00.001-08:002016-02-28T14:20:21.905-08:00Tour de Sentinel 2.0<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIX4f8EE2ZhqeD-0EzURoQ9BIfTMUKIbYRivV4aOH-_z43wPHBkr3sFkyhY3KDY-x-XHc6fxD0bxz8t6b_SMQAD1zPQ-NdrwUfgZb0GtsRG9vSwW_6P2WiklYRgdhZvkq1TpSvnnSdAdb/s1600/Double+route.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIX4f8EE2ZhqeD-0EzURoQ9BIfTMUKIbYRivV4aOH-_z43wPHBkr3sFkyhY3KDY-x-XHc6fxD0bxz8t6b_SMQAD1zPQ-NdrwUfgZb0GtsRG9vSwW_6P2WiklYRgdhZvkq1TpSvnnSdAdb/s640/Double+route.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The redline traces the route. The first lap followed the route left to right with the second lap reversing the route. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Route: </b><br />
First lap (ascent): Ridge Trail (M trailhead) to north summit to south summit<br />
First lap (descent): Pengelly Ridge to Maurice Ave. Trailhead<br />
Second lap (ascent): Pengelly Ridge to south summit to north summit<br />
Second lap (descent): Ridge Trail (M trailhead)<br />
<b>Distance: </b>~9 miles<br />
<b>Vertical: </b>4,000 feet<br />
<b>Time:</b> 2 hours 12 minutes (1h 8m on the first lap and 1h 4m on the second lap)<br />
<br />
Tuesday marked the start of a new chapter in mountain travel. The past six months have been, in effect, recalibration units, each month serving as an opportunity for retrospection and identification of the way forward. It was six months ago that an old injury flared up and prevented me from going on a fabulous twofer climb of Gannett and Granite peaks with my friend Phil (Phil succeeded in summiting both Gannet and Granite in less than a week's time, a remarkable effort).<br />
<br />
Staying home back in August reminded me of the fragility of this whole mountain-ascension enterprise. It seems that sidelining injuries are just a part of the game. It is the love for mountains and the drive to go up them that continues to propel me through recovery.<br />
<br />
I entered the New Year in good health, my legs strong as ever and rheumatoid arthritis controlled. Per tradition, I established a slew of mountain-related goals for the upcoming year:<br />
<br />
- Stand on top of Stuart Peak each month of the year (an ongoing, 3-year's old goal)<br />
- Climb the southeast and northeast faces of Stuart in under a cumulative hour<br />
- Stand on top of Mount Sentinel at least 100 times (an ongoing, 4-year's old goal)<br />
- Aim for a double (under 2 hours) and triple (under 3 hours) dip of Mount Sentinel from base to summit<br />
- Take a stab at Granite OR Gannett during the summer months<br />
- Take a stab at Mount Whitney and Mount Hood in the late-spring<br />
<br />
This set of mountain goals has become pretty standard over the past 4-5 years.<br />
<br />
Back to Tuesday's new chapter. It was a new chapter in the sense that I pushed myself physically within a standard that accounts for my whole health. Far from myopic, before the enterprise, I asked myself if I was in condition to undertake a speed-double of Mount Sentinel, and, if I did, how would I fair post-outing? Although I couldn't have known the answer to the second question, I based the answer on how I have recovered in the past given my current state of health.<br />
<br />
So, I went for it.<br />
<br />
I disembarked from the M Trailhead at 6:02PM. I arrived on the north summit of Sentinel ~26 minutes and 2,000 vertical feet later via the Ridge Trail. Although not my fastest time, I felt confident and strong with the time and especially reassured that I would not have to do the ridge again on this outing (I have done laps on the Ridge Trail in the past and it can be a challenging mind game on that steep trail).<br />
<br />
I carried on to the south summit as the last light of dusk cascaded into the West. Icy in spots, I noted that without a headlamp - which was my situation - the return journey down to the saddle would be a treacherous one on the ice that was tucked away in the forest between the summits. I crossed up and over the south summit of Sentinel and carried on down the Pengelly Ridge with a smile on my face.<br />
<br />
I love descending the Pengelly Ridge. As a power-hiker, I can take full advantage of the relatively shallow angle and lengthen my stride and increase my overall speed. I cruised! ~30 minutes later I had covered the ~3 miles back to the base of Mount Sentinel at the Maurice Avenue Trailhead. I tagged the garbage can, checked the clock (7:10PM), pulled an about-face and headed back up the mountain.<br />
<br />
I was pleased that I had covered the first lap in 1 hour and 8 minutes.<br />
<br />
The shallow slope virtue of the Pengelly Ridge trail extends to the ascent as well. I enjoyed lengthening my stride and adjusting my posture to power up the trail. I felt strong and giddy from the effort: laughter and smiles abounded.<br />
<br />
The ascent up Pengelly, although enjoyable, was relatively uneventful. As I crossed over the south summit for the second time Tuesday evening, I checked my clock: 7:45PM. I was pleased to have covered the ~3 miles up in 35 minutes.<br />
<br />
As expected, I had a heckuva a time descending through the wooded saddle without the aid of a headlight. Truly stubbornness is at play here. I have probably summited Mount Sentinel over 350 times at night without a headlamp. It is a matter of principle. What that principle is founded on, who knows? Pride? Probably. Anyways, I used my trekking poles to feel my way through the woods, losing the trail here and there, but always maintaining the generally trajectory of my next destination: the north summit.<br />
<br />
Finally, I cleared the woods and took the final steps to the north summit. Hurray! It was all downhill from there.<br />
<br />
On the summit for the second time that evening, I felt strong, happy and contented. I felt like I had done exactly what I was made to do. It is hard to express how much joy is generated through these types of challenges. It is the culminated of thoughtful planning, dedicated training, natural beauty and endorphins that make these types of experiences truly transcendent.<br />
<br />
I enjoyed the descent down the Ridge Trail. Steep equals expedient. I listened to my Ridge Trail descent standards: "Untitled 4" and "Untitled 8" from Sigur Ros' "Untitled Album." I reached the M Trailhead - and the end of my journey - before "Untitled 8" concluded. The time read 8:14PM: 2 hours and 12 minutes total (1 hour 4 minute second lap).<br />
<br />
I was pleased with the time. I had been aiming for a sub-2 hour 30 minute finish. What's more, I was pleased with how I felt: strong, durable and accomplished.<br />
<br />
What's next? Time will tell! I am aiming for a sub-3 hour triple round-trip in March. I am fully committed to calling the endeavor off should my body protest. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to do the double on Tuesday.<br />
<br />
Onward and upward,<br />
<br />
Brian<br />
<br />Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-18011410990983469772015-08-01T12:39:00.001-07:002015-08-01T12:50:01.233-07:00500<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> "This is the price you pay for loss of control" (Brand New)</i></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In the summer of 2009 I strolled into Missoula a broken human.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Emotionally, spiritually and mentally, I was most certainly not at my strongest, but physically, I was a a complete wreck. The previous two years (2007-2009) had been rich with running, including 700+ consecutive days of high-mileage running, with the final 365 days clocking in at a 16-mile-per-day-average. I had quite-nearly-literally "run" myself into the ground.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But I didn't know it. The hopeless optimist within me refused to accept the writing on the wall: my best runs were behind me. Because running - distance (always further) and speed (always faster) - had become my litmus test for overall vitality, acceptance of this simple, poetic and wholly self-evident fact, meant accepting that life as I knew it was over. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">From 2007-2009, my social life, in effect, had been put on pause. Unknowingly, and certainly unintentionally, I had culled the relationships in my life down to the few who were hopelessly loyal and the handful that served important functions (baristas, colleagues and friends with free tickets to things). It was a completely and utterly selfish chapter of my life. So consumed by running was I that all sacrifices - social and otherwise - appeared noble.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">All right, so my stroll into Missoula in July of 2009 was a step into the beginning of the end: or so I thought. Although it took me years to actually admit it to those close to me, I knew deep within that my running days were winding down and I also knew that it was necessary to find the 'next big thing' in my life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My first year in Missoula included two knee surgeries and the subsequent, but unrelated, diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Talk about humbling. Within months of arriving in Missoula, I was reduced to short painful walks/hikes. But I did it, I walked. And walked and walked and walked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And I continued walking through the surgeries, injections, medication changes, physical therapy sessions and the ever-present fear of permanent, irreversible disability. Throughout the entire transition, mountains remained my obsession. Why shouldn't they? It was the love for movement up, down and around mountains that drove me west to Colorado from Southern Minnesota eleven years ago. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTM93Z1TNGpoEY6lY1FzvXG4bqja8soWjxC_BTVjp7Lt0RcwN8AyTmmWZ9Dd3fbCmLbUeVJt7C7i2WpI4kZSbZDmFLa_xvLA5qSo0R225z6ji1CCfzISfoa3UjcWjjCr931KVaXoo4qaf/s1600/10431517_863289640422860_6418164038810282596_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTM93Z1TNGpoEY6lY1FzvXG4bqja8soWjxC_BTVjp7Lt0RcwN8AyTmmWZ9Dd3fbCmLbUeVJt7C7i2WpI4kZSbZDmFLa_xvLA5qSo0R225z6ji1CCfzISfoa3UjcWjjCr931KVaXoo4qaf/s320/10431517_863289640422860_6418164038810282596_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linds and I on Mount Sentinel for the first time together!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Mount Sentinel, the guardian of Missoula and home of the city's iconic "M", looms 2,000 vertical feet </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">above the valley floor, abruptly forming the city's eastern boundary. Ask the average Missoulian on the street if they have hoofed it up to the “M” and they will invariably respond with a fervent “yes!” as if it were right of passage (which it is). Ask the same individual if they have stood on the summit of Mount Sentinel - some 1,300 feet higher - and the answer will likely be no, they have not. I will not get into the reasons for this, because I do not know those reasons. What I do know is that if you haven’t been to the summit, you should. It provides quite arguably Missoula’s best view, particularly in the evening. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My second day in Missoula saw my first attempt at the mountain. Pretending to be a runner, I ran from my residence in the upper-Rattlesnake in-and-around-Missoula on a sweltering summer day. Smitten with the sight of such an accessible and steep mountain, I headed for the base of Mount Sentinel. Halfway up, my nose began to seethe blood. Oh no! I immediately removed my shirt and began tearing it into strips that could be used as nose plugs as I continued the ascent. A few hundred feet from the top the situation became untenable: my shirt was completely soaked with blood and the nosebleed showed no sign of abating. Regrettably, I turned around and began the bloody descent and return run home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I don’t remember if it was the next day or a few days later, but within a week of the first attempt, I stood on top of Mount Sentinel. And it began.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXHlTlmtf2juVTuRR7NhwbsJ7Zn3mO2sN8izbIXMhcYGhpTld0OHwHJB55vLrgDaaDpjSv7pLIEq4EBgNmW23fKXgAmarX4c0mNLHv8IqHCsmXgKwwumkXD32nlELReJ3wlVzEM8TJEf3/s1600/102+degree+selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXHlTlmtf2juVTuRR7NhwbsJ7Zn3mO2sN8izbIXMhcYGhpTld0OHwHJB55vLrgDaaDpjSv7pLIEq4EBgNmW23fKXgAmarX4c0mNLHv8IqHCsmXgKwwumkXD32nlELReJ3wlVzEM8TJEf3/s320/102+degree+selfie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">102 degree summit in June of this year. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Six years and 492 ascents later, my love for Mount Sentinel has done nothing but grow. I have hiked and climbed the mountain by over a dozen routes, including six different routes up the steep, trail-less north face. I have been on top during the hottest and coldest days (during the hottest and coldest time of day) of the last three years. I have completed run, hike, sled, mountain bike and snowboard descents of dozens of routes. Needless to say, Mount Sentinel - in addition to dozens of other peaks - replaced running as my physical obsession.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, here I sit, within striking distance of 500 summits and my attitude has shifted. The need for balance and health has finally supplanted my irrational fixation on a single summit. My poor body! It has withstood countless ascents and descents against its will (and my better judgment).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Unable to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime climbing trip, I find myself sidelined by yet another overuse injury, but this time it feels different. No, not the injury (it's the same), but my attitude (it's different). Peace. I feel the kind of peace that comes from knowing that something terribly committing and wholly consuming is over. If my life were interesting enough to fill the pages of a book, this would be the section with the epiphany, the awakening that leads to a substantive life change. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Nm_CzOTwAkTXCJIBDmGdDNAKzAqqBiG7XJOJ1uXZWMkU9VTV-_DqHRLxB-F2QAI_UrcGjavWRqgPk87BF2L8hdE6Pd8XV7zjm2EhRxPCvEGlXZJvwBOOmhG2Q222zRwEJIrCxVbCmwHE/s1600/7750_10152150266620210_1604774363_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Nm_CzOTwAkTXCJIBDmGdDNAKzAqqBiG7XJOJ1uXZWMkU9VTV-_DqHRLxB-F2QAI_UrcGjavWRqgPk87BF2L8hdE6Pd8XV7zjm2EhRxPCvEGlXZJvwBOOmhG2Q222zRwEJIrCxVbCmwHE/s320/7750_10152150266620210_1604774363_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Negative temps and a beautiful day after climbing in the<br />
shadows of the north face of Mount Sentinel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">One of my biggest fears in life - if not the biggest - is losing a sense of purpose. Fortunately, over the past several years my life has taken on a renewed sense of purpose. Linds, friends and a meaningful job have buoyed my day-to-day sense of purpose. All of these things are wonderful, but there remains a deep primordial need for movement in the mountains. I can trace back my introduction to this need to a a single fateful event: hiking Hallet’s Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park with my family when I was 13-years-old. Boom! In a single moment my passion for mountain movement was unlocked. And it began.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And it continues. My imagination continues to outpace my bodies’ physical capabilities. I look into the mountains and see infinite opportunities for creativity and flow. 'Traverse this, climb that, can it be done in a day, half-a-day, an hour?' These are the thoughts that pervade my day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But what of the ‘substantive life change’? My actions - and it will not be perfect, at first - will be driven by my bodies' ability and not by my mind’s desires. This means abundant rest, substantial cross-training and a deep well of patience.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I made my way back to physical therapy this week. It feels like the right thing to do. If picking a passion was as easy and simple as Pinterest, I would have swapped out endurance-ultra mountain movement with knitting years ago. In spite of all of the evidence - injury, risk, etc. - against my pursuits, the flame, albeit a flicker, continues burning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">At this point, I suspect the 500th summit of Sentinel will probably come around the end of August or maybe it will come in September, October, November or December. It doesn't much matter. I am no longer in a hurry. The summit is no longer of interest to me as another number on a spreadsheet, but rather as a test of overall health and vitality. Moving on injured legs is no longer a part of that formula. My body, not my mind, will dictate when I stand on top again. And again and again and again. In this way, it will be a cause for celebration. I will share the 500th summit with family and friends. We will celebrate life while listening to ‘Sail’ on my compact speaker system. We will rejoice.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And rejoice and rejoice and rejoice.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Peace, love, gratitude and all that good stuff,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Brian</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-gtvyDrw2g0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-gtvyDrw2g0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Mount Sentinel Snowboard Descent (2014)</span>Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-37457518436228016222014-10-29T19:23:00.004-07:002014-10-29T19:23:35.434-07:00Stuart Peak Ultra Marathon: Trip Report and Reflection<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ey0np_2I9E3DEkRvZvsJIRlQ2_ncnJnIEuoOjOAFDSapsJdcdb-3we13pvgv7j72TWbZpJCNBuqum6B5r8EHSr-oY2P2F0I8tMYchWkyp5EvJVMeBHsV4X1k14iJ5K523qNhIk4Ebf8M/s1600/DSCN5166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ey0np_2I9E3DEkRvZvsJIRlQ2_ncnJnIEuoOjOAFDSapsJdcdb-3we13pvgv7j72TWbZpJCNBuqum6B5r8EHSr-oY2P2F0I8tMYchWkyp5EvJVMeBHsV4X1k14iJ5K523qNhIk4Ebf8M/s1600/DSCN5166.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noah, Steph, Linds and I on the trail of Stuart Peak. It was<br />wonderful to have these three lovely people on the trail<br />throughout the day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Route: </b>Rattlesnake Main Trailhead to Stuart Peak summit to
Main Trailhead to Stuart Peak summit to Main Trailhead (via trail 517)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Elevation exchange:</b> ~16,800 feet (8,400 ascent, 8,400
descent)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Total Distance:</b> ~38 miles<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Total Elapsed time:</b> 8 hours 48 minutes (includes 9-minute
footwear change between laps) <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Mode of travel: </b>power hiking (no running)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t think it is an accident that we, as humans, have
come to celebrate the days of our births. It hasn’t always been this way, but I
suspect that, henceforth, it will remain this way. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Birthdays serve as milestones: opportunities to stop, breath
and celebrate. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tomorrow I turn 29. Last year, at this time, tomorrow was
28. And next year? Well, next year tomorrow I will turn 30 and finally have the
opportunity to celebrate my ‘golden’ birthday, a milestone unto itself. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since my 21<sup>st</sup> birthday, I have pitted my mind and
body against endurance challenges in an effort to stretch my sense of what is
possible. It began as annual distance runs at the distance of my new age.
Rheumatoid arthritis and knee problems in my mid-twenties forced a shift from
running to alternate endurance feats i.e. mountain ascents, hiking,
mountaineering, long-distance stationary biking. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For last year’s birthday challenge, I hiked/climbed Stuart
Peak and a neighboring peak in winter conditions, beginning at my house in
central Missoula. The outing was ~31 miles and full of joy!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year, looking to up the ante, I set my sights on a
Stuart Peak double round-trip. Rather than a single out-and-back or a loop, I
wanted to pit my mind against the concept of doubling up on a long trail.
Stuart Peak provides an 18-19 mile round-trip experience on a relatively flat
trail (~4,200 vertical gain). The mountain is often done in two days or a
single long day. My goal was to do it twice in less than 10 hours (although
doing it at all would be an accomplishment in my books!).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here we go.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Illuminated by headlamp, I hit the trail at 6:20AM. I would
remain under the guidance of the light for the next hour and a half.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The trail went off wonderfully. I had done ~27 miles on this
trail a couple of weeks ago and over the years have come to know its every
twist, turn, steeps and flats. On several occasions I caught the ‘deer in the
headlamp’ looks of, well, deer. Companions!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
About 6 miles up the trail I doffed my headlamp, allowing
the predawn light to illuminate the way. The cloud ceiling oscillated between
8,000-9,000 feet (the summit of Stuart and most of the surrounding mountains is
~8,000 feet). This made for a lovely dawn as the broken clouds made allowance
for the rising sun, permitting its rays to strike the upper reaches of the
Rattlesnake Mountains. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hit the wilderness boundary in good spirits. How could I
not! It was such a freaking beautiful morning. When I arrived at the Stuart
Peak saddle and the base of the summit ridge a distinct ray of sun broke
through and lit up the lakes below the peak while leaving the rest of the land
in shadow. So beautiful was the sight, I was compelled to cuss: “holy s**t!
This is so beautiful. Ahhhhhh!!!!” I howled and sang out the praises of the
morning. This is the privilege of hiking alone. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Moments later I was on the summit. I had prepped my camera
before the summit ridge to ensure that it was locked and loaded for the
perfunctory summit self-portrait. I snapped the shot and promptly headed down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHf3gfmznwbF-1Jz8x5b7WFZaR7MDw4tg0tBIQ3gaIQQEtuCq7mudtrsaWWPLPkoJBeNxbozYbzE0psUsTf04TmVNxAAZ9C_zyPBj-30pF-fhNxiHn6spGYzwjG0gX1epoc47pgua5Vks/s1600/Summit+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHf3gfmznwbF-1Jz8x5b7WFZaR7MDw4tg0tBIQ3gaIQQEtuCq7mudtrsaWWPLPkoJBeNxbozYbzE0psUsTf04TmVNxAAZ9C_zyPBj-30pF-fhNxiHn6spGYzwjG0gX1epoc47pgua5Vks/s1600/Summit+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First summit of the day! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had opted to begin the day in my winter boots as I was
unsure of what season it was on the upper mountain. As it turns out, it is
still fall: very little snow. “Rather be caught with them than without them”
was my mantra – thanks be to my brother Jason for that one – as I considered
footwear the evening before. Well, I didn’t need them. I began feeling a hot
spot forming on my left foot on the descent and made the decision to do a quick
footwear – socks and shoes – change back at the trailhead.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The descent passed with a lot of singing aloud and math
calculations. I was working out my pace, elevation exchange, distance to the
rest of the hiking party, etc. I suspected that I would pass Linds, Steph and
Noah, who had begun at 8:30AM on their Stuart Peak hike, between miles 3 and 4
at the bottom of the mountain.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At about 3 miles from the trailhead I heard voices. Hurray!
It was the crew. They cheered and I cheered and we exchanged ‘high fives’ as we
passed on the trail. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What a buoy to the spirit!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I picked up the pace. I purposefully did not check my split
to the top of Stuart on the first round trip because I was certain it wasn’t
great. I was eager to find out how long the first round-trip had taken. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hit the parking lot and checked the time... 10:36AM! The
first round-trip had taken only 4 hours and 16 minutes! I quickly changed my
footwear, restocked on liquids and was off at 10:45AM for the second lap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My legs felt as strong as ever on the second outing. I
received many strange looks from folks who had seen me lower on the trail
moments ago headed in the other direction. So it goes…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The second round-trip did not prove as challenge as I had
anticipated. Not to say that it was easy, but I was expecting some sort of
mental or physical breakdown and instead smiled a lot as I appreciated the fact
that this was the last trip of the day. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I dreaded the steepest section of the trail between mile 3
and 4 on the lower part of the mountain. I opted to sink my teeth into it and
just do it, like Nike. I did it and then, again, appreciated, the fact that I
‘just did it.’ <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was eager to get to mile 5+ where the trail becomes
relatively flat and provides an easy cruise (4-5 mph). And an easy cruise it
was. What a relief it was to get to that section of the trail! It was at that
point that I knew that I was doing it: that I was going to complete the
challenge and in good form. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I ran into a man with two horses at the wilderness boundary
and smiled. I continued on, with the summit now in sight. I expected to run
into Linds and company somewhere between the wilderness boundary and the
summit. To my pleasant surprise they came into view at the Stuart saddle at the
base of the summit ridge. I stopped to say hello for a quick second and then
finished the job! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have to admit that the final push up the summit ridge was
less than speedy. I treated myself to a ~2 mph finish. I nearly cried upon
reaching the summit for the second time. It was the culmination of a lot of
hard work – training and RA healing. But more than the challenge itself, it was
the release of a helluva lot of joy. Life is so good! I have an amazing wife,
wonderful family, incredible job, great health, lovely friends, kick-butt dog
and so much more. I sang out praises to god, God and gods. Everyone was
thanked. As it turns out, that’s what this was all about: a celebration of life
through movement.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the second time of the day, I snapped a summit
self-portrait and headed down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjov4s81x08gSIcYBVM67kpHQvpI5qlGBm79sBCueu5Q3elBiysyj8al8DqqHEFjsNElzh4Cx0D65I-f88kHrvoU_cZ6F50DjHZy1GQLWyk_UPWS829lPyWl0LWG1AZl-YhqYtlovZSwOzr/s1600/Summit+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjov4s81x08gSIcYBVM67kpHQvpI5qlGBm79sBCueu5Q3elBiysyj8al8DqqHEFjsNElzh4Cx0D65I-f88kHrvoU_cZ6F50DjHZy1GQLWyk_UPWS829lPyWl0LWG1AZl-YhqYtlovZSwOzr/s1600/Summit+2.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second summit of the day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I ran into the crew moments later on their way down. I
stopped and thanked them for coming out and supporting the effort. We took some
pictures together and I took off.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipR8LDUYL_Grc4ItzEBNmmnmZVxtgIycdsVLFwpKT0Hga4lJcE_LIgvlAKb41aIKgwPRv7AZg7i-5FZmhyWw33VW3DilNRMGu3isff_5HaC6AjbdHQZ0DPOe2M9BjPWjQ5fWc2Kfvq63uI/s1600/DSCN5165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipR8LDUYL_Grc4ItzEBNmmnmZVxtgIycdsVLFwpKT0Hga4lJcE_LIgvlAKb41aIKgwPRv7AZg7i-5FZmhyWw33VW3DilNRMGu3isff_5HaC6AjbdHQZ0DPOe2M9BjPWjQ5fWc2Kfvq63uI/s1600/DSCN5165.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linds and I (with Stuart Peak background left) on the trail<br />at our final crossing of the day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The final hike out was relatively uneventful. I chowed down
on gummy bears, a Clif Bar and an oats-and-honey bar. Mmm mmm. At no other time
do I allow myself the indulgence of gummy bears. Good stuff.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukZfMol8YYhyphenhyphenh1wqSQEjwU5trz5FtquZ4cRnHYB58dFkLem7eN_nAgU8uTnyHH7Xt6aYXIMdLKCO5cb_88QoC_NdCe08VVfixGYIsUy85imwux6z0xHQzgdMoaJYdgOngM5Zo3s4GKIG4/s1600/DSCN5168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukZfMol8YYhyphenhyphenh1wqSQEjwU5trz5FtquZ4cRnHYB58dFkLem7eN_nAgU8uTnyHH7Xt6aYXIMdLKCO5cb_88QoC_NdCe08VVfixGYIsUy85imwux6z0xHQzgdMoaJYdgOngM5Zo3s4GKIG4/s1600/DSCN5168.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking away from the crew after our final passing of the day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In no time I crossed out of the wilderness, below the 3-mile
marker and to the 1.3-mile marker. Upon hitting the main trail (1/2 mile from
the trailhead), I kicked up the pace into the 5.5-6mph range.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hit the trailhead and checked the time: 3:08PM. Holy cow!
Only 4 hours and 25 minutes on the second round-trip. What a pleasant surprise.
I was hoping for a 9-10 hour finish and came in at 8 hours and 48 minutes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a pleasant surprise, but moments ago, on the summit
for the second time, I resolved to dismiss all association with a ‘good <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">time</i>’ or a ‘bad <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">time</i>’ and determined that the measure of success was that I, in
fact, had had a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">good </i>time. And a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">good </i>time I had had. Success. The icing
on the proverbial cake (birthday, in this case), was that I had also come in
with a good <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">time. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so another milestone comes and goes. Without question I
am better for these annual challenges. This year’s birthday challenge marks the
furthest I have moved in one go as a part of a birthday challenge: a milestone
within a milestone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pitting mind and body versus the world is a daily battle. It
is in choosing to contrive situations wherein we are tested to the extreme that
we learn just what we are capable of. Applied to our daily lives, it can be
considered training. Unapplied, it is simply a self-serving exercise in
futility. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This year, I feel stronger and more capable than ever. I am
grateful to Linds, my family, friends and The Great One for the wisdom and
fortitude to persist. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With love and gratitude, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Brian</div>
Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-76810032047346740392014-10-12T06:13:00.003-07:002014-10-12T06:14:06.293-07:00The Triple Crown of MissoulaA couple of years ago for my birthday I set out to do what I dubbed 'the triple crown of Missoula': Mount Sentinel, University Mountain and Mount Jumbo in one fell swoop. It was fun, moderately challenging and above all, local.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yesterday, eager to establish a new PR, I had another go at it. Feeling in the best shape of my hiking life, it wasn't out of the realm of possibilities!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><u>The Triple Crown of Missoula</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv13HR6LctfvG0Gr2_0umwgWLJ3Cr-zJtSGFLijHCF0bMiSFhegQkUlp9S307eYicjlHgXjyuboAwUJwOqfywfTYMC9Dzp-jxY0fHihbTUu1M6ASHuKghunVDnOyzQ-Bd_CdtTNWetL2aR/s1600/mz_backdrop_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv13HR6LctfvG0Gr2_0umwgWLJ3Cr-zJtSGFLijHCF0bMiSFhegQkUlp9S307eYicjlHgXjyuboAwUJwOqfywfTYMC9Dzp-jxY0fHihbTUu1M6ASHuKghunVDnOyzQ-Bd_CdtTNWetL2aR/s1600/mz_backdrop_sm.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Triple Crown of Missoula. Mount Sentinel's north summit is visible with<br />
the south summit just out of frame on the right. Mount Jumbo's summit<br />
lies just out of frame on the left. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<b>Route: </b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<i>Start: </i>Van Buren Pedestrian Bridge to the M Trailhead</div>
<div>
<i>Next: </i>'NW Ridge Trail' up Mount Sentinel to north summit, then over to south summit</div>
<div>
<i>And then: </i>down to Sentinel/University saddle, then up west ridge of University Mountain to summit</div>
<div>
<i>Next: </i>Reverse route back to Sentinel/University saddle, then back up to Sentinel's north summit and down the 'NW Ridge Trail'</div>
<div>
<i>Then: </i>back to Van Buren Street, under the interstate up to the Cherry Street Trailhead of Mount Jumbo</div>
<div>
<i>And next:</i> up Mount Jumbo's standard 'L Trail' to summit and reverse route back to trailhead</div>
<div>
<i>Finally: </i>Cherry Street to Van Buren Street to Van Buren Street Pedestrian Bridge<br />
<br />
<b>Summits: </b>Mount Sentinel (north and south summits), University Mountain, Mount Sentinel (north summit) and Mount Jumbo<br />
<b>Vertical ascent: </b>~5,000 vertical feet<br />
<b>Distance: </b>Unknown<br />
<b>Total elapsed time (car-to-car): </b>3 hours 13 minutes<br />
<br />
<b>Mount Sentinel and University Mountain (1 hour 54 minutes)</b><br />
<br />
I was pleasantly surprised with my performance on every part of the route yesterday, but it was on Mount Sentinel and University Mountain that I was stunned. I felt like a million bucks! My only regret was not taking splits for the ascent portions of the route. I was overly concerned with my overall pace while at the same time not wanting to become a slave to time, so I opted to check splits only at the completion of each stage of the outing.<br />
<br />
I hit the M in the 8-minute range and the north summit of Mount Sentinel at around 25 minutes. I enjoyed the cruise - with an ear-to-ear grin - up and over to the south summit before dropping down to the Sentinel/University saddle and up University Mountain. I dropped my pack on the false summit and accelerated up to the true summit of ol' University before reversing the route.<br />
<br />
I cruised back up to the north summit of Sentinel and headed back down the ridge trail.<br />
<br />
The power-walk over to Mount Jumbo was a treat and a nice break from the steepish downhill of Mount Sentinel's ridge trails.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Mount Jumbo (56 minutes)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
As I approached the base of Jumbo, a light rain began to fall. Mixed with an increasing wind, the combination pushed the edge of comfortability in my light long-sleeve top. I felt very strong all the way up.<br />
<br />
I hit the L in the 8-10 minute range and proceeded to fly up the switchbacks on the west face. How great it is to be alive!<br />
<br />
I finished it off with a strong stride up the relative flats of the rolling summit area. What had been a pleasant steady drizzle turned to something more substantial. After tagging the summit, I donned my rain coat. The skies opened up! It was glorious.<br />
<br />
I continued the wet walk down the hill and pulled out my phone at the trailhead to check the time. The screen flashed then went black. Uh oh. As it turns out, excessive water is not good for non-waterproofed electronics. So it goes.<br />
<br />
Eager to get dry and warm, I hurried my way back down Cherry Street to Van Buren and back to my car at the foot of the Van Buren Street pedestrian bridge.<br />
<br />
<b>In Closing</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Success! I checked the time back at my car and was shocked to see that the total elapsed time from car-to-car was 3 hours and 13 minutes. Easily my new PR for the trifecta (although the route choice yesterday was notably shorter, it was still worth celebrating tagging all the summits in a smaller window of time).<br />
<br />
I went out yesterday with joy and intentional. The joy came from the celebration of all that is good in life - an amazing wife, awesome new dog-child, a great job, fine health. The intentionality stemmed from the purpose of training: to push myself while preparing for a bigger challenge.<br />
<br />
Two weeks from today I will be heading up the Rattlesnake Valley for the Stuart Peak Ultra-Marathon. Yesterday was a great confidence boost to my overall physical and mental fitness for this challenge. Although very different from the relatively steep route of the 'Triple Crown', the idea of heading up and up and up is there and will be a significant part of the challenge. I am ready!<br />
<br />
Onward and upward!</div>
Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-25237192770031899542014-09-28T07:26:00.000-07:002014-09-28T07:26:12.036-07:00Mosquito Peak Marathon<div class="MsoNormal">
Route: From Rattlesnake Main Trailhead to trail 517 to
Stuart Peak summit to Mosquito Peak summit to trailhead back to the 1.5 mile
point on trail 517 back to trailhead<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Elevation gain: ~5,500 feet<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Total Distance: ~26.5 miles<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Total Elapsed time: 6 hours 20 minutes (5 hours 45 minutes
without the 3-mile extension) <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The end of October marks my annual birthday challenge. This
year, the challenge is The Stuart Peak Ultra-Marathon (don’t look it up, it
isn’t a real race). The Stuart Peak Ultra will simply be a double round-trip of
Stuart Peak (~8200 vertical exchange and about 38 miles). My goal is to
accomplish this in under 10 hours without running a step, power-hiking only. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In an effort to get in shape – physically, but mostly mentally
– for the Stuart Peak Ultra, I have been adding increasingly taxing outings to
my training line-up. This has included speedy double round-trips on small
mountains around Missoula as well as link ups of mountains.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This week I had my eyes on Mosquito Peak and Stuart Peak. It
had been a couple of months since I have been up Mosquito Peak and about a
month since Stuart. I opted for a ~24 mile route that would take me up Stuart
over to Mosquito and back down the standard trail. What a lovely route!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Illuminated by headlamp, I hit the trail at 6:21AM under a
very light drizzle. I felt so-so. Truth-to-tell, I ate most of the contents of
a large buttered-popcorn at the movies last night and more than once it
threatened to come up throughout the hike. Ultimately, it didn’t prove to be a
hindrance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hit the summit of Stuart Peak at 8:47AM.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The summit of Mosquito Peak came at 9:32AM. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was back at the trailhead at 12:06PM.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I returned to trail 517 for a 3-mile extension, bringing me
back to the trailhead at 12:41PM<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Onward and upward!<o:p></o:p></div>
Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-21593175542009651962014-09-21T20:20:00.001-07:002014-09-21T20:20:28.421-07:00Mount Jumbo Redemption and Camp LimberlimbsLast week, my knee and a rock had a run-in on Mount Jumbo during a Sentinel-Jumbo double. The week that followed was filled with daily icing and ibuprofen doses. The result? Healing! <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Fresh of a life-giving weekend at Camp Limberlimbs, hanging out with the coolest kids out there who just happen to have Juvenile Arthritis, I had another go at the Sentinel-Jumbo double. Here it is:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Route: </b>Mount Sentinel via the ridge trail to the summit then 1-mile to the Mount Jumbo trailhead and the standard trail to the summit and back to the base of Mount Sentinel</div>
<div>
Vertical Feet: 3,500 feet</div>
<div>
<b>Distance: </b>~8.5 miles</div>
<div>
<b>Elapsed time: </b>2 hours 18 minutes</div>
<div>
- 31 minutes of Mount Sentinel (20 minutes down)</div>
<div>
- 33 minutes up Mount Jumbo (25 minutes down)</div>
<div>
- 19 minutes transition time (from trailhead-trailhead)</div>
<div>
<b>Temperature: </b>Too-warm-for-the-first-day-of-Autumn</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What a lovely outing! I cruised up Mount Sentinel. Conscious of the heat, I eased off the pace slightly, particularly on the steeper sections: my tendency in heat is to dry out my throat and scorched my lungs. I tried my best to avoid this today. On the summit, I drank ~8 ounces of water while in motion. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After an uneventful descent, I hit the drinking fountain at the trailhead for a ~8-10 ounce swallow of water. I immediately launched into my flatland power-stride and cruised the River Trail to Van Buren Street to Cherry Street to the TH (~10 minutes). I begin the easy cruise up Mount Jumbo. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Although shorter than Mount Sentinel by about 500 feet, the shortest trail on the hill is about 3/4 mile longer than Mount Sentinel's 'Ridge Trail Express.' This provided a nice gentle grade to lock into a steady 4.5 mph uphill pace. On the way up I passed the rock that had impacted my knee just over a week earlier. I gave it the 'stink eye.' On the summit, I took a shorter swig of water (~6 ounces) and promptly began my descent.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was careful to watch my footing this time. Success. Back at the trailhead, I retraced my steps back to my car at the M Trailhead. I took some more water and put in a solid 10-minute stretch session. I pleased to see the elapsed time of 2 hours and 18 minutes for the route. This I felt very good about considering the heat. </div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Important non-sequitor: </b>and oh my goodness, what a blast at Camp Limberlimbs this weekend! Camp Limberlimbs is a 3-day, 2-night camp for kids 7-17 with various forms of Juvenile Arthritis. Most of the kids that attended last year were there again. Every kid that I have talked with at the camp over the last two years has had a moment in their budding lives that they were unable to walk, play or get-around pain free on account of aggressive arthritis. A good many of them now are getting around splendidly thanks to wonderful treatment plans and the incredible breadth of drugs available to control the symptoms and the disease itself. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We played games, did arts and crafts, did archery, swam, played various sports, laughed, told stories, played music, danced, sang, ate, jumped, ran, planned and executed pranks, snuck around, had a bonfire and laughed some more.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It truly was a wonderful experience. As a newcomer to the scene, the most impressive thing about all of this, is the commitment of past campers to the cause. A strong majority of the camp counselors began going to Camp Limberlimbs when they were 5, 6, 7, 8 years of age. And some of these folks are in there 20s, 30s and 40s. This means that most folks volunteering to help out the kiddos at camp have been going in some shape or form for 15+ years! It is remarkable! But it makes sense: it is a community of folks who have a relatively misunderstood - by the general public - and under appreciated diagnose. Most of the volunteer counselors are life-long friends that met at camp in elementary school! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All right, that is all for now!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Onward and upward,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Brian</div>
Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-53677864118757306752014-09-14T12:50:00.001-07:002014-09-14T12:50:53.717-07:00Humbled on Mount JumboRoute: Bernice's Bakery to Mount Jumbo Trailhead to summit to Van Buren Street to Mount Sentinel Trailhead to summit to Bernice's Bakery.<br />
Elevation Gain: ~3,500<br />
Distance: I have no idea!<br />
Fuel: two cups of Bernice's coffee<br />
Elapsed time: 2 hours 58 minutes (from Bernice's-to-Bernice's)<br />
<br />
I approached Saturday with big ambitions: a 25+ mile loop through the Rattlesnake Wilderness with ~5 summits and ~7,000 vertical feet.<br />
<br />
Realizing, I had not the energy to force a 4:00AM start, I went to bed Friday night opting for an abridged outing of 24 miles with 2 summits. Upon waking on Saturday morning, I decided that a 19-miler on Stuart Peak would be sufficient. Then, realizing I had other life obligations that needed attention, I opted for a romp up Missoula's 'alphabet mountains.' And this I committed to.<br />
<br />
After a delightful morning with Linds at Bernice's Bakery, I grabbed my pack from my car and walked down Higgins to Spruce and over to Van Burn Street and the Cherry Street trailhead of Mount Jumbo.<br />
<br />
I had a lovely walk up the hill. ~30 minutes later I was on the summit of Mount Jumbo. I ran into a group of three sizable bucks on my way down from the summit. As I reached into my pack to fetch my camera, they split, narrowly escaping the focus of my lens.<br />
<br />
About 1/3 of the way down, I saw a woman about 100 feet down the trail on her way up. Adjusting my gait to the left edge of the trail I misstepped and promptly found myself on my hands and knees on the downhill side of the trail. My right knee screamed! My first reaction was to look up and see if the woman and seen me. She hadn't. She was calling to her dog to sit alongside her and had not seen me, now 50 feet away, take a spill. In an as ungraceful manner as possible, I roused myself and began the hobble in her direction. From what was a swift 4+ mph walk downhill, I was now limping along at 1mph or less. Oy vey. How silly!<br />
<br />
Last year, I made it up and down 203 summits - some of them treacherous - without a single incident. Now, here I am with a swelling knee on the shortest, easiest mountain in the area. As I continued down, my limp became a hobble which became a stilted walk before turning into a semi-graceful downhill gait. It got better. Or at least those chemicals kicked in that keep your mind off the pain and the injury.<br />
<br />
I decided to postpone my decision about going up Mount Sentinel until I had reached the bottom and could examine my knee. Back at the trailhead, I concluded that it was fine: nothing more than a surface wound. I continued my walk back to Van Buren Street across the Clark Fork River and over the Mount Sentinel Trailhead.<br />
<br />
I made quick work of Mount Sentinel, gaining the summit in 29 minutes by way of the ridge trail. I spent .5 seconds on the summit before heading straight down. My goal was to hit the 45-50 minute round-trip range. I came in at 51 minutes and considered it a fine performance in light of my fall on Mount Jumbo. Back at the base of Mount Sentinel, I grabbed a drink of water at the fountain and then grabbed the river trail back to Higgins and up to Bernice's Bakery. Ahh.<br />
<br />
Although the day turned out very differently than I had anticipated - both in terms of the outing and the injury - it was a delight. It had been awhile since I had done the 'alphabet mountain' jaunt and got me excited for my birthday hike next month. Now, here I sit with an icepack on my knee and joy in my heart that I was able to move with such confidence, ease and freedom. If it weren't for those factors, I would not have been able to put myself in a position whereby I sustain a minor knee injury: and for that, in a very strange (and rationalizing way), I am grateful.<br />
<br />
Next weekend, I head to Camp Mak-A-Dream for 'Camp Limberlimbs' a camp for kids 7-17 with arthritis. I can't wait!<br />
<br />
<br />Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-56468754558436730732014-09-02T11:38:00.003-07:002014-09-04T14:48:30.011-07:00Kings of Borah: the high points of Idaho and Utah <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6hde2VBSglRzxKQwl38-GO93FqIH7XUuFxMlySzN3nT0KapsPco2et6wTY6ouJU_OYgHr5nfpg_sadkursGMT-ZfQPwPyGrmW8F3-Pa_46U9YwHH3AlFTsYzd9KmBm957zOkB1kUaZq-/s1600/Kings+Peak+at+sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6hde2VBSglRzxKQwl38-GO93FqIH7XUuFxMlySzN3nT0KapsPco2et6wTY6ouJU_OYgHr5nfpg_sadkursGMT-ZfQPwPyGrmW8F3-Pa_46U9YwHH3AlFTsYzd9KmBm957zOkB1kUaZq-/s1600/Kings+Peak+at+sunrise.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kings Peak 13,528 feet at Sunrise from Dollar Lake (Utah). </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Chapter 1: Borah,
Borah, Borah</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After work on Friday, Phil and I headed south from Missoula
through Darby, picking up several $1.59 “meat” sliders at the Peoples Market and
proceeded over Lost Trail Pass into Idaho. Our destination: The Wagon Wheel
motel in Mackey, ID. We arrived shortly after 9PM, sorted our gear and turned
in for the night.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Throughout the night, we awoke to the intermittent
spattering of rain on our window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
alarms sang us awake at 4AM. Outside, the glow of lightning illuminated the
sharp high ridge of the Lost River Range. Although not encouraging, the
distance of the system and the forecast allayed our concerns of being forced
off Borah again by the range’s fickle weather. The forecast called for 40% of
precipitation in the morning, decreasing through the day. We grabbed a bite and
hit the road. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were moving at 5AM. Short and steep, the standard route
on Borah Peak climbs 5,267 feet in just over 3.5 miles (the trailhead is at 7,400
feet, the summit at 12,662). This was Phil's third attempt and my second attempt of Borah. Phil and I made quick work of the first 2,500 feet
under the illumination of our headlamps. At tree line, ~10,000 feet, we doffed
our headlamps and were provided the first glimpse of what the weather held for
us. Although not particularly foreboding, streamers of rain underhanging
growing cumulus clouds were amassing across the valley, directly West of Borah.
We acknowledged the atmospheric instability and proceeded with caution,
accepting the fact that we may be skunked again on Borah.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogmVKtMMnCVsc-KwjFoAY4AM4H1RFbeToOR4DrJLCAv85agDXsbXLDYjQ6xpCYLfnNFeowfxkNOO2gtnOycvh2USeRvvsHCo2_D75iA4BhzsDPg-QcHUWwCu90rgImHLtGFj5cHxkK9dM/s1600/Borah+out+of+the+clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogmVKtMMnCVsc-KwjFoAY4AM4H1RFbeToOR4DrJLCAv85agDXsbXLDYjQ6xpCYLfnNFeowfxkNOO2gtnOycvh2USeRvvsHCo2_D75iA4BhzsDPg-QcHUWwCu90rgImHLtGFj5cHxkK9dM/s1600/Borah+out+of+the+clouds.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The clouds clearing off of the upper half of Borah Peak<br />
(on our way descent)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We moved swiftly up to 10,500 and then 11,000 feet, before
engaging in a serious conversation about the changing weather. The rumbling of
thunder had steadily increased in both intensity and frequency. The streamers
of rain and grown into a wall of precipitation – rain, snow, sleet, its
contents we did not know – and was moving quickly in our direction. We made the
call to retreat off of the high ridge and gain shelter in the trees before
making a final decision about Borah. On the descent, the lightning strikes
became visible in our vicinity, striking near the base of the mountain and
surrounding ridges. The seriousness of our situation apparent, we abandoned the
ridge and began a speed hike/run down the northern slope of the ridge into a
clump of trees and rocks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
200 feet above the trees, the wall of precipitation revealed
its true contents. First rain, then sleet, then hail. The wall engulfed us. I
had sped ahead to find some semblance of protection for us to sit out the
storm. After careful going with 20-50 feet of visibility, Phil and I found
ourselves nestled safely in at 9800 feet, 1200 feet below our high point.
Lightning struck and thunder sounded in our vicinity, but never seriously
threatened our position. The hail and rain persisted for no more than 15
minutes before easing off to drizzle and then dissipating entirely. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During those 15 minutes, Phil and I weighed our options: 1)
descend and give it another go the following day; 2) descend, head south to
Kings Peak in Utah and return to Borah in 2-3 days; or 3) wait it out and give
it another go from our position. Option ‘3’ was the most attractive choice as
it kept us on our original itinerary and saved us from having to re-ascend
2,000 feet in several days time. And who knew what the weather would do!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The soft echo of thunder receding to our east, we made the
decision to give it another go. We quickly re-gained the ridge crest and caught
up with a couple that had waited out the storms below the trees. As it turns
out, an early start was not to our advantage!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the ridge, it was clear that the worst had passed.
Although precipitation swirled the valley and low clouds continued sweeping
over our route, there was little threat of lightning. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Within an hour we were back at our high point, just below
‘chicken-out ridge.’ We picked our way up and over the ridge, climbing and
down-climbing sections of the exposed ridge. As we reached the final section of
‘chicken-out’ clouds swept over our windward perch, bringing with them 30-40
mph winds and snow. So it goes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXH6UkBrcMyzK5WZocETEcE0w7f3N-_8jtlRLJMMulYL30VnhYQE1Dmp7rftyQw4_ZV3s7xcO21bTf0Yqf-sG79Q8Ens-EoybakqGGAIytfCQmnXkEakIX-IJBnuGEDTnrOAklCbWp_Qt_/s1600/On+Chicken-out+ridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXH6UkBrcMyzK5WZocETEcE0w7f3N-_8jtlRLJMMulYL30VnhYQE1Dmp7rftyQw4_ZV3s7xcO21bTf0Yqf-sG79Q8Ens-EoybakqGGAIytfCQmnXkEakIX-IJBnuGEDTnrOAklCbWp_Qt_/s1600/On+Chicken-out+ridge.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken-Out Ridge as seen from the summit ridge of Borah<br />
(photo taken on descent)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p>As it snowed upward – the snow literally blowing from the
valley below up – we pressed on to the summit ridge. With 50-100 feet
visibility, we picked our way up the ridge with the occasional cairn guiding
our progress. I built several additional cairns along the route up to the ridge
crest. We hit the summit just after 10:30AM. This was Phil’s 45<sup>th</sup>
state high point (and his third attempt)! Hurray! Although the snow was easing
off, the wind chill was enough to limit our time on the summit. We took a few
perfunctory summit shots and headed down.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAijgB1kLzR-GwdlKSsdi-fbrLMe8Hj9OczOmSjRsDbdb3obcBLspFvNM4bt3SV-lxvgwLRD6nmQafy8n6ucn16VT8xyTmQ30KDgAZcS5FyLN1AYwNFPeCXgdxGD4YHQ3bY-y8eHoRonxV/s1600/On+the+summit+of+Borah+-+Phil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAijgB1kLzR-GwdlKSsdi-fbrLMe8Hj9OczOmSjRsDbdb3obcBLspFvNM4bt3SV-lxvgwLRD6nmQafy8n6ucn16VT8xyTmQ30KDgAZcS5FyLN1AYwNFPeCXgdxGD4YHQ3bY-y8eHoRonxV/s1600/On+the+summit+of+Borah+-+Phil.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phil on the summit of Borah Peak, his 45th state high point.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcRV7mbAoouIrNXl4MwJtXRbfaYQSdZHYxR2IwlxSztM3u1EtOadXO6SUV6QnARmLT2Kvni_5xf5gFPCEQ2A9qX5BeoA6WssRNBm1y6E7Wwjveg4m3UKZ6WDi4MRtF2NVBGQiBNxnSEGx/s1600/On+the+summit+of+Borah+-+Brian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcRV7mbAoouIrNXl4MwJtXRbfaYQSdZHYxR2IwlxSztM3u1EtOadXO6SUV6QnARmLT2Kvni_5xf5gFPCEQ2A9qX5BeoA6WssRNBm1y6E7Wwjveg4m3UKZ6WDi4MRtF2NVBGQiBNxnSEGx/s1600/On+the+summit+of+Borah+-+Brian.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the summit of Borah Peak with wedding prayer flags.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The descent was happily eventless. As we descended the
clouds began to thin. By the time we reached the bottom of ‘chicken-out ridge’
the summit of coming into view. And by the time we reached the car, blue sky
peeked through broken clouds. We reached the car at just after 12:30PM.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM43lxvemWSyjUJXWGDYlr_bDewgtqiWBF-19eWism61DB4NW1eLaLl1QnKNV_W2O1Nj7nN33PV0Nmvd1r0oeNxtZ-zOLEeOJtsWloyCzbQl1u_LoCmfbT_sxFlkZc17F3izs_x73tYerT/s1600/Phil+descending+the+summit+ridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM43lxvemWSyjUJXWGDYlr_bDewgtqiWBF-19eWism61DB4NW1eLaLl1QnKNV_W2O1Nj7nN33PV0Nmvd1r0oeNxtZ-zOLEeOJtsWloyCzbQl1u_LoCmfbT_sxFlkZc17F3izs_x73tYerT/s1600/Phil+descending+the+summit+ridge.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phil descending the summit ridge of Borah </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaqddx_8P1nYX8ln9RNSvBSGNjJ4SjEQ2BbrVeBqiN4uqbIUJbmgQcccLFPPqr0GpMzoKwOZB_vneS_D8MLjYxYvBGx6rekWWqcrodkHx3NUMq9Ti8qIjApC-dKGe4Q3mg-HJVyejHr9t/s1600/Phil+going+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaqddx_8P1nYX8ln9RNSvBSGNjJ4SjEQ2BbrVeBqiN4uqbIUJbmgQcccLFPPqr0GpMzoKwOZB_vneS_D8MLjYxYvBGx6rekWWqcrodkHx3NUMq9Ti8qIjApC-dKGe4Q3mg-HJVyejHr9t/s1600/Phil+going+up.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes you have to go up to go down. Phil climbing on our<br />
way down 'chicken-out ridge'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Total time: 7.5 hours</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Total vertical ascent: ~6400 feet<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Total mileage: ~8.5-9 miles<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Chapter 2: Kings Peak</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next stop: Kings Peak! Kind of. From Borah’s trailhead we
headed back to the town of Mackey for a celebratory burger and fries. We
continued south through Idaho, into Utah, before heading east into Wyoming. At
8PM we found ourselves in the town of Mountain View, Wyoming, the gateway to
Kings Peak. With damp gear and a rather damp 12-hour forecast, we opted to stay
at the Country Cabin Inn in Mountain View rather than camping at the trailhead.
We spent the evening drying out our gear and organizing our packs for our
overnight in Henrys Fork basin. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We awoke at 6AM on Sunday with the intention of hitting the
road. Again, Mother Nature had different plans for us. With rain and lightning
hammering Mountain View, we took our time gathering ourselves for departure. We
hit up ‘Maveriks’, the gas station next to the inn, for a day’s old Krispy
Kreme donut breakfast and coffee.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We tentatively departed for the trailhead under the curtains
of rain and flashes of lightning. All the forecasts we looked at promised
back-to-back clear days from Sunday to Monday. We rested all of our hopes on
this being the case.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From our northerly approach, we crossed the border into
Utah. The rain abated at this time. We arrived at the trailhead (~9,400 feet) just
before 9AM. This was later than we had planned on, but it was, as it turned
out, the best of all possible outcomes given the weather. We disembarked at 9AM
under breaking clouds and a glimmer of blue. The rain on the drive in would be
the last precipitation of the trip.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG82H-9Wib3_t9Pq1jc7UAEJR3zhh0ghSaoBdEGgEz3QEFU1t0hUmpYeC6cvB1KC84v8cB2R4f5MUKyVjP01wDZdRRkraAbqmpt5pvdF5v-fnZ1kAa1DT2o9XYfahceV5ZnsP3kzq2Y7PX/s1600/The+hike+in+-+Kings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG82H-9Wib3_t9Pq1jc7UAEJR3zhh0ghSaoBdEGgEz3QEFU1t0hUmpYeC6cvB1KC84v8cB2R4f5MUKyVjP01wDZdRRkraAbqmpt5pvdF5v-fnZ1kAa1DT2o9XYfahceV5ZnsP3kzq2Y7PX/s1600/The+hike+in+-+Kings.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5.5 miles up Henrys Fork towards Kings Peak. Phil looking up trail<br />
at the range.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our spirits buoyed by the stabilizing weather, we cruised up
the gentle slope of the basin to Dollar Lake. After a delightful 8-mile hike we
hit Dollar Lake at 12:15PM. The weather was stunning: blue skies, clear
atmosphere and 50 degrees with a light breeze. We quickly erected the tent,
cached all unnecessary gear and hit the trail at 12:30PM for the summit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An hour later, we found ourselves at Gunsight Pass. From Gunsight
Pass, the trail proceeds down into Painter Basin, skirts West Gunsight Peak and
then heads up to Anderson Pass and the base of the summit ridge of Kings Peak.
We received intel from a couple of hikers that there was a well-cairned route
that traversed high on the back of West Gunsight Peak, effectively trimming an
hour or more from the standard route. We quickly found the route and clawed our
way up to the expansive alpine that is the northern slopes of West Gunsight
Peak. What a lark! The walk was beautiful around the mountain. Kings Peak comes
into view quickly, dominating the skyline on our bearing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jKBO0L-SzHK1uDuIXjA66nuRswzvMTnf9fKi0073r-X5X5zTq0bMT83dM8u0kjDCaBfN712m4YuMVqr58P3ssUbxrefnn5Ly6FzIbkZoxuVTH2q0GIopuNa2Z0PCcfuQ7yYp4Bx1lVXC/s1600/Looking+from+Gunsight+Pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jKBO0L-SzHK1uDuIXjA66nuRswzvMTnf9fKi0073r-X5X5zTq0bMT83dM8u0kjDCaBfN712m4YuMVqr58P3ssUbxrefnn5Ly6FzIbkZoxuVTH2q0GIopuNa2Z0PCcfuQ7yYp4Bx1lVXC/s1600/Looking+from+Gunsight+Pass.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking north from Gunsight Pass. Our route took us<br />
under the cliff band on the right and up the talus slope to<br />
the high bench center.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Under blue skies, we reached Anderson Pass and the base of
the summit ridge (12,400 feet) at 2:30PM. We scrambled our way up the ridge,
exchanging pleasantries with many of the folks heading down. At about 12,800
feet we passed a pair of gentlemen working their way up the ridge. One of the
men was moving by way of a pseudo-crawl, using both hands to brace himself on
easy terrain while his friend kept a close watch, occasionally guiding his
progress. I stopped to chat with them briefly and they gave off the vibe of
being very experienced outdoorsmen. Interesting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyWKhhsMeAuOXDhP7hryuHfvVVkWDrVBpOE0Dv5q7bU5W9KKy5qpAIbG10Zid6cO0qvK4FTwUF1M2m2HwKL_2Lgez2sw4kenBYV69HeF0hkEgB1eyJ44BFB5PGy24aqwy8JKinrIwpW4e/s1600/Phil+looking+down+Henrys+Fork+from+Anderson+Pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyWKhhsMeAuOXDhP7hryuHfvVVkWDrVBpOE0Dv5q7bU5W9KKy5qpAIbG10Zid6cO0qvK4FTwUF1M2m2HwKL_2Lgez2sw4kenBYV69HeF0hkEgB1eyJ44BFB5PGy24aqwy8JKinrIwpW4e/s1600/Phil+looking+down+Henrys+Fork+from+Anderson+Pass.jpg" height="164" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phil looking out over Henrys Fork basin - from whence we came - <br />
from just below Anderson Pass en route to the summit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Kings Peak summit ridge is a very pleasant
walk/scramble. At about 13,450 feet, the ridge juts sharply up, providing a fun
scramble to the top. At 3:30PM we stood on the 13,528-foot summit of Kings Peak
and the top of Utah. So beautiful was the day, we were in no hurry to descend.
We were equipped with headlamps and plenty of warm clothes should we find
ourselves descending the final miles in the dark. We ate, drank, took pictures,
chatted with a gentleman from Idaho, laughed and celebrated Phil’s 46<sup>th</sup>
high point. We observed the fact that we had – unplanned – summited the high
point of Idaho and Utah in two consecutive days. There was a group of rather
boisterous young men – dare I say my peers – tempting fate with various summit
hijinks i.e. peeing off the summit, throwing rocks. One of men had a rifle
protruding out of his pack. I asked him why he had it and he said he was hoping
to bag a ptarmigan or two. Huh.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeVQCY-p1e8_jch_2DUzDIVdqLov_m9_NNurwWBQ9Mo37BUFlrjQqBhpKTzR-bVoE8i9sXH1tFznVDihdakjXfy1TERS-dstSW5OXiSVNVI5XB9t1hW3JkNf-ONgvo3Oq9SRL-JF1cZTF/s1600/Phil+and+Brian+on+Kings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeVQCY-p1e8_jch_2DUzDIVdqLov_m9_NNurwWBQ9Mo37BUFlrjQqBhpKTzR-bVoE8i9sXH1tFznVDihdakjXfy1TERS-dstSW5OXiSVNVI5XB9t1hW3JkNf-ONgvo3Oq9SRL-JF1cZTF/s1600/Phil+and+Brian+on+Kings.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the summit of Kings Peak, the high point of Utah.<br />
Phil's 46th high point. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At 4:10PM we began our descent. We passed a total of 6 folks
still scrambling their way to the summit on the way down the ridge. At about
13,200, we ran into the gentleman that was ‘feeling’ his way to the summit. As
Phil and I approached the duo, Phil suggested that perhaps he was blind.
Plausible. We reached the men and chatted again. I asked, “I don’t mean to be
offensive, I am simply curious, what is your technique all about.” He took the
question with grace and responded happily. He explained that he had suffered a
brain injury many years back and half of his body was not especially
responsive, while his balance suffered severely. Wow. Amazing. It was an
inspiring moment. This man was literally crawling his way up the mountain,
moving no faster than ½ mile an hour while his friend patiently guided his
movement. He went on to explain that this is a part of recover journey back to
climbing. At this pace, they were likely to summit around 5PM. Phil and I
expressed how impressed we were and carried on with a new sense of respect,
understanding and appreciation for those that strive in the face of serious
adversity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOF6JfZk-pDFBc6G1Fr_tlDg9Vv337MLJD_lgS5J_KswCTKxmlahDCZqE7oQNFKXVVS4VG2xTqvRNZ3y0x1h4kji0OwOvxVmQeIZY2rQ7-d5TJaH7Ij_uiGmaVntigRBvNjbFWMN_QBBt/s1600/Summit+ridge+of+Kings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOF6JfZk-pDFBc6G1Fr_tlDg9Vv337MLJD_lgS5J_KswCTKxmlahDCZqE7oQNFKXVVS4VG2xTqvRNZ3y0x1h4kji0OwOvxVmQeIZY2rQ7-d5TJaH7Ij_uiGmaVntigRBvNjbFWMN_QBBt/s1600/Summit+ridge+of+Kings.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The upper portion of the summit ridge of Kings Peak.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pain-free with my health, suddenly rheumatoid arthritis
faded to white noise, an innocuous diagnosis made manifest only by the pillbox
that lie in our tent below.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We stopped below Anderson Pass to filter a few liters of
water for the rest of the return journey to Dollar Lake. We picked an easier
line around the backside of West Gunsight Mountain and cairn-hopped our way
back down to Gunsight Pass. The glow of the setting sun illuminated the red,
brown and white rocks of surrounding mountains as we cruised down the trail
into the basin. It truly was the ‘most beautiful day in recorded history.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We reached our campsite around 7PM, 10 hours
after we had left the car. The GPS read exactly 18 miles with ~4,300 feet of
ascent on the day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYJC6f5nTv1db01aNKqkkjabc0vBKKt2QI37N9VLVl8SpqQM5ypmHSKeuaaVIwbvgVfLaqwz1y6svHZp_3l0g7LZE-q83mOxashp4T0ZnWMTyxzM5ZLdjfnEfDnT0KY8MCdFwLmrv9VPV/s1600/Gunsight+Pass+on+the+way+down.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYJC6f5nTv1db01aNKqkkjabc0vBKKt2QI37N9VLVl8SpqQM5ypmHSKeuaaVIwbvgVfLaqwz1y6svHZp_3l0g7LZE-q83mOxashp4T0ZnWMTyxzM5ZLdjfnEfDnT0KY8MCdFwLmrv9VPV/s1600/Gunsight+Pass+on+the+way+down.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gunsight Peak and Gunsight Pass on the descent.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We filtered several additional liters of water and watched
the sun set on the surrounding peaks with a woman from Bountiful, UT. We split
a 3-cheese pasta Mountain House meal – I prematurely put in half-heated and
unboiled water into my mac and cheese, rendering it uncooked and possibly
bacteria-ridden - and hit the rack. I woke up several times to relieve myself
and found the sky to be among the clearest I had ever seen. Layers of stars
succumbed to even deeper layers of stars.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKS3kCXtwGIJQoqkF-dmUAI4P6_VbpmsfGi1vaiK_EtG0ndh5Qxhn-_Pil5HAR8dsamrOTScQWUTRLalpeIi5mzUKV6nvIGV1CtzOa2sR9CJYXvsYlWLc8x0lEysgyU0ElABCh5qRGJrf/s1600/Phil+contemplative+at+Dollar+Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKS3kCXtwGIJQoqkF-dmUAI4P6_VbpmsfGi1vaiK_EtG0ndh5Qxhn-_Pil5HAR8dsamrOTScQWUTRLalpeIi5mzUKV6nvIGV1CtzOa2sR9CJYXvsYlWLc8x0lEysgyU0ElABCh5qRGJrf/s1600/Phil+contemplative+at+Dollar+Lake.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phil sitting on a rock at Dollar Lake as the sun sets.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We awoke at 6AM to a cloudless sky. I surprised Phil with
cinnamon rolls I had packed in for our final breakfast on the mountain. We
watched the sun rise from the point we had watched it set the evening before.
With Starbucks coffee and cinnamon rolls we dined like kings of Kings Peak. “If
this isn’t nice I don’t know what is,” said Kurt Vonnegut. And in this moment –
as in so many moments in life – it rang true. We had succeeded and in so many
ways. From safely gaining the summits of two state high points in consecutive
days to edifying conversation to awe-inspiring beauty, it was all a success.
Although our primary objectives were peaks, the underlying drive was the
pursuit of beauty and life through mountain travel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrJgZceEokhXo3YkbQAUzpr-oSA8M2VybqN7lih6Nlxju2NTLTKdX5YEB0PKsnE1GZaeJpQOdvKe8wQ_6m4KslJMfnrf49BVL7SfMciw3BGhvZq2HEmA9KlzDVY0uChKh93zQKpRRd1Pm/s1600/Kings+Massif+at+sunset+with+Trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrJgZceEokhXo3YkbQAUzpr-oSA8M2VybqN7lih6Nlxju2NTLTKdX5YEB0PKsnE1GZaeJpQOdvKe8wQ_6m4KslJMfnrf49BVL7SfMciw3BGhvZq2HEmA9KlzDVY0uChKh93zQKpRRd1Pm/s1600/Kings+Massif+at+sunset+with+Trail.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trail to Kings Peak from Dollar Lake at sunrise.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We broke camp at 8:30AM. I walked 100 feet from our camp to
relieve myself. Looking up, my gaze met the eyes a cow moose some 50 feet away.
Accompanying her was a calf several feet further. She didn’t seem to mind my
presence. Careful not to disturb the animals, I grabbed Phil and we viewed from
a safe distance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyHNftqDyZv8aJIQAZi3GzWLmuFv4MPXCyI7Eoprje-iIZMWV_d3QcuAuIMmMEnhkVc4B0vF-1JCyOfl3JmYuKKjmewy-Qiqxw0_qw_8TCm6lWfQLl5UvGXkl_IsRFKA005fBOAq2apLg/s1600/Moose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyHNftqDyZv8aJIQAZi3GzWLmuFv4MPXCyI7Eoprje-iIZMWV_d3QcuAuIMmMEnhkVc4B0vF-1JCyOfl3JmYuKKjmewy-Qiqxw0_qw_8TCm6lWfQLl5UvGXkl_IsRFKA005fBOAq2apLg/s1600/Moose.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look closely! A cow moose and calf. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With the day ahead of us we opted for the longer and less
traveled route out of Henrys Fork. We hiked about a mile up the trail to 11,000
feet and crossed the basin. The terrain was breathtaking: lakes, ponds, marshes
and stands of trees all back-dropped by 13,000-foot peaks. The trail we were on
disappeared and we proceeded to bushwhack 1-2 miles across the valley. We came
upon another moose, this one 100-yards distant, in a marsh near one of the
myriad ponds. The topographic map had us below the trail and so we traversed up
and over a couple of knolls before catching sight of a massive cairn marking
the trail. On the trail, we got back up to our 3-3.5 mph hiking pace and
cruised on down the valley.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4JHIefRmcckAQnjj-cajLYQBu94iJt6KGEmLdq2gPhNXly7w7Y5wljtx8LVlGKS9Y3OZ_qA7vCJc4sSiEKbpcmNaSTADpn0GUi3ZaPepj6aqTobN6PB6WE5areV6LQoePJf32YIs1MZw/s1600/Kings+Peak+Massif+from+Elkhorn+Crossing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4JHIefRmcckAQnjj-cajLYQBu94iJt6KGEmLdq2gPhNXly7w7Y5wljtx8LVlGKS9Y3OZ_qA7vCJc4sSiEKbpcmNaSTADpn0GUi3ZaPepj6aqTobN6PB6WE5areV6LQoePJf32YIs1MZw/s1600/Kings+Peak+Massif+from+Elkhorn+Crossing.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The peaks of Henrys Fork from Elkhorn Crossing. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our trail junction came quickly. At the junction we ran into
a couple that had spent several days up the basin picking off several
13,000-footers in the area. They introduced themselves as Jennifer and Gerry
from Montrose, CO. They were extremely – an understatement - knowledgeable
about the state high points and Gerry disclosed that he had completed all of
the high points. Jennifer asked if we were familiar with the Colorado 14er
books. It immediately clicked: this is <i>the</i>
Gerry Roach! The Gerry Roach of mountaineering and guidebook fame. He was the 2<sup>nd</sup>
person to climb the highest point of all seven continents and has over 2,000
Colorado Peaks under his belt. We
chatted with Jennifer and Gerry for a couple of minutes longer before heading
down the remaining 5.5 miles to the trailhead.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As was our wont, we made quick work of the final, relatively
flat, section of trail. We were back at the rental car around 1:30PM. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that was it. Just like that, it was over.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Total distance: 30.5 miles<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Total vertical ascent: 4,600 feet<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Total elapsed travel time: 15.5 hours (27.5 hours on the mountain)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Moose sightings: 3<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
En route to Salt Lake City, we stopped off at Don Pedro’s
Family Mexican restaurant in Evanston, Wy. Phil and I shared some laughs,
stories and fajitas. All good things. We made the gorgeous drive to Odgen and
down to Salt Lake City to our hotel just off the Salt Lake City airport campus.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A couple of hours ago Phil and I exchanged our farewells and
headed on our separated paths: he to Chicago and I back to Missoula. Back to
our lives and loved ones. The trip was a short, but rich lark. It was
beautiful, gorgeous and life giving. With a full cup – life-filled - I return
to the venerable vagaries of normal life and give back. Phil once shared this
poem with me: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“You cannot stay on the summit forever;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
You have to come down again …<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
So why bother in the first place?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Just this: What is above knows what is below,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
But what is below does not know what is above.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
One climbs, one sees.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
One descends, one sees no longer,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
But one has seen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
There is an art of conducting oneself<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
In the lower regions<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
By the memory of what one saw higher up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
When one can no longer see,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
One can at least still know.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nU1ZGwsBOOEMC4pYslGkY4m_NBu4MDYUxj2YoNHc382l_cekvT080-C_Msk6L2v8lKsPvCUOnfpoNjVZutJdj3Mju3LGDZEw8SevUso19o2ZBrUgd9am_c62rDLItCv-8hgc-ZqC461N/s1600/Kings+Peak+and+cabin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nU1ZGwsBOOEMC4pYslGkY4m_NBu4MDYUxj2YoNHc382l_cekvT080-C_Msk6L2v8lKsPvCUOnfpoNjVZutJdj3Mju3LGDZEw8SevUso19o2ZBrUgd9am_c62rDLItCv-8hgc-ZqC461N/s1600/Kings+Peak+and+cabin.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An abandoned cabin on the hike out. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-xg2GlXCLF78%2FVAYAPpa_0DI%2FAAAAAAAAB7k%2FD_ShB1OqLCI%2Fs1600%2FOn%252Bthe%252Bsummit%252Bof%252BBorah%252B-%252BBrian.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcRV7mbAoouIrNXl4MwJtXRbfaYQSdZHYxR2IwlxSztM3u1EtOadXO6SUV6QnARmLT2Kvni_5xf5gFPCEQ2A9qX5BeoA6WssRNBm1y6E7Wwjveg4m3UKZ6WDi4MRtF2NVBGQiBNxnSEGx/s1600/On+the+summit+of+Borah+-+Brian.jpg" -->Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-71740713300270849442014-08-09T15:25:00.001-07:002014-08-11T22:06:03.847-07:00Drawing new circles (wedding, new job, Denali and power-hiking)<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The one thing which we seek with insatiable desire is to forget ourselves, to be surprised out of our propriety, to lose our sempiternal memory and to do something without knowing how or why; in short to draw a new circle. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. The way of life is wonderful. It is by abandonment." <a href="http://www.bartleby.com/5/109.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">Ralph Waldo Emerson, from 'Circles' </span></span></a></blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKVDayGW4l-sS-xcVk18IBCRh4kpI314X5CnpiNwpG4JsiUzMuV5cqzyoUzNaIoYNssD_ma3wIHdyi6p_RXlbNvEE7KiUwvbpaAWiWV3nS4ubxSDnmgAa9UT0LzO-66NbOvYIWPgqvMpK/s1600/Joy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKVDayGW4l-sS-xcVk18IBCRh4kpI314X5CnpiNwpG4JsiUzMuV5cqzyoUzNaIoYNssD_ma3wIHdyi6p_RXlbNvEE7KiUwvbpaAWiWV3nS4ubxSDnmgAa9UT0LzO-66NbOvYIWPgqvMpK/s1600/Joy.jpg" height="257" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumping for joy on the summit of Mount Tiny (9869 feet)<br />
in the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness during our honeymoon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since my last post in late-May, I have drawn many new circles: I have changed jobs, moved, GOTTEN MARRIED, had my first photo show, confirmed a spot on a 2015 Denali expedition and set a new power-hiking PR on Stuart Peak (in that order, with the Stuart Peak PR happening today). Today, I will touch on the job, marriage, Denali and Stuart Peak.<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">New Job:</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><br /></b></span>
I have the best job in the world! I now work for The Flagship Program as a Youth Development Coordinator at Hawthorne Elementary School. In my role, I am responsible for developing/planning out-of-school time enrichment programs (reading, sports, outdoors, gardening, art, etc.) for K-5 students. I am so grateful for such an amazing job!<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Married!</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><br /></b></span>
Linds and I committed ourselves to one another in front of ~150 of our friends and family on July 26th up at beautiful Snowbowl. It was, without a doubt, the most joyous occasion of my life (and hopefully Linds' life too, although X-Men movie releases are pretty high on that list). I have never smiled so much in my life!<br />
<br />
There were, of course, countless highlights. From our officiant Brian Marsh's beautiful words to the echoes of our audience's affirmations off the mountainside to seeing so many of the people that we love. With all of that goodness, there is one memory that stands above the rest: our first dance.<br />
<br />
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not particularly keen on dancing. Of course, the wedding would stand as an exception (this I had known well in advance). Linds had selected our first song and had been communicating with the band, in secret, about how our first dance was to go. After clearing the dance floor of the tables and chairs, we go in to hold one another, in preparation for the song to begin. Faint acoustic guitar strumming began. As the intro crescendoed, my mind formulated what song it was that we were hearing. It was one of Linds and I's favorite songs 'Taillights' by David Boone (a local Missoula artist). What a treat! And if that wasn't enough. Linds leans in and whispers to me, "he's playing a 30-minute set." At this point, it began to sink in: that was not one of our band's musicians covering David Boone that was, in fact, David Boone! Linds, unbeknownst to me, had hired David Boone to play a 30-minute set, including our first dance. Wow. I was mildly in shock, still struggling to understand the enormity of it all.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjKjBFbH3K4xb024UEQopNDwWRC62oOjJm5BO-5jVc153ihdolGkbXb-HbUDPpLlSvh7YHeLMKpETfNJT27o_bdxBtRYL06VOK_Co2rvyay6jmFEcao5u9i3j5mwi5Ml9a3e_nMHdgonb/s1600/Wedding+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjKjBFbH3K4xb024UEQopNDwWRC62oOjJm5BO-5jVc153ihdolGkbXb-HbUDPpLlSvh7YHeLMKpETfNJT27o_bdxBtRYL06VOK_Co2rvyay6jmFEcao5u9i3j5mwi5Ml9a3e_nMHdgonb/s1600/Wedding+shot.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Move to Montana and lay your burdens down...<br />
and our feet don't touch the ground." Taillights, by David Boone<br />
Our first dance!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The morning after the wedding, Linds and I packed up the car and headed to Anaconda-Pinler Wilderness for a 3-day backpacking trip. Just as we were disembarking from the car, Linds mentioned that her wedding dress was in the car. Should she bring it along? Of course! My wedding clothes were packed amongst the myriad wedding decorations and odd-and-ends from the mountain wedding. We opted to pack our wedding clothes and a few decorations for a mountaintop photo-shoot.<br />
<br />
The first day, we hiked in 4 miles to Goat Flat and set up camp on the edge of a stunning alpine meadow at 9,200 feet. This would be our home the next two nights. We took our first day out as a serious rest day. Upon setting up camp, we rested.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUHyOJXulDVhOsgLcGMvdEAk0FDsp-eAVDCYX-60kH3x1Cd0qnchDATvV3al9I2BzIjniIAwQEFarSS3bmxcM3OjrCA2-A0sbG81bwJ5emF_n8ji3Ion7NFAKe5woOPIfRMZa4a9npIqE/s1600/Campsite+(honeymoon).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUHyOJXulDVhOsgLcGMvdEAk0FDsp-eAVDCYX-60kH3x1Cd0qnchDATvV3al9I2BzIjniIAwQEFarSS3bmxcM3OjrCA2-A0sbG81bwJ5emF_n8ji3Ion7NFAKe5woOPIfRMZa4a9npIqE/s1600/Campsite+(honeymoon).jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our campsite replete with our wedding prayer flags.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The two days that followed were a total lark. We did our mountaintop wedding shoot, stood on two summits, read, wrote, ate, laughed, stargazed (amazing!) and napped. It was, in short, spectacular. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMvKFPk3jX9_Y_0jvTf5bHCEGAEkofHvsrVoTuk-i5A6fEc3pj5Htu-moyGb8f3K4PxADMSq_qhGeXYfI6maLDmkK6OWDC1IxbV5z3fIMuabbbIpkGcp59GTtt8vYP8NUPKRuQBHE8_Mb/s1600/Linds+airborne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMvKFPk3jX9_Y_0jvTf5bHCEGAEkofHvsrVoTuk-i5A6fEc3pj5Htu-moyGb8f3K4PxADMSq_qhGeXYfI6maLDmkK6OWDC1IxbV5z3fIMuabbbIpkGcp59GTtt8vYP8NUPKRuQBHE8_Mb/s1600/Linds+airborne.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linds airborne on top of Mount Tiny. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
All told, from the Friday before our wedding through the Tuesday that marked the end of our honeymoon and the beginning of real life, joy abounded. These go down as easily the happiest 5 days of my life! And it is just the beginning...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Denali 2015:</span></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After much consideration and conservations with my climbing friend Phil, we locked in a 2015 climbing date for Denali. May 5th, 2015, Phil and I will head out on the trip-of-a-lifetime to climb Denali. Our original play of 2014 fell through on account of several life circumstances and now, here we are, primed for the climb. We have been confirmed on RMI's first team of the season and could not be more thrilled. More to come on this in the near future!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuart Peak power-hiking PR (today!):</span></b></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
Eager to get back to some semblance of mountain fitness, I set my sights on a speed-hike of Stuart Peak for my August ascent of the ol' mountain. In preparation, I did a couple of speed hikes up Mount Sentinel and University Mountain over the last couple of weeks. I was able to nail down a 50-minute round-trip on Sentinel in 95 degree heat and a 2-hour round-trip on University a couple of days later.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Feeling strong and excited to sink my teeth into a challenge, I packed my larger camelbak bag with a few Clif Bars, 2-liters of water, a GoPro and sunscreen. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now, I will spare you the details of the outing, as these things tend to be rather uneventful (and it was, in the best possible way). My plan was to hike as fast as I could, with only a 1-2 minute stop on the summit for pictures, up and down Stuart Peak without running a step. I would drink a modest volume of water every 15-30 minutes and eat half of a Clif Bar at strategic points on the trail. The fueling worked perfectly! I felt like a million bucks throughout the duration of the hike. What fun!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Here is the breakdown (Stuart Peak trail 517):</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Distance: 9.5 miles one-way (19 miles round-trip)</div>
<div>
Elevation exchange: 4,200 feet ascent and 4,2000 descent</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Trailhead to summit (ascent): 2 hours 17 minutes (1.5 minutes on summit)</div>
<div>
Average ascent pace: 4.2 mph</div>
<div>
Summit to trailhead (descent): 1 hour 59 minutes</div>
<div>
Average descent pace: 4.8 mph</div>
<div>
Total round-trip time: 4 hours 17 minutes</div>
<div>
Average overall pace: 4 mph</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Overall, I am quite pleased with al it went. I still have some work to do on my uphills. That said, I am very pleased with an 3.7 mph average uphill for 8.5 miles. And, ultimately, I had a blast!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEqgKbYSkjAz21Gu5lrnAqha_5EMSY0a_8OTNJNbMjyHDfKyzdfQC9dyD_J5-xufxW3pSDrLLEnTKZkL8g8TOhXl2AdVK59Xj3VVYcl7ze4empEtUW3a9wnweudYMDAj_fU-cJaz7Zo_1/s1600/GOPR0157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEqgKbYSkjAz21Gu5lrnAqha_5EMSY0a_8OTNJNbMjyHDfKyzdfQC9dyD_J5-xufxW3pSDrLLEnTKZkL8g8TOhXl2AdVK59Xj3VVYcl7ze4empEtUW3a9wnweudYMDAj_fU-cJaz7Zo_1/s1600/GOPR0157.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the summit of Stuart Peak for 1.5 minutes. What a glorious day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Today's outing ultimately got me excited for the prospect of a Stuart Peak double-dip: 34 miles round-trip with 8400 feet of climbing and descending. I am going to lay off of the speed stuff until mid-September, when I prepare for the 'Mount Sentinel Hill Climb', but I foresee the Stuart Peak double dip power-hike in the near future :-). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As I mentioned, I am laying off of speed-hiking for a bit so I can thoroughly enjoy hiking some mountains with Linds this month while staying healthy for Phil and my 'double-dip' at the end of the month. More to come on this!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">El Fin:</span></b></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
All right. That is all for now. I sincerely hope that my next post is not filled with so many big life changes. All of the above were welcomed, needed and dearly loved, but stability is also nice. Ah, there they are: my feet. They are below me firmly planted on the ground. Life is good.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">With love and gratitude,</span></b></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Brian</div>
Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-76414414892451089732014-05-28T16:02:00.001-07:002014-05-28T16:02:13.448-07:00A dose of reality and other news<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUmFSCuQCE-IwAprUj41Vc2fmyFeqFQeH70LdaBPiZmvFmhtu1f-1KCdI-w1bZpexiwBFXzEjywO3rle6ur6eBgE1i_KWhUHJ6qgo1jMP4HC2vMK5C4aOeZM0kwuDiyaGbjFHmrmUx-R1/s1600/Snowshoe+jump+for+joy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUmFSCuQCE-IwAprUj41Vc2fmyFeqFQeH70LdaBPiZmvFmhtu1f-1KCdI-w1bZpexiwBFXzEjywO3rle6ur6eBgE1i_KWhUHJ6qgo1jMP4HC2vMK5C4aOeZM0kwuDiyaGbjFHmrmUx-R1/s1600/Snowshoe+jump+for+joy.jpg" height="162" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumping for joy on the summit of Stuart Peak with <br />the Love of My Life (sometime in the last 6 months).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Earlier this month, I missed doses of Humira and methotrexate during the same cycle. The old saying "you don't know what you have until it is gone" more or less holds true here. The doses were not missed intentionally. I simply had a lapse in memory and mistakenly left the Humira in the fridge and the methotrexate in its child-proof - and RA-proof - container when I should have been administering both.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You do not know what you have until it is gone. It is surprising how easily deluded we can become. Upon becoming aware of the fact that I had missed a dose, I convinced myself that because I had not had a flare-up in a very long time - at least 6 months - I was cured and had graduated out of my pill-a-day containers! Not so. Within a few days of missing my doses, dull aches begin to settle into my wrists and shoulders. A few days later, my left wrist began to act like its old self, pre-meds: achey, with occasional bursts of sharp, radiant pain. The rest of my body joined the protest: Humira, Humira, Humira. I won't pretend like I was crippled by the experience, fortunately my body communicated its dissatisfaction with my lapsed doses and I responded swiftly with an injection of Humira, methotrexate and ibuprofen. Success. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This experience of missed doses, was a reminder of how far I have come in managing inflammation and pain through lifestyle and medication choices. I am beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a rheumatologist and dial in the right combination of medications that allow me to be active and lead a "normal" life.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That is that.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In other news, I began going to physical therapy again to get my back, hips and legs back on track. I have been had issues with inexplicable - until PT - aches and pains in my leg (may or may not be associated with RA). I am committed to working hard at getting the proper muscles strengthened and the proper training regimen established. It is critical that this be so if I am to have any longevity in my active, outdoor life. I couldn't be more thrilled with the new clinic that I am going to: they seem to get me and what I am trying to do.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And that is that.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In other-other news, I took my brother up Pikes Peak last month on a two-day climb up the east face. We had a splendid time. It had been almost 15 years since we had stood on top of a mountain together. The outing - both as a climb and a reunion of sorts - goes down as one of my most memorable and enjoyable experiences in the mountains. Here are the highlights:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wxTg6xemiGD2CpbD_IWb2U1WNnxNCMpAAMwpmoiT_YGLRdY1nsNVAAM7Dmd8BKMpg9o1qto7VPlhC2m68TriSfrKIYShprDlUE5Rw_N-V6SwKVMbSDOzXReP1FkD4j2tatDYmi7Wy2Zx/s1600/Jason+on+Pikes+Peak+-+Ice+Axe+in+the+Air!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wxTg6xemiGD2CpbD_IWb2U1WNnxNCMpAAMwpmoiT_YGLRdY1nsNVAAM7Dmd8BKMpg9o1qto7VPlhC2m68TriSfrKIYShprDlUE5Rw_N-V6SwKVMbSDOzXReP1FkD4j2tatDYmi7Wy2Zx/s1600/Jason+on+Pikes+Peak+-+Ice+Axe+in+the+Air!.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason, my brother, raising his ice axe to<br />sun on the east face of Pikes Peak.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikT_8tpqX1gYHwwIbkPzufiKxUGLZu_Q7sOi-i4SbYQ3lZ9r0yKgz5hW9AClbUUZtun5PWYkuCpP58Gz_5smvJIVoLICAn4eHhWpB342vJHPF8lN3FNtfyRwXHXgVi7xvjEmfVDKTDDpGo/s1600/On+the+summit+of+Pikes+-+with+Jason.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikT_8tpqX1gYHwwIbkPzufiKxUGLZu_Q7sOi-i4SbYQ3lZ9r0yKgz5hW9AClbUUZtun5PWYkuCpP58Gz_5smvJIVoLICAn4eHhWpB342vJHPF8lN3FNtfyRwXHXgVi7xvjEmfVDKTDDpGo/s1600/On+the+summit+of+Pikes+-+with+Jason.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason and I on the summit of Pikes peak after a 4AM start.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And finally, in other-other-other news, Wade Balmer with the Arthritis Foundation wrote a really nice article about this blog and last years adventures. <a href="http://www.arthritis.org/colorado/publications/afeatures/afeatures-archived-issues/afeatures-spring-2014/#brian">Click here to check it out!</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Onward and upward,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Brian</div>
<div>
</div>
Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-44375697017532340052014-03-23T10:31:00.003-07:002014-03-23T10:31:35.315-07:00University Mountain: A Re-Awakening<div>
<b>Objective: </b>Northwest Face of University Mountain</div>
<div>
<b>Vertical Feet:</b> ~3200</div>
<div>
<b>Elapsed time:</b> 3 hours 10 minutes</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Hungry to explore new terrain on familiar mountains, I ventured onto the unknown - to me - ribs, gullies and faces of University Mountain. The whole affair was hugely impulsive and based on a last-minute panic: should I not get out now - 1PM on a cloudless Saturday afternoon - a pall will be cast over the weekend and I shall return to work on Monday unchanged. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I disembarked at the 'M' Trailhead, trekking poles in hand and the echoes of Spoon's heady 'Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga' album ringing through my earbuds. My chosen objective for the day was the north ridge/northwest face of University Mountain. Both the ridge and the face, although relatively safe, offer the most challenging terrain of Mount Sentinel's big brother. The north ridge direct can be thought of as the line of passage to gain access to the northwest face, a hanging basin ~750 vertical feet directly below the summit. The recent freeze/thaw cycle followed by a good freeze, portended firm snow and good climbing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To reach the base of the route, I walked about 2 and 1/2 miles along the Kim Williams River Trail. The north side of both University and Mount Sentinel rise steeply and uniformly from the edge of the Clark Fork River, the water feature which the Kim Williams River Trail parallels. This is fortuitous for the bushwhacking, weekend explorer as it allows for easy and immediate access to the flanks of the massif. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I reached what appeared to be the base of the north ridge direct (the ridge that rises directly to the summit, not the false summit), shortened my trekking poles and began the steep bushwhack up the slope. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The north side of University Mountain is littered with fallen trees and thickets, a bushwhackers nightmare. Fortunately, there remained a consistently thick and firm enough layer of snow to cover the fallen trees and the base of the thickets. What wonderful travel! The lower fourth of the mountain passed as many of the other ribs and ridges of the north side have: an exercise in navigation, weaving in and out of stands of pines and clumps of thickets. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
About a quarter of the way up, I found myself a hundred feet higher than and parallel to a steep snow-covered talus - basketball-sized rocks - field. I descended to its base and climbed the obstruction free slope. Near the top of the talus field (~500 feet from its base) the slope steepened and the snow deepened, effectively covering the stones. The snow was a hard-packed, barely granting the mark of my boot with the full weight of my body applied to its surface. Earlier in the day, I had opted to leave my crampons and ice axe at home, and was now regretting that decision. No matter, I put myself to the work of methodically kicking steps up the slope. One kick, two kick, three kick, four kick, platform, left foot step. One kick, two kick, three kick, four kick, platform, step. And so it went. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Reaching the top of the talus field I re-entered the dense wood. The slope continued to steepen, but the hard-packed snow remained. Although a fall on the hard snow without an ice axe to self-arrest would have undoubtedly resulted in a good slide, my fears were allayed by the density of the trees and thickets to stop such a fall.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Fifteen minutes later I found myself on the shoulder of the ridge. From this new perspective I was able to see the summit proper and the whole of the northwest face through the thinning trees. My position was a couple hundred feet above the base of the gully that led into the northwest face and about half of a mile to the west. I opted to do a downward traverse to the base of the gully.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Upon reaching the base of the gully, and in effect, the northwest face, I was discouraged - but not surprised - to find a harder snow pack with intermittent patches of ice covering the virtually treeless gully and face. Although a relatively gradual slope (~30-35 degrees), I would not be afforded the psychological and, in all truth, the real protection that the trees below had a provided. No, a slip here here would result in non-stop slide to the base of the gully. I weighed the risk. Had the slope been any steeper, I would have abandoned the route and regained the trees. With time and patient kick-stepping, I knew it could be done safely without an ice axe or crampons. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So it began: the climb to the top. The face itself isn't anything to write home about, but a fairly special feature so close to Missoula. One kick, two kick, three kick, four kick, platform, left foot step. One kick, two kick, three kick, four kick, platform, right foot step. The snow consistently hard, the rhythm was wholly meditative. This is mountaineering at its best. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With the true summit out of sight, I oriented myself to what I thought to be the most direct line up the face. As the tempo of my rhythmic steps towards the summit increased, the shadow that threatened to ensconce my weekend in stagnancy began its retreat. Upward, upward, upward! My pace increased. I progressed into my standard heavy breathing rhythm: high-er, high-er, high-er, each syllable an out-breath, followed by a large soundless in-breath. Ah! Sweet, sweet freedom of movement and exploration. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Several minutes later, I crested the upper slope of the face and was greeted with a view of the towers of University Mountain, marking the summit. I was a mere 200 feet away, the slope laid back, allowing me to walk normally on the shallow grade. I increased my pace and power hiked the remaining distance to the summit. Success!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After a quick gulp of water and a couple of deep breathes, I began the descent down the standard trail. What a delight to walk on even relatively level ground! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In my life, mountain adventures have become a necessary function of living. My outing up University Mountain this weekend re-enforced this very fact. It is in the mountains that one can pit the mind against new objective; re-invigorate the soul with exposure to the raw, natural world; and challenge the body with formidable physical obstacles. I will return to work on Monday changed. </div>
Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-23215756797983012812014-01-08T19:52:00.003-08:002014-01-08T19:55:40.963-08:00Into the Thermosphere: 2013 in review<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDsYgJhcl3NFagML6kmsux5rB7-79Asc6GQxAs3IUllz6MAdFImarOvjKOMg8x8ymwjVPBC7Yh1mJvUU2fX_pfRSX3r7M_NNXwb7QKtl3em_DlI8fkcUPUJajKBNjWK_KrBBPWiyHsWvy/s1600/Jumping+for+joy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDsYgJhcl3NFagML6kmsux5rB7-79Asc6GQxAs3IUllz6MAdFImarOvjKOMg8x8ymwjVPBC7Yh1mJvUU2fX_pfRSX3r7M_NNXwb7QKtl3em_DlI8fkcUPUJajKBNjWK_KrBBPWiyHsWvy/s1600/Jumping+for+joy.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The epitome of joy. This self-portrait taken by Linds and I just after the <br />
marriage proposal captures the spirit of 'Into the Thermosphere' and marks the<br />
most exciting and significant mountaintop experience of the project.<br />
<i>Stuart Peak, June 9th </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
December 31, 2013 meant more as an annual chronological cultural milestone, than it did as the final day of the 'Into the Thermosphere' project. In spite of its significance as a definitive end-point for the project, the day passed with little thrill, zero vertical feet and no summits. Instead, the day served as an opportunity to spend quality time with the Love of My Life (LOML), sharing a meal, watching the ball drop and falling asleep with pleasant dreams of a New Year's Day ascent of Stuart Peak. </div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQI8WaEoS-mFf9cWFsDi-NA5mLecCZLc03SxhteIskfxICePEt7OOTS0S5xWQwTc9yGtALpgj696G1JRkrVXfxtYAHRyWMTOxOEBqJ34N7uTG2nnZ6Yd1kzPKen-maV9dcvbo_G-LWoUB/s1600/GOPR0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQI8WaEoS-mFf9cWFsDi-NA5mLecCZLc03SxhteIskfxICePEt7OOTS0S5xWQwTc9yGtALpgj696G1JRkrVXfxtYAHRyWMTOxOEBqJ34N7uTG2nnZ6Yd1kzPKen-maV9dcvbo_G-LWoUB/s1600/GOPR0488.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wet day on the summit of Mount Sentinel with Linds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
All told, the project - 500,000 vertical feet and 100 summits of Mount Sentinel in 2013 - was a total success. These numbers waned in importance as the year progressed. The point was to get myself moving on a fairly intense program while maintaining a healthy balance with my personal and professional life. And in this regard, success was achieved. As for the initial objectives? I came up short on the vertical feet, but greatly exceeded the Mount Sentinel goal. Ultimately, it does not matter. What matters is that the year was one full of rich, life-giving mountaintop experiences, including getting engaged and deepening relationships with friends and family. Throughout the year, I shared mountains with Linds, Lydia Hess, Dave Massey, Stacy Keogh, my Dad!, Phil Goss, Austin Graef, Wes Bowman, Trevor Marsh and many, many more folks! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Here are the raw numbers for 2013:</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Number of vertical feet ascent: 437,250 feet</span></b></div>
<div>
Average daily vertical ascent: 1,197 feet</div>
<div>
Most vertical feet in a month: 62,700 feet (January)</div>
<div>
Most vertical feet in a day: 6520 feet (November 23rd - Stuart Peak/Mosquito Peak/Stuart Peak)</div>
<div>
Most vertical feet in an hour: 4000 feet (October 2nd - Mount Sentinel double)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Total number of mountain summits: 208</span></b></div>
<div>
Mount Sentinel: 140 (9 routes)</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Wp2klGz1yw5cMMIjQbOUDL-kH-mdDgT3hVLVAV_wPhdXu_tDbjRwo20Lo2WPrXhyphenhypheniMP2T_VFauTG5oK0t_v-ACX1LWxuIoGBcBc58CiaLPfkoxPYuYhc6QEVlELVtHwQwkabHZEbuEV7/s1600/Stuart+Peak+from+Mosquito+%2528ice+ax%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Wp2klGz1yw5cMMIjQbOUDL-kH-mdDgT3hVLVAV_wPhdXu_tDbjRwo20Lo2WPrXhyphenhypheniMP2T_VFauTG5oK0t_v-ACX1LWxuIoGBcBc58CiaLPfkoxPYuYhc6QEVlELVtHwQwkabHZEbuEV7/s1600/Stuart+Peak+from+Mosquito+%2528ice+ax%2529.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the summit of Mosquito Peak, looking back at Stuart Peak.<br />
<i>November 23rd</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
University Mountain: 34 (5 routes)</div>
<div>
Stuart Peak: 12 (3 routes)</div>
<div>
Mount Helena: 7 (2 routes)</div>
<div>
Mount Jumbo: 4 (2 routes)</div>
<div>
Mosquito Peak: 2</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Pikes Peak: 1</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Lolo Peak: 1</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Mount Dean Stone: 1</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Murphy Peak: 1</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Point Six: 1</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Swiftcurrent Mountain: 1</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Apgar Lookout: 1</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Point 5315: 1</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Blue Mountain: 1</span></span></span></div>
</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Personal Records (non-running): </span></b></div>
<div>
Mount Sentinel ascent: 24 minutes 45 seconds (September 18th)</div>
<div>
Mount Sentinel roundtrip: 41 minutes (October 2nd)</div>
<div>
Mount Sentinel double roundtrip: 1 hour 25 minutes (October 2nd)</div>
<div>
University Mountain roundtrip: 1 hour 40 minutes (April 29th)</div>
<div>
Mount Helena ascent: 16 minutes 55 seconds (January 25th)</div>
<div>
Mount Helena double roundtrip: Sub-1 hour (January 23rd) </div>
<div>
Point Six/Murphy Peak roundtrip (from Snowbowl parking lot): 3 hours 23 minutes (August 17th)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgu9BlipwWtBWGzurcXfiz52rd5jBgT2SjmiDBjvhd0yM7_Dj5bbo0kJnRdRWSGk-p1dCJGip4RTeTxdgptXQfaJBI1kY1UdGmyEzULCSRvgM8DKABMAHFTCRYMqGAKcWVozhGN4qoT3lj/s1600/Mountaintop+Scrabble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgu9BlipwWtBWGzurcXfiz52rd5jBgT2SjmiDBjvhd0yM7_Dj5bbo0kJnRdRWSGk-p1dCJGip4RTeTxdgptXQfaJBI1kY1UdGmyEzULCSRvgM8DKABMAHFTCRYMqGAKcWVozhGN4qoT3lj/s1600/Mountaintop+Scrabble.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A friendly game of Scrabble on top of Mount Sentinel<br />
with Austin Graef. The scenery won. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Mountaintop Experiences:</span></b></div>
<div>
Scrabble games; reading; engagement! (Stuart Peak); napping; jumping pictures; bringing a ladder to a summit (Mount Sentinel); bringing a table/chairs/sound system to a summit (Stuart Peak); eating fresh baked donuts on a summit (Pikes Peak); and snowboarding from summits (Mount Sentinel and University Mountain)! So many wonderful things!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2013 marked the first full year with Rheumatoid Arthritis that I have not had a major flare-up and my levels have been stabilized. This past year taught me nothing if not discipline in listening to my body's needs. What is the ache or pain? Should I take a rest day? The answer, I learned quickly, is invariably YES! Take a rest day (or two), fully recover, then get back out there and do it again. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was not difficult to get out almost every day and climb a mountain. I am wired this way! It was more difficult forcing rest and recovery days and finding something for my 'idle' self to do in the daily climb's place. Although this chapter of the 'Into the Thermosphere' project is coming to a close, I am grateful to shed the nagging feeling of the need to stand on top of a mountain every spare moment.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">The New Year</span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHNxH9bROQrBE88bQOlfXycFt0Oj7pASSiRUPuHAD4OKUn-APEyVInaLXWakg2Jb-1czxhDiwCeI9nXM4MtC6ln7GG9EFbU5zAZ6LdD_3ZyKg3BvteWx15bf7wKslGbn6IZV83oqBnmaS/s1600/Pikes+Peak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHNxH9bROQrBE88bQOlfXycFt0Oj7pASSiRUPuHAD4OKUn-APEyVInaLXWakg2Jb-1czxhDiwCeI9nXM4MtC6ln7GG9EFbU5zAZ6LdD_3ZyKg3BvteWx15bf7wKslGbn6IZV83oqBnmaS/s1600/Pikes+Peak.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the summit of Pikes Peak with Linds!<br />
<i>July 6th</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
In 2014, I am shifting my goals to ultra-hikes (27+ miles), bigger mountains and single-day Wilderness crossings. With so many big objectives out there, I am looking forward to moving away from ongoing training goals and onto large, one-off objectives. Here are a few of my projects for 2014:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Rattlesnake Wilderness single-day crossing (from Missoula to Arlee by way of the Rattlesnake Wilderness)</li>
<li>Stuart Peak, Mosquito Peak, Murphy Peak, Point Six (in-a-day)</li>
<li>South Face of Stuart Peak</li>
<li>Borah Peak (Idaho)</li>
<li>Mount Rainier (in-a-day)</li>
<li>Elkhorn 50 mile race (power-hike)</li>
<li>Granite Peak (Montana high point)</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">I am thrilled to continue sharing periodic trip reports on the 'Into the Thermosphere' blog. That, in my mind, only makes sense. Additionally, I will continue to stay steady the course with RA updates. Fortunately, on account of stabilizing at the end of 2012, RA rarely entered as a topic of conversation throughout 2013. And it is for that that I feel extremely blessed and am thrilled to share my experiences as a person that has RA with the rest of the world!</span></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's to a happy and healthy 2014! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Onward and upward,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Brian</div>
Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-34293762878528867572013-12-22T18:50:00.000-08:002013-12-22T18:50:04.096-08:00Stuart Peak Double-Take<b><u>Take one (December 7): </u></b><br />
<br />
Two weeks ago Saturday I had a go at Stuart Peak. The high at 7,000 feet (1,000 feet below the summit of Stuart Peak) was -15 degrees with wind chills predicted to be in the -40s. The weather was predicted to be stable, clear and cold!<br />
<br />
I made good time, covering the first 4.5 miles in about 1.5 hours. There was 1-2 inches of snow on the ground up to the that 4.5 mile mark. The snow depth increased rapidly from that point (~5,000 feet) up. I donned my snowshoes at about the 5 mile point and began the slog!<br />
<br />
The temperature, although in the -10s, was bearable. On my feet I sported two pairs of wool socks stuffed inside of boots rated to -20 degrees. My legs were covered with two pairs of long-underwear under light trekking pants. On my upper body, I wore 4 layers underneath a winter parka (down mittens with over mittens on my hands). And finally, on my noggin, I wore a balaclava, a fleece neck warmer and a beanie.<br />
<br />
Labored breathing laden with the moisture of my breathe froze instantly on any surface within 7 inches of my mouth. Fortunately, the approach to Stuart Peak lies in a well protected gully, making the wind a non-issue for the first 5-6 miles.<br />
<br />
That said, the strong winds combined with the snow of recent days resulting in a 2-3 inch crust on top of 6-8 inches of fairly light powder snow. The crust was weight-bearing 5% of the time: slow-going. Every step required patience as I broke through with each snowshoe and regained purchase on the packed powder beneath the crust.<br />
<br />
6.5 miles up, the trail rounds a corner providing the first view of Stuart Peak. With the turn of the corner came the first encounter with a bitter wind in the -30s. The last time I felt winds that cold was in Great Falls in 2008 when I would go for long runs in -20 to -30 wind chills (this required goggles and 0% skin exposure).<br />
<br />
I continued slowly for another 150 feet breaking through the crust, gaining traction and taking another step. At such a frustratingly slow pace, I had another 2-3 hours to the summit, which meant another 3-4 hours exposed to the brutal wind that was increasing in strength and decreasing in temperature. I stopped to assess the situation: the tips of my right toes were getting pretty dang cold and required frequently 'wiggle-stops'; exposure to the wind/cold was only to increase over the next 3-4 hours and the wind roared overhead! Uninterested in frostbite in such a low-reward scenario, I opted to make this point (~6800 feet) the day's high point. I snapped a picture and headed down to the warmth (-8!). This trip goes down as the first time in 5 years that I have not seen another soul in the Rattlesnake (on the trail or at the trailhead).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLpuVGL87PNU3CMTRJrnBSXo6CQ8a2SefnpMt7EOOPKgjxRrI-Zo7voQEOjo1hu4K2KKCbhqaljT78N0MqeWp9yLgc40pSZahtE-wk9WrDbFVIH9KYEaOd3vfOsDOO7lyaX5ImxKTz_ft/s1600/Iced+over+on+Stuart+Peak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLpuVGL87PNU3CMTRJrnBSXo6CQ8a2SefnpMt7EOOPKgjxRrI-Zo7voQEOjo1hu4K2KKCbhqaljT78N0MqeWp9yLgc40pSZahtE-wk9WrDbFVIH9KYEaOd3vfOsDOO7lyaX5ImxKTz_ft/s320/Iced+over+on+Stuart+Peak.jpg" width="304" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Self-portrait at the high point on 'take one'.<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><u>Take two (December 14):</u></b><div>
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div>
Exactly a week later - and 25 degrees warmer - I came back with a secret weapon: fellow Rockturnal, Lydia Hess. Fueled by Bernice's Coffee and a touch determination, we hit the trail around 7:30AM. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Since my last trip a week before, about 6 inches of snow had fallen in Missoula and 1-2 feet higher in the mountains. I was glad to have snowshoe packed what there was of a trail up to the 6.5 mile mark a week before.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Lydia and I moved swiftly, hitting the 4-mile point in about 1.5 hours. About a half-mile later, we donned our snowshoes and enter into a pleasant amble through 6 inches of fresh powder. A mile further the snow's depth was closer to a foot on top of the previously packed trail. Accordingly, our pace slowed. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
By the time we reached my previous week's high point and the end of the snowshoe-packed trail, the snow was closer to 18 inches on top of the old trail. The end of the snowshoe-packed trail meant the end of the easy 'cruise' up Stuart Peak. One step beyond the previous week's high point resulted in a snowshoe-post-hole through 12-18 inches of powder onto (and through) a weak 2-3 inch crust and down to the next layer of firmer snow where purchase was final achieved. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A slice of humble pie! Our pace slowed from 3-4 miles/hour to less than 1. With 2 miles remaining to the summit of Old Stuey, we had a long slog ahead of us. We trudged on, route-finding to the best of our ability, eventually stumbling upon the Wilderness Boundary marker. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We stopped for a brief snack break at the Wilderness boundary marker. Now in a cloud with 100-200 feet visibility and a 1.5 mile slog ahead of us to the summit, it was all business. We trudged on!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The snow remained consistently inconsistent: powder, crust, firmer snow. We post holed 1-2 feet with every step (likely waist deep without snowshoes!). As for route-finding, thrown off by the slow pace of travel and assuming we were further along the southeast ridge of Stuart Peak, I (I will take credit for this mistake) moved us onto the crest of the ridge too early, resulting in a disorienting, circuitous approach to the summit ridge. At one point, Lydia protested "are we walking in circles!?". She was angry or upset, she had a valid question, and as we came to discover on our way down, for good reason! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So I (again, Lydia had her senses) led us in semi-circles, combing the ridge for any sign of the drop from the southeast ridge to the summit ridge. Just when I was beginning to give up hope that we would find it with such poor visibility it appeared: a sharp change in the slope up the south ridge! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We stopped at the base of the summit ridge for about 1-minute to assess our situation, sort of a council of war (we were moving slowly and we needed to get back by 4:30PM (it was 12:15PM). We decided to go for it and finish what we had worked so dang hard for: the summit!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Fortunately, as anticipated, the crest of the south ridge being exposed to some very strong winds was pretty dang firm in spots. Although, we soon discovered the truth...consistently inconsistent snow pack. Onward and upward!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Lydia and I hit the final summit slope with a seriously strong 'let's get this done!' sort of push and landed on the summit around 12:45PM. We killed it! 30-minutes for that final 1/2 mile steep push. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We exchanged fist bumps, took the obligatory summit photo, honored the fact that we were inside of a cloud and had no view whatsoever, felt the cold/wind and got the heck out of there (we spent 3 minutes on top!). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP__WqKRIWfDpZlmqv1lWYsCfRMucr2hFEJPBOV6kVXT4BCS1wV6IFEzz9lXqaNjRNRoKe4b2IiH9mY6SMtOviBRfoUO30Iqj2qv7PR0-z7FuD8Zrwpi5zXeM6srDMZWVK1VXXErrZBAvM/s1600/On+the+summit+of+Stuart+with+Lydia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP__WqKRIWfDpZlmqv1lWYsCfRMucr2hFEJPBOV6kVXT4BCS1wV6IFEzz9lXqaNjRNRoKe4b2IiH9mY6SMtOviBRfoUO30Iqj2qv7PR0-z7FuD8Zrwpi5zXeM6srDMZWVK1VXXErrZBAvM/s320/On+the+summit+of+Stuart+with+Lydia.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the summit of Stuart Peak!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
In an effort to get ourselves warmed up and get back by our self-imposed timeline, we made quick work on the descent. Thanks to our work snowshoe packing the trail and with the steady pull of gravity this took little effort.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The descent was uneventful, save for meeting up with 3 telemark skiers 3/4 mile from the summit (they had followed our tracks from the bottom!).We took one break on the way down to remove our snows at the 4.5 mile mark and soldiered on, making the total descent in about 3 hours. Wahoo!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Onward and upward,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Brian</div>
Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-82055310082213082362013-11-30T11:02:00.001-08:002013-11-30T11:02:16.251-08:00Searching for Winter: Rattlesnake trip report (sometime recently)<div>
<b>Mountains: </b>Stuart Peak, Mosquito Peak, Stuart Peak (Rattlesnake Wilderness)</div>
<div>
<b>Distance:</b> ~22-23 miles (round-trip)</div>
<div>
<b>Vertical feet gain: </b>6520 feet</div>
<div>
<b>Total elapsed time: </b>9 hours 5 minutes (6:12AM - 3:17PM ~20 minutes of breaks) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
The office life has never suited me. It is very likely that the office life has never suited anyone. Although my job can be immensely rewarding, it is, at the end of the day, an office job on the top floor of a somewhat stuffy building that lacks ventilation and adequate windowage. The net result of all of this - the full-time office life - breeds an intense desire for outdoor adventures.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With a mild fall and a reluctant winter, my outdoor adventure focus over the last few weeks has shifted to searching for winter. To the high country!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Sometime recently:</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
6:12AM: I left the warmth of my car at the Main Rattlesnake Trailhead - ~4,000 feet - for the chill (~10-15 degrees) of the morning. The trailhead was snow-free, as was the trail for the first 5 miles. The Missoula area had had a few good snowfalls in the high country over the last couple of weeks which was followed immediately by a cold front that froze the landscape in time. I planned accordingly and was equipped with snowshoes, crampons and ice ax, and full winter outerwear. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I traveled by headlamp for the first 1 1/2 hours. Three hunters on bikes passed me on the Main Trail - my last signs of human life for 7 hours - around 6:20AM. I took advantage of the dry trail and traveled swiftly (~3-3.5 miles/hr) in the predawn light. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
~8:00AM: Snow! At around 6,000 feet the snow began. At first a hard, frozen crust of an inch or two, boot-packed well by what had likely been hunters, grew steadily with every step to 1-2 feet at the Wilderness boundary (~7 miles in). About 1/2 mile after the Wilderness area began, with an increasing snow pack and a less well-traveled trail, I donned my snowshoes. A few minutes later, I left what was left of the boot-packed summer trail and opted to route-find my way up the trail-less south slope of Stuart Peak.<br />
<br />
8:45AM: More snow! As I continued up the mountain, the snow pack increased to 4 or so feet. With snowshoes, I was impacting no more than 6 inches with every step. The consistency of the pack - powder snow on a hard crust - made for easy, rhythmic travel. Beautiful!<br />
<br />
9:08AM: The Summit of Stuart Peak!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8GKp1yScnCmsxNv_LKbNWd3oCd8QF_6Yyw9DFsLxqs3uqKWjfwWAb_GFEv92fkxclxxuFJhcOarlFVOWFWbeO_JfW67rC25tGVQ_obQlXvgpcdaa6zBgGcnilB-s2zb1XyUp1W7ZtSc2/s1600/Stuart+Peak,+self-portrait+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8GKp1yScnCmsxNv_LKbNWd3oCd8QF_6Yyw9DFsLxqs3uqKWjfwWAb_GFEv92fkxclxxuFJhcOarlFVOWFWbeO_JfW67rC25tGVQ_obQlXvgpcdaa6zBgGcnilB-s2zb1XyUp1W7ZtSc2/s320/Stuart+Peak,+self-portrait+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An excited self-portrait on the summit of Stuart Peak with <br />Mosquito Peak, the next objective, over my left shoulder.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />~9:25AM: I left the glorious summit of Stuart Peak for Mosquito Peak. Per usual, I disregarded any of the summer trails and kept a tight line on the ridges. Oh, the joys of winter travel!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
~10:30AM: I arrived at the foot of the summit ridge of Mosquito Peak after a nice slog over the long rolling connecting ridge between Stuart Peak and Mosquito Peak. I impacted about 6-12 inches with every step, but kept a steady, if somewhat slow, continuous plod. At the base of the summit ridge, I exchanged my snowshoes for crampons and trekking poles for my ice ax. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhrxZvgycyzKZwXKPtl4JxMn61VFsUqibJ1ZQbOX3OMipHSBS7Gl83r1EH3pf-NxrN5d0Zbeuj_npKRCIgfuA6Bb-PaMaV0oWs1ooIAN75RYvh1AWcDzZQd6gcpohM-c54z-SFvQntmjw/s1600/Mosquito+Peak,+summit+ridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhrxZvgycyzKZwXKPtl4JxMn61VFsUqibJ1ZQbOX3OMipHSBS7Gl83r1EH3pf-NxrN5d0Zbeuj_npKRCIgfuA6Bb-PaMaV0oWs1ooIAN75RYvh1AWcDzZQd6gcpohM-c54z-SFvQntmjw/s320/Mosquito+Peak,+summit+ridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The summit ridge of Mosquito Peak. My track is visible on the ridge.<br />This shot was taken on my way back to Stuart Peak.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIErVznXzG43E_8dx6DL5AMOClJNXfSjRUH3qW4DiHOS2pi-Wy69X54c2H_skgc_MU32UUk1Xj_dJtMfnrfi0BjEgIR5rlR8QinG5xLHxmIy2qdmkzruZRKzjGvW8StQtbVf0_RuC88Ys/s1600/Trail+up+Mosquito.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIErVznXzG43E_8dx6DL5AMOClJNXfSjRUH3qW4DiHOS2pi-Wy69X54c2H_skgc_MU32UUk1Xj_dJtMfnrfi0BjEgIR5rlR8QinG5xLHxmIy2qdmkzruZRKzjGvW8StQtbVf0_RuC88Ys/s320/Trail+up+Mosquito.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down the summit ridge to a false summit of Mosquito Peak.<br />Here,without snowshoes, I was postholing 1-2 feet with every step.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
11:06AM: The summit of Mosquito Peak! Remarkably and entirely coincidentally, I arrived on the summit of Mosquito Peak exactly 2 hours after Stuart Peak (~1 hour, 35 minutes from the time I left Stuart for Mosquito).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJpIF3Zu_n8yFNHO8NU0640TdzhkT785ULLZpB4p3CoV_mhl35kw96lc0nWiB4w5d3QPqYzJI-gTuPzL7BkS8G-mYCXJiPIWJRToh7EYarGTQOkpzzv2MeIv0VVkRHtk2E6kE2UPAc5Bf/s1600/Mosquito+Peak,+self-porrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJpIF3Zu_n8yFNHO8NU0640TdzhkT785ULLZpB4p3CoV_mhl35kw96lc0nWiB4w5d3QPqYzJI-gTuPzL7BkS8G-mYCXJiPIWJRToh7EYarGTQOkpzzv2MeIv0VVkRHtk2E6kE2UPAc5Bf/s320/Mosquito+Peak,+self-porrait.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Self-portrait #2 of the day on top of Mosquito Peak. <br />That expression, again, is a cry of joy, not pain.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoMrtZyFXbtgSLlVQbXXBCYa5uHJhcTycmPIIrzphESB67Bit_75lcBw-a5uRLFq31-tuRmPe5vGsmA_rsybFuKvdnCdl_ROTbeLpyLDwg5FDT0GoUr4JXn0J0xROszAN3O6bBfSa40cU/s1600/Stuart+Peak+from+Mosquito+(ice+ax).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoMrtZyFXbtgSLlVQbXXBCYa5uHJhcTycmPIIrzphESB67Bit_75lcBw-a5uRLFq31-tuRmPe5vGsmA_rsybFuKvdnCdl_ROTbeLpyLDwg5FDT0GoUr4JXn0J0xROszAN3O6bBfSa40cU/s320/Stuart+Peak+from+Mosquito+(ice+ax).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My ice ax planted on the summit of Mosquito Peak with Stuart Peak right of center.<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
I spent less than five minutes on the summit of Mosquito Peak before heading down to my snowshoe, extra gear and trekking pole cache. Upon donning my snowshoes and repacking my gear, I slogged my way up and down the rolling ridges back to Stuart Peak.<br />
<br />
~12:45PM: Back on top of Stuart Peak!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyJ7SZGswXf6PDZ5kGBZ_m_EEJ3UqaqYE9FCIcpcn9o0ZmgssKBCnjNWM1D78BTkr6sWCV28ROQ9KJCW2HkMmcznO7n84isihikeKiw57cX9qqDSykormmaTHi2XxrMeCfpU-yuARjfpA/s1600/Stuart+Peak,+self-portrait+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyJ7SZGswXf6PDZ5kGBZ_m_EEJ3UqaqYE9FCIcpcn9o0ZmgssKBCnjNWM1D78BTkr6sWCV28ROQ9KJCW2HkMmcznO7n84isihikeKiw57cX9qqDSykormmaTHi2XxrMeCfpU-yuARjfpA/s320/Stuart+Peak,+self-portrait+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Self-portrait #3 and final picture of the day on top of Stuart Peak again. <br />Mosquito Peak (form whence I came) is visible over my right shoulder. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It would be untruthful of me to suggest that I was nothing, if not tired, on the second trip up Stuart Peak. I was tired, but no less elated to be out on one of the most beautiful days in recorded history. And, about to walk 8.5 miles downhill! Yahoo!<br />
<br />
The trip back to the trail head, although uneventful, was extremely enjoyable and relaxing. I cruised downhill, turning the 2 hour 56 minute ascent into a 2 hour 20 minute descent.<br />
<br />
3:17PM: Back at the trail head!<br />
<br />
All told, the outing was exactly what I was searching for: an escape from office life and the discovery of winter! I felt and feel incredibly blessed to be afforded opportunities to experience God's beauty and the accompanying peacefulness. I always come back after trips like this a little better than I left. A new creation!<br />
<br />
Onward and upward!<br />
<br />
Brian</div>
Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-5027146242250552672013-11-09T08:07:00.002-08:002013-11-09T08:07:46.311-08:00Mount Sentinel Hill Climb: Race Report<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"There's a long line of cars/And they're trying to get through" Cake</blockquote>
A day late, a buck short. I apologize for the delay on the Mount Sentinel Hill Climb race report. A week or more past, I drafted up a pretty lengthy report only to have my computer freeze and ultimately lose the blog post.<br />
<br />
Take two:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYPF5jtR206Zxp_XogcCJOwj_rBn34jBY1Icqem1rqNuQpHUjyCAQjOtCBiBC1Wa7Kn-uVph2pXgw05udXUfZNAx3tZNNZSpmOeGMRExsXCuLuxSTNP-_62EhXMvnO9zvyn3i0WmK-Mar/s1600/Mt+Sentinel+Hill+Climb+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYPF5jtR206Zxp_XogcCJOwj_rBn34jBY1Icqem1rqNuQpHUjyCAQjOtCBiBC1Wa7Kn-uVph2pXgw05udXUfZNAx3tZNNZSpmOeGMRExsXCuLuxSTNP-_62EhXMvnO9zvyn3i0WmK-Mar/s400/Mt+Sentinel+Hill+Climb+2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linds took this picture moments after the start of the race from the bottom of the course. <br />I am visible with a yellow hat and black long-sleeve shirt.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Mount Sentinel Hill Climb is an all-out effort race up Mount Sentinel's 2,000 vertical feet by way of 2 trails: the shorter and steeper northwest ridge and the longer, but gentler 'M Trail'. All runners are required to take the 'M Trail' to the giant cement-casted 'M' about 1/3 of the way of the mountain. At the 'M', runners are presented with the option of continuing on the gentler 'M Trail' or power up the steeper northwest ridge trail. With a previous PR of 24 minutes and 30 seconds on the length of the northwest ridge trail, I didn't know what to expect with the added distance of the 'M Trail' up to the 'M'. This was a chance to find out!<br />
<br />
Around 9:55AM on the morning of the race, 100 runners self-selected positioning and crammed themselves into the starting channel leading up to the entrance of the 'M Trail'. Although by trail standards the 'M Trail' is broad, it, at widest, can accommodate 2.5 adults shoulder-to-shoulder. I positioned myself roughly a third of the way back. Knowing I would not be running a step of the race, I opted for a comfortable placement that wouldn't impede passage of the swift mountain runners.<br />
<br />
At 10AM the gun went off. It took a good 15-30 seconds for the front third of the pack to clear out and get moving up the trail. As spaced opened up, runners to my left and right began to first slowly walk, then walk swiftly and finally run! I was able to open up my power-hiking stride within the first 15 feet and finally get to work doing what I love best: moving swiftly in the mountains.<br />
<br />
The longest and most gentle switchback of the entire route occurs first. Although crowded, there was enough space to somewhat gracefully move through the runners. At the turns of the first couple of switchbacks the pace expectedly slowed to a walk as the group made the turns. The first leg up to the 'M' proved a game of leapfrog with runners. On the steeper switchbacks I would pass 3-4 runners who in turn would pass me on the gentler switchbacks when they got back up to a solid running stride.<br />
<br />
By the time I got to the 'M' runners had more or less settled into their pace/position for the race: a dozen or so in front of me and 80 or so behind me. I passed in the 'M' (620 feet off the valley floor) feeling strong, beaming brightly and enjoying myself thoroughly! I have no idea how much time had elapsed to get up there and frankly I didn't care. I was having a blast.<br />
<br />
A few feet passed the 'M' the course splits: northwest trail or 'M Trail'. This was a no-brainer for me. I live for the northwest ridge trail!<br />
<br />
I passed a few more folks on the middle portion of the mountain on the northwest trail as runners began to slow to a power-hike on the steeps. My approach with power-hiking, as it was with marathons and ultra-marthons, 'swift and steady'. I passed my last runner at about the halfway point. From there, I slowly closed in on the guy in front of me, only to have him pull away on the few gentler sections of the northwest ridge trail.<br />
<br />
In this manner, the upper half of the mountain proved to much like any of the other 50+ times I had used this route as a training ground in the last year. Again, beaming, I accepted my place and smiled my way up to the final summit ridge of Mount Sentinel.<br />
<br />
As I crested the ridge and the slope lessened to the summit, the finish line archway and clock came into view. The clock read 25 minutes and 40-some seconds. I was tempted to run in the last bit and see about getting under 26 minutes, but opted to stick to my guns and keep to my power-hiking race. I quickened to a power-walk and hit the finish line at 26 minutes and 32 seconds. Having never timed myself before utilizing this exact route (the 'M Trail' to northwest ridge trail route), I had nothing to compare it to and decided only to be pleased that I had had such a great time and had set a new PR.<br />
<br />
Curious as to how the race unfolded, I checked the results later in the day to find out that I came in 14th place. The winners, elite trail runners, made it to the top in under 21 minutes! Amazing. All told, I am very pleased with my performance (I won't pretend I am not competitive) having not run a step of the race.<br />
<br />
I had a blast and loved the low-key, local nature of the race. I will be back next year!<br />
<br />
Onward and upward,<br />
<br />
BrianBrian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-86901063450690534712013-10-15T21:00:00.001-07:002013-10-15T21:00:13.672-07:00Rheumatoid Arthritis, cookies and mountains<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Is there truth, in your pain, you decide" Dashboard Confessional</i></blockquote>
<b><u>Rheumatoid Arthritis: </u></b><br />
Bad news: still have it<br />
Good news: not as badly<br />
<br />
<b><u>Cookies:</u></b><br />
Today, I ate two cookies. Yesterday, I ate three (smallish cookies). Currently, my favorite cookie is whatever Connie Dillon is baking (soon to change, 'The Letter K' is coming to town this week).<br />
<br />
<b><u>Mountains:</u></b><br />
The text gadget on the right is not working. Consequently, I have not been able to update the project stats for a couple of weeks. Here are a few cumulative states updated:<br />
<br />
Total vertical feet in 2013: <b>339,000</b><br />
Mount Sentinel summits: <b>111</b><br />
University Mountain: <b>26</b><br />
<br />
On Sunday, October 27th, I am going to race - power hike, not run - the Mount Sentinel hill climb. I am pretty pumped to race again. The last race that I sunk my teeth into was the Elkhorn 50 miler in 2009. It ended disappointingly with a 'did not finish' and resulted in the first string of medical visits that led to the RA diagnosis in 2010. At this stage, it is all about doing the best that I can do within my physical means and delight in the fact that I am able to do what I love: go up mountains.<br />
<br />
Onward and upward,<br />
<br />
BrianBrian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-91407711511761562202013-10-01T18:50:00.001-07:002013-10-01T18:50:48.917-07:00Mount Sentinel: Double or NothingTotal vertical ascent: ~4,000 feet<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Total distance: ~5 miles</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Total elapsed time: 1 hour 25 minutes 40 seconds</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
First round trip: 41 minutes 27 seconds</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Second round trip: 44 minutes 13 seconds </div>
<br />
Sometime back in the April or May - probably May, I had the vision for an all out double effort on Mount Sentinel. Two back-to-back round trips to the summit power hiking - no running - in an all out effort. Unfortunately, summer came on quickly, delaying the outing: my body seems to be at its best in terms of sustained exertion in the 40s-50s. Yesterday, it struck me that tomorrow (today) was the day! My body felt strong and the weather had finally become relatively stable. Go time!<br />
<br />
I fueled up with a Clif Shot Blok jelly on my way to the trailhead, cued AWOLNATION on my iPod and set my timer. I went pretty hard and probably looked ridiculous as ever to all of the other hikers on the trail: trekking poles flailing, legs akimbo. So it goes...and so I went!<br />
<br />
The first ascent was improbable. Improbable in the sense that I was killing myself on the first ascent, way too fast. I knew what I was doing and by that I mean I was clueless, save for the fact that I knew I had the entire descent to recover for the second ascent. Diminishing returns...and so I continued!<br />
<br />
I pushed hard for the first summit and failed to get my split on the summit, but I put it at around 24:30ish based on my descent times and second round trip. I tagged the summit and hauled butt down, doing everything in my power to not run a step. Instead, I power walked with a low-center-of gravity, again looking quite silly I'm sure.<br />
<br />
The first descent went without a hitch. I popped a couple of Shot Bloks on the way down when my body was ready to receive it. As I got back to the parking lot, I checked my split: 41 minutes and 27 seconds. I was beside myself! My previous PR on that trail for the year was in the 45-46 minute range. I felt strong and ready for another go (and somehow the AWOLNATION album I was listening to restarted. So, you know, it was go time). I grabbed a 7-10 second drink of water at the drinking fountain and hauled butt back onto the trail.<br />
<br />
The first 1/3 of the second round trip was rough. My legs felt dead and I wasn't sure if I was moving quickly or not. In my mind, I was flying, but somehow, in reality, it didn't seem so. And so I persisted. About halfway up, something clicked and strength returned: I begin finding rest on the gentler slopes. About 2/3 of the way up I passed a guy that I had passed on the way down on the first round trip. He commented, "You are making this old guy look bad". I responded, "Well sir, I am not feeling so good". Which was true and honest and all of that. It was at that time that a slight nausea set in. With roughly 600 feet to go, the end was in sight and it wasn't difficult to push through the feeling of sickness, knowing that the sooner I got to the summit, the sooner I would be resting again on the descent.<br />
<br />
I pushed hard on the last ~200 vertical feet, leaving nothing on the table. Which felt good mentally, but not so good physically! Not in a damaging sort of way, but in a sickness sort of way. Fortunately, I never lost my lunch or Clif Shot Bloks. I hit my split on the summit: 1 hour 8 minutes 36 seconds. Whoa! I was extremely surprised. Mostly that I hit a 27 minute 9 second second round trip. It felt like hours!<br />
<br />
Eager to feel better, I quickly began my descent. Within a couple of minutes, the nausea subsided enough to take my final Shot Bloks. Honestly, I brought these less because I needed them and more because they are freaking delicious (thanks Phil!). I am snacking on them as I write this in the comfort of my home. Anyways, I moved swiftly and steadily downhill to the final track of AWOLNATION's 'Megalithic Symphony' eager to click stop on my watch. I smiled at the 'old guy' as I passed him for the second time on the way down.<br />
<br />
I hit the trailhead for the second time and stopped my watch: 1 hour 25 minutes 40 seconds. Whoa! I was beside myself. I was really hoping for under two hours and after the first round trip settled on the 1:30-40 range, but this. It was nice to be surprised! Very nice.<br />
<br />
And so hear I sit, writing about something that happened 2 hours ago and means little to anyone else. Truthfully, it means only un poco to me. Life is about living and this is one way to live. It includes meaningful relationships, fulfilling work, a healthy soul, love and ambitious, enjoyable goals. I had a blast and hope that everyone else is finding their Mount Sentinels these days!<br />
<br />
Onward and upward!Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-18968817052656299742013-09-18T21:00:00.000-07:002013-09-18T21:04:02.589-07:00Some days the mountain leans back<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Some days the mountain leans back, lies down gently and grants those who venture onto its slopes ease of travel. The trail appears a nearly horizontal traverse, whose view magically sweetens with each step;</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
On certain days the mountain lies in repose, as if to say, "today, I will rest and bear the burden of your sojourn". Continuing, the mountain adds, "consider this <i>your</i> rest and enjoy the journey".</blockquote>
On several occasions this year - and countless throughout my life - I have had moments in the mountains where the mountain has the appearance and the feeling of 'leaning back' and lessening its slope's angle. This may be an illusion: whose to say that the lower slope angle is not the norm and on most days the slope has the appearance and feeling of being steeper.<br />
<br />
It is probably all an illusion! What is measurable and constant is the slope's actual angle. My favorite trail on Mount Sentinel rises about 2000 vertical feet in 1.2 miles, a fairly steep trail. As a rule, this particular trail's required effort seems commensurate with its steepness. But on certain days - and today was one of these - the mountain truly has the appearance of lying back and lessening its slope angle, allowing for a less intense effort that yields the same results.<br />
<br />
The reason(s) for this phenomenon (and that's a stretch) may seem obvious: variables in daily diet/hydration, sequence in a work out cycle, mood, time constraints, etc. All of these things certainly play a role in overall fitness and point-in-time health and performance, but do not explain the visual appearance of the slope.<br />
<br />
Today, the trail presented itself modestly, looking half itself while providing fully rewarding pleasant and easy passage. And I will examine no further.<br />
<br />
Thank you, mountain.<br />
<br />
Onward and upward,<br />
<br />
BrianBrian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-10968386106053624092013-09-16T21:57:00.000-07:002013-09-17T08:49:23.373-07:00300,000 feet and Mount Sentinel <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqK7ZH-bxymI3RXJPllO8_nP5FxE26OZWbASyhTHmZgfRSHmx1xWxO_ax6Aa92YWsKmf4vlgF_lfXzuE6wl5eV1XnoqkQnu-uLUkOzhm-ED1anlm3uVwbRojZeB41bFxHu7xOIDK_vyaP/s1600/Sentinel+Skyview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqK7ZH-bxymI3RXJPllO8_nP5FxE26OZWbASyhTHmZgfRSHmx1xWxO_ax6Aa92YWsKmf4vlgF_lfXzuE6wl5eV1XnoqkQnu-uLUkOzhm-ED1anlm3uVwbRojZeB41bFxHu7xOIDK_vyaP/s400/Sentinel+Skyview.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quiet moment for a fellow hiker on top of Mount Sentinel.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Today's 96th ascent of Mount Sentinel on the year, marked the 300,000 vertical foot milestone for 2013.<br />
<br />
Ascent: 27 minutes<br />
Descent: 28 minutes<br />
Temp: ~82 degrees<br />
Music: Vampire Weekend 'Modern Vampires of the City' and Sigur Ros 'Untitled'<br />
Highlight: Finding my lost bike lock key hanging on the fence at the base of mountain Sentinel upon coming down the mountain.<br />
<br />
That is all. Onward and upward!<br />
<br />
Brian<br />
<br />
<br />Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-34641874246426499892013-09-08T07:28:00.002-07:002013-09-09T16:42:31.862-07:0024 Hours of Sinopah Mountain (in pictures)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px;">
Linds and I made our way up to Glacier National Park for an extended Labor Day Weekend. Over the course of 3.5 days we hiked over 40 miles of the park, logging over 9,000 vertical feet. Glacier did not disappoint! What beauty! Our last night in the park was spent at Two Medicine Lake in the southeast corner of the park. The inclement weather of the previous two days beginning moving out, providing some super cool changes in light.</div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12px;">The following pictures were taken during a 24 hour period at Two Medicine Lake (shown in the order that they were taken). The model? Sinopah Mountain!</span></div>
<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbyun9A7YXPWN_chOSVw_JvqJMPu2enSEFik_apYPbKMtuiwbjrsNTvub4TVgVP_o5v-FWeLIFSKwzqJ9Bahk0SLjBOyWsaYfd_MWq1zRljJ_xoNElCENlem9mPNeoVoeWrH4V4OgakFu/s1600/Sinopah+with+smooth+water%252C+overcast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbyun9A7YXPWN_chOSVw_JvqJMPu2enSEFik_apYPbKMtuiwbjrsNTvub4TVgVP_o5v-FWeLIFSKwzqJ9Bahk0SLjBOyWsaYfd_MWq1zRljJ_xoNElCENlem9mPNeoVoeWrH4V4OgakFu/s400/Sinopah+with+smooth+water%252C+overcast.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAOPcn2onHaQAodSRGjoxB-tlAx4kHxICG0UGD2P5UHOSAOpTv8xMwLXl7sYyBCW5L2skmZnMsETaibK94Q36KJ7xbbLmT4cxJEugSqGG3T9DO_hyve3DB6KsRis-GWBTlR3K02J1byDZD/s1600/Sinopah+moody+sky+reflection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAOPcn2onHaQAodSRGjoxB-tlAx4kHxICG0UGD2P5UHOSAOpTv8xMwLXl7sYyBCW5L2skmZnMsETaibK94Q36KJ7xbbLmT4cxJEugSqGG3T9DO_hyve3DB6KsRis-GWBTlR3K02J1byDZD/s400/Sinopah+moody+sky+reflection.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8ydRxZgmUq8H2wV_U8z3e8qF_VbTbGP2KLklaGlxezYn-gOaS_HRNMZO48px7YXxyFvYhpMMX_rovny0p5QTKUD5qjfcoRYi2H9sLvoFV7VIYmXsNI0Z2MA3In1YgO1x8z5VogEREH7r/s1600/Sinopah+moody+sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8ydRxZgmUq8H2wV_U8z3e8qF_VbTbGP2KLklaGlxezYn-gOaS_HRNMZO48px7YXxyFvYhpMMX_rovny0p5QTKUD5qjfcoRYi2H9sLvoFV7VIYmXsNI0Z2MA3In1YgO1x8z5VogEREH7r/s400/Sinopah+moody+sky.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04MA_F7uIDrdkTimpn0Jl5SBH_gQ0k951Sl-cOvsgi8yAt7mwwsNgAo3U2N8K9uXPb9TInqUYmT7C0oNkk1X30989oRqpMBrlbzgHEXw62gUSN9v2VA_4tblBpfXvgm2jldsRrhehQI34/s1600/Sinopah+sunrise+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04MA_F7uIDrdkTimpn0Jl5SBH_gQ0k951Sl-cOvsgi8yAt7mwwsNgAo3U2N8K9uXPb9TInqUYmT7C0oNkk1X30989oRqpMBrlbzgHEXw62gUSN9v2VA_4tblBpfXvgm2jldsRrhehQI34/s400/Sinopah+sunrise+closeup.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmN7JXeZE-y3hXC6ZHJkmMi7XiqAxGOw6FSWYO8FGfu_TZynvaLjbP-CiyEK5oKNJ-ADXEqjPMYQldnh1McrglMXIMLtK_pLFSMwFh2jQ0wucgbU6yKyPTE_sK71L09cSGkknKG4EqGxV/s1600/Mackerel+Sky+Reflection%252C+Sinopah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmN7JXeZE-y3hXC6ZHJkmMi7XiqAxGOw6FSWYO8FGfu_TZynvaLjbP-CiyEK5oKNJ-ADXEqjPMYQldnh1McrglMXIMLtK_pLFSMwFh2jQ0wucgbU6yKyPTE_sK71L09cSGkknKG4EqGxV/s400/Mackerel+Sky+Reflection%252C+Sinopah.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJ13Z0TwNq4MS2mItGvO5CsZ0wBsKRcuJefrDUCb-Xrkbyfu0bxpMvxIf8s9dE8jsjpe2-yzqR9mjO4yePxTyQB5QsLBUIimk7cGS4pGU3FrfqjFoWq58h580hPDWH9CJPlYjCdvOTQGm/s1600/Sinopah+reflection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJ13Z0TwNq4MS2mItGvO5CsZ0wBsKRcuJefrDUCb-Xrkbyfu0bxpMvxIf8s9dE8jsjpe2-yzqR9mjO4yePxTyQB5QsLBUIimk7cGS4pGU3FrfqjFoWq58h580hPDWH9CJPlYjCdvOTQGm/s400/Sinopah+reflection.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6MhcJ-U7sEcNnMSA9RucRAzWKfQUt58fByaxHc9PMbDrj4ksqnqxsujiPZno3Fs3aKhU1H85cL75WMQrSlXQUl189vx2Hoi6xe066ZxjXTvpsWpMnyX7azwZPi6OTk3ziDwmgehXsm24/s1600/Sinopah+reflection+vertical+w-rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6MhcJ-U7sEcNnMSA9RucRAzWKfQUt58fByaxHc9PMbDrj4ksqnqxsujiPZno3Fs3aKhU1H85cL75WMQrSlXQUl189vx2Hoi6xe066ZxjXTvpsWpMnyX7azwZPi6OTk3ziDwmgehXsm24/s400/Sinopah+reflection+vertical+w-rocks.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BPl-wdmWdFqKn9fxXDPjlxoJ9pNNE1RYx1fLfQ1LJjzcIoY0UAdeHEEhZce67Or-X0L8M6Id8O4PKt6vJSwcN09n_REgLcKvBqhphzlBGkME9dZc8HJt4HE86to-SZ0NMWe4Kn9v26tv/s1600/Sinopah+kiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BPl-wdmWdFqKn9fxXDPjlxoJ9pNNE1RYx1fLfQ1LJjzcIoY0UAdeHEEhZce67Or-X0L8M6Id8O4PKt6vJSwcN09n_REgLcKvBqhphzlBGkME9dZc8HJt4HE86to-SZ0NMWe4Kn9v26tv/s400/Sinopah+kiss.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF2KarL0uC_ctLvvPNJg8FxZjPsXBw_lVyt53_PqAA7Ge_i6D-XW_4L0M5rJ0Aft74MR6O4pqtyjTXTxxTSHraGpTUcymDdFoTeX11fzLC2UG-oI6pmhTdpX90KIjzVGdD78o7A3T5JLfM/s1600/Sinopah+with+big+blue+sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF2KarL0uC_ctLvvPNJg8FxZjPsXBw_lVyt53_PqAA7Ge_i6D-XW_4L0M5rJ0Aft74MR6O4pqtyjTXTxxTSHraGpTUcymDdFoTeX11fzLC2UG-oI6pmhTdpX90KIjzVGdD78o7A3T5JLfM/s400/Sinopah+with+big+blue+sky.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Onward and upward!</div>
</div>
Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-61912586222392360272013-08-17T17:58:00.000-07:002013-08-17T18:00:35.486-07:00Trip Report: Point Six and Murphy PeakTrailhead: Snowbowl Ski Area parking lot (~5,000')<br />
High Points: 'Point 7500', 'Point Six' (7942') and 'Murphy Peak' (8167')<br />
Total Elevation Gain: 5,000 feet<br />
Duration: 3 hours 23 minutes (round trip)<br />
<br />
I got onto the mountain around 8AM via Snowbowl Ski Area. Although there is an established trail to the top of the Ski Area (~ 4 miles), I opted for the most direct route to the top of Snowbowl. From the top of Snowbowl, point 7500, I would then head up to 'Point Six' and finally 'Murphy Peak' by way of the connecting ridge between the two (and then a reversal of the route).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7JhXuGqOyhA3Gdy3Ucik8lnvGuIPwCmuOUKRcn14_wp-kZx16Gy_OvxUgoRTbHcbVWLyAOJtBneXwNhXI-Kiaf8wVxgEZfl98r1YxUHZWbC06qTRm6N09Krjt3e0qpNkXv1vImCbLoUe/s1600/Point+7500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7JhXuGqOyhA3Gdy3Ucik8lnvGuIPwCmuOUKRcn14_wp-kZx16Gy_OvxUgoRTbHcbVWLyAOJtBneXwNhXI-Kiaf8wVxgEZfl98r1YxUHZWbC06qTRm6N09Krjt3e0qpNkXv1vImCbLoUe/s320/Point+7500.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking south/southwest from the top of Snowbowl<br />
(parking lot lower left)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Departing at 7:55AM from the parking lot, I followed the 'Runout' run for the first 3/4 of a mile before taking a hard left up a steep glade run on the crest of the rib that marks the western edge of 'West Bowl'. The line provides a direct shot to the top of Snowbowl. By this route, I bushwhacked my way through knee high vegetation interspersed with beautiful coniferous trees. About 700 feet below the summit, lush undergrowth gave way to an expansive talus field - rocks roughly the size of basketballs or larger. What a treat! It provided, without exception, a stable, direct and swift passage to the top. Within a few minutes of discovering the talus 'super highway' I was on top of Snowbowl Ski Area. I was very pleased to see that the clock read 8:39AM, about 45 minutes from bottom to top.<br />
<br />
From Snowbowl, I headed northeast via a ski run to the broad connecting ridge to Point Six. I opted for the most direct ridge road. A few minutes later I was standing amongst the radio towers and doppler radar that is Point Six. There I encountered a woman walking around the summit taking photos. She explained that she was with a crew that had driven up to Point Six to do some repair work on the HAM radio setup. We both made remarks about the beauty that surrounded us from our lofty perch above Missoula and the Rattlesnake Wilderness. I suggested that on the clearest day, Flathead Lake might be visible from this vista. Unsure of the veracity of this, she responded "maybe" and I concurred as I rethought the possibility of Flathead Lake actually being visible from this far south.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-lu0mPquNos0v1db85fJY0eZ0WZV8T0N-wBQEFRaZphgD4ta6zXpMMW2u8w7_bkBQ8cJzTmEXUjAYtfKNqcsOpxhIEeaAtBDH3KIdA7rK6drBkGEFxxJB4q6B343wNNdWYrFP2td0ZBW/s1600/Murphy+Peak+from+Point+Six.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-lu0mPquNos0v1db85fJY0eZ0WZV8T0N-wBQEFRaZphgD4ta6zXpMMW2u8w7_bkBQ8cJzTmEXUjAYtfKNqcsOpxhIEeaAtBDH3KIdA7rK6drBkGEFxxJB4q6B343wNNdWYrFP2td0ZBW/s320/Murphy+Peak+from+Point+Six.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking north to Murphy Peak from Point Six<br />
(Murphy Peak is the high point right of center)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After parting ways with the HAM radio enthusiast, I took a 1-2 minute break on the summit of 'Point Six' to mix an electrolyte drink mix and pull out a granola bar for the road. Feeling strong and fired up about the next objective, Murphy Peak, I dropped down the boulder field that defines the north shoulder of Point Six. Point Six and Murphy Peak are connected by a roughly two mile-long undulating ridge that dips down to 7500' with one prominent point on the ridge between the two named peaks. Amazingly, just above saddle between Point Six and the prominent ridge point ahead, a wilderness registration box materialized. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere with no real defined trail it was somewhat baffling. I quickly registered and followed what appeared to be more of a game trail than a manmade hiking trail. "Hey Bear! Hey Bear!" was my loud, audible mantra for the day (I did not so much as see bear scat). After about 1/2 mile I lost the game trail and headed for the crest of the ridge. Within a few minutes, I found myself on top of the prominent point that marks the halfway point between Point Six and Murphy Peak.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQUdiEGaMKkVeKhFdM7tQHB20COHY1R1hlGbTYjd6M98yjLRIiu8G76RCiURoW6Vtp04KzKY0DIOZc-Qi_X3pkqdr0QLAMg87DPMtTWddwYfeIdcoHvak_ogmj-5Gbvo3Xkjrvgd2IzyA/s1600/Murphy+Peak+self-portrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQUdiEGaMKkVeKhFdM7tQHB20COHY1R1hlGbTYjd6M98yjLRIiu8G76RCiURoW6Vtp04KzKY0DIOZc-Qi_X3pkqdr0QLAMg87DPMtTWddwYfeIdcoHvak_ogmj-5Gbvo3Xkjrvgd2IzyA/s320/Murphy+Peak+self-portrait.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Self-portrait looking north on Murphy Peak</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I let out a joyful 'Whoop!' as the next expanse of ridge opened up between myself and Murphy Peak's summit. The ridge narrowed and, at times, steepened amidst a jumbled mess of massive granite slabs. It looked super fun!<br />
<br />
I quickly made my way down the ridge point to the final little saddle that marks the beginning of the summit cone of Murphy Peak. I stashed my trekking poles about 400 feet below the top as the ridge steepened and forced some quick and easy scrambling moves. A final move through a narrow slot in the rock gave way to the final talus field of Murphy Peak. Moments later I was standing on top with joy in my heart! The clock read 9:39AM, exactly one-hour after getting to the top of Snowbowl and 1 hour and 45 minutes from my car. I was extraordinarily pleased with this time, as I was aiming for something of a lung/quad-busting speed ascent.<br />
<br />
I took a 3-5 minute break on top of Murphy Peak to rehydrate, take some food and electrolytes and snap some photos as well. It was so dang pretty up there! The panorama included a view of the Rattlesnake Wilderness, Missoula, the northside of Snowbowl, Point Six, the southern reaches of Arlee, the southern end of the Mission Mountains and the Grant Creek complex.<br />
<br />
Hydrated and nourished, I donned my pack and began the long retrace of the connecting ridge back to the top of Point Six and down to the SnowBowl Ski Area. I did my darndest to retrace my line down Snowbowl. About 1/3 of the way down, I saw a mountain biker athwart my direct descent, enjoying a leisurely solo cruise in the mountains. Beautiful stuff. I regained the runout on the bottom 1/3 of the mountain and cruised on down to the parking lot. I arrived at my car at 11:18AM. Gosh, still morning! what a nice surprise.<br />
<br />
Overall, this route goes down as one of my favorite local hikes. The connecting ridge between Point Six and Murphy Peak is pretty dang fun and the views from atop those two high points are spectacular.<br />
<br />
Onward and upward,<br />
<br />
BrianBrian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-79866457195961685182013-08-10T15:20:00.000-07:002013-08-10T15:21:17.428-07:00July in review and lessons learned<br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgIpXoiWbP-5Z56POfEB8e28BAsXxn379_NxTOIFc0je6-yh0s-cw-3RVKG7W755yyxt0hXjahMJkPcK66n-aXBFyQUsRq8SFWCGuKo3DhagWzIEJfP7a4YBJnmFW5WE70Ljog5Sa5-pP/s1600/Pikes+Peak+summit+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgIpXoiWbP-5Z56POfEB8e28BAsXxn379_NxTOIFc0je6-yh0s-cw-3RVKG7W755yyxt0hXjahMJkPcK66n-aXBFyQUsRq8SFWCGuKo3DhagWzIEJfP7a4YBJnmFW5WE70Ljog5Sa5-pP/s320/Pikes+Peak+summit+photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo of the month: Linds and I on the summit of Pikes Peak (07/06/2013)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<b>Just the facts:</b></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Total ascent: 36,500 vertical feet</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
Mountain summits: </div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Mount Sentinel (11 summits)</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Pikes Peak</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Mount Deanstone</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Mitten Mountain</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Mount Jumbo<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<b>Now the fluff:</b></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
A note on vertical feet or elevation gain. I use vertical feet as my primary indicator of success in terms of this project. Vertical feet measures the distance from the base of something to the top of something "as the balloon rises". With mountains, we are talking base to summit. If you to climb a ladder vertically, straight through the middle of the mountain from base to summit, you would be tracking the vertical feet measurement. To give you a sense of scale, The Empire State Building rises an impressive 1,454 vertical feet. The average level of a home is ~10 vertical feet. That coffee, sitting on your table, comes in at about ~3 vertical feet (floor to tabletop). Mount Sentinel, the mountain I spend a bulk of my time training on, comes in at just under 2,000 vertical feet (1,950ish). Pikes Peak boasts about 7,800 vertical feet. Vertical feet simply gives you a vertical measure of two points and does not account for the elevation. </div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
July was a banner month. January was the last month that I hit 36,500 vertical feet of ascent or more (62,700 feet). I learned many lessons from January's efforts. The most important being that 60,000 feet a month or more is not tenable for my body or social life. Post-RA me simply isn't up to the task and post-Linds me simply doesn't want to throw myself headlong into a futile endeavor to the determent of our relationship. In February, I dropped steeply to 36,350 feet and continued dropping to the low 20,000s through May. By June, I was ramping back up to the 30-40,000 foot range, right where I want to be. </div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Truth to tell, I am feeling really good. My mind continues to be my biggest enemy. Pre-RA, I had very little respect for the recovery needs of my body. In 2008, I ran, on average, 18 miles/day with a smile on my face (a little over 6000 miles for the year). I dismissed all aches and pains outright. Post-RA, I am hopeless when it comes to aches, pains, twangs, twinges, pops, cracks and creaking. When I feel a slight twinge in my knee when going from a seated to standing position or hear a pop in my shoulder when stretching, my tendency is to leap to the worst case scenario: it's over, there is a good chance I will never be able to walk or climb again. Honest, objective discernment over real or perceived problems with RA is, in my estimation, the single greatest challenge of dealing with the disease. It is amazing how emotional physical aches and pains can become. I have tons to learn in this area. "Remain calm! Don't panic!" These are my mantras in times of broken focus. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. </div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Our brains are extremely powerful organs often controlling physical outputs - pain, illness - through thought inputs - worries, anxieties.</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Prayer remains the greatest tool in working through these times: the very act of prayer calms and quiets the mind and allows for honest analysis and a sense of correctitude regarding the ultimate course of action. Linds has been alongside me as I rediscover my prayer life. Prayer, in my life, is an opportunity to acquiesce that many things lie out of my control and no amount of worry or misguided focus can change that. It is a time to cede control to a higher power (whatever that means to you) and say "I don't know what is happening, I don't have the answers and that is 'okay'!". And then move on: let go and let God (not sure who first said that, but it's a good one).</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Onward and upward,</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Brian</div>
Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934476041868108732.post-75908475974228552432013-07-28T17:09:00.003-07:002013-07-28T17:17:49.047-07:00Delusions of grandeur quelled by heat-induced delusions and new informationDehydration is nothing if not humbling. Being humbled is nothing if not humbling. The day's weather on my 75th ascent of Mount Sentinel this year was nothing if not humbling.<br />
<br />
95 degrees and windless, Thursday's outing challenged the dynamic tension between heat and water retention. With every labored breathe I could feel my body's water content evaporating. Like a watermelon in a food dehydrator, my body was tormented as it lamented the loss of its vital liquid.<br />
<br />
From the outset of the 75th ascent, I felt invincible: strong, swift, steady and focused. These are the elements that, when experienced in excess, can take a person from self-assuredness straight to hubris. I am unstoppable and unflappable! This jump from self-assuredness to grand control over all is not so much a slippery slope as a concave precipice: it unequivocally ends in a crash.<br />
<br />
Life, in its fullness, is quick to remind us of our limits. I failed to adjust my standard pace on account of the heat. 15 minutes in and halfway to the summit my body's water resources were depleted: dehydration had determined that I would be a vessel of its moisture vacuity on this day. So it goes. And so it went.<br />
<br />
Unwilling to accept that something like heat could affect my performance, I pushed on, on pace for the standard 30 minute ascent. A few minutes later I was standing on the summit. The heat had vanquished the precious life-sustaining goodness called water. It won handedly. Bad decisions rarely yield good results. This instance was no exception.<br />
<br />
Nausea set in. Stomach cramps took hold. A slight twinge in the fore of my head portended of aches to come. As usual, I did not linger on the summit. I headed down at a brisk pace wishing away all of the symptoms that had developed (I also quietly harangued myself for the poor decision making that had gotten me to this point).<br />
<br />
The descent, as usual, was also uneventful, save for the sickness that had settled in. To distract myself, I remained focused on the prize: a drinking fountain at the base of the mountain. 30 minutes later, I found myself where I started, sucking down copious amounts of water from the drinking fountain. I counted my blessings, stretched and hopped on my bike for a short ride home.<br />
<br />
I had been in this place - dehydration and heat exhaustion - many times before during my ultra-marathon running days. I imbibed 20 ounces of Gatorade and 40+ ounces of water upon getting home. The story does not get any more interesting from this point. In fact, it probably peaked on top of the mountain. I recovered quickly and feel like a million bucks again, etc. etc.<br />
<br />
All right. So. At the Mount Sentinel Trailhead, before heading up, I noticed a small index card tacked to general notice board. On it read: "#5000 to the top of mount sentinel, RLS, 05/25/2013". If I am reading this correctly, RLS, whomever that is, completed their 5000th summit of Mount Sentinel this week. That is mind-blowing! We are talking on average 100 summits a year for 50 years or 200 summits a year for 25 years. Unbelievable! This new information, was immediately humbling, reminding me that my goal of 100 summits of Mount Sentinel in 2013 was, in the world of serious hikers and athletes, peanuts. It was a drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of things.<br />
<br />
Any delusion of grandeur, of being great or exceptional this day, the 75th ascent, was quickly brought into check by the elements, God's realm, and by human performance, God's other realm. This isn't to say that I really considered myself great, but I did consider the objective unique to me. My goal was based solely on my abilities post-RA. And, it lives a balance that includes family, friends, work and other hobbies. The elements and humans will always challenge that fine line between self-assuredness and hubris.<br />
<br />
We ought to do things for our own betterment in the context of a community. Without that grounding, that context, we are simply tinkering with the status quo of self-gratification and are liable to die - both physically and spiritually - from heat exhaustion and competition.<br />
<br />
The moral of this post: drink more water, exercise in the heat smartly and never compare yourself to others, especially those that are known to you only by mysterious index cards.<br />
<br />
Onward and upward,<br />
<br />
Brian<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Brian Christiansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225991902080442990noreply@blogger.com0