This past weekend 9 of the SCAs, including myself, decided to climb Mount Shasta. “Shasta” is 14,192 feet in elevation, with snow present on most of the trail. The trail head, where you park your car and start hiking, was about 7,000 feet in elevation, meaning the remaining 7,000 was hiked (or climbed) by foot, step by step. The success rate of ‘summiting’ is allegedly 40%, and multiple people warned us about the intensity of the mountain, mentioning that many hikers train just to climb Shasta. We had decided the Wednesday before that this past weekend would in fact be the weekend to do it, leaving leisurely at 3pm on Saturday to drive to rent crampons. The staff at the rental place openly admitted to us that we were exceptionally unprepared for the hike, as we would be starting a whopping 7 hours after we grabbed out boots, crampons, ice-axes, and some advice from them. Much of the ascent would need technical climbing skills such as a ‘self-arrest’ (how to slam the ice-ax into the ice ground after you slip, fall forward, and start sliding down ice-used in order to stop yourself, especially when headed towards rocks), which we learned from the staff in the store. Needless to say, we were under-prepared, but being motivated, in decent shape, and a bit crazy, all 9 of us were able to summit – seriously exceeding everyone’s expectations including mine.
Following the advice from the rental sports shop, we woke up at midnight (giving us less than 4 hours of sleep) to be on the trail by about 12:30 am, giving us enough time to hike the summit and back to the car in one day. They estimated that we would reach the summit around 9 am if we were in shape, and back to the car by 4 pm. We ended up being on the trail around 1:15 am, walking with head lamps through a very obvious area. The layers on my body include underwear, super intense long johns, heavy wool ski socks, rented boots, under armor long sleeve shirt, Patagonia breathable long sleeve shirt, the liner to my ski jacket, and a winter hat. I personally packed 4 liters of water, a peanut butter and raspberry jam sandwich, 4 Cliff Bars, trail mix, an apple, crampons, an extra pair of socks, an outer layer of snow resistant pants (borrowed), a rain coat, a neck warmer, sun glasses, sun tan lotion, camera, cell phone, hand and toe warmers, and my driver’s license (in case something terrible happened). And I am probably forgetting a substantial amount of stuff.
Throughout the hike, especially after our first stop, the group started to spread out. We had split ourselves into hiking pairs so that no one climbed alone in case of an emergency, etc. Gregg and Matt led the train of partners (despite the fact that they eventually hiked alone); Morgan, Aaron, and Scott created the second group of guys; Julie and Camille at third, while Tina and I brought up the caboose. Tina and I are good friends and had similar strengths and hiking speeds making for good partners. (We also work on the same work crew, sleep in the same room, and sometimes share food – just in case you were wondering how often we see each other. ) Despite the amount of time we see each other, hiking together was a really good decision. We walk at the same pace, keep an eye out for each other, and help one another continue onward!
(This story will be continued……eventually....soon.)
Thursday, July 23, 2009
A Day in the Life at Whiskeytown.....
While living in Whiskeytown, my day structure during the week is often pretty consistent.
6.45 am : Wake up, make lunch, eat breakfast, pack my bag, get dressed.
7.35 am: All eight girls putting their work boots on, then jumping into the car and jamming out to morning music.
8.00-ish am: Arriving at 'Sheep Camp' to split into our two trail crews. I am in the group that needs to drive further up the Shasta Bally Road (four-wheel drive required) to the 'Saddle' to hike 20 minutes into where we are working on hand digging/building trail.
8.30 - Noon: We work in 8-10 ft sections to 'cut' trail, or digging into create a flat area between where two stakes are put to mark the edge of the trail. During this time one can do a range of things including cutting new trail, 'flag' (measuring the gradient to structure the trail so that it consistently increased or decreases in steepness), stump removal, or 'de-hump-ing' already built trail.
Noon - 12.35 pm: Lunch. Often chatting. Much needed.
12.40 pm - 3.45 pm: Continuing trail work.
4.45-ish pm: Arriving at our house. Then often taking a 'tecnu' shower (removes oils from poison oak), running a 'tecnu' wash of clothes. Hang out. Going into town. Napping. Swimming. Sleeping. Reading. Writing. Walking. Etc.
Later that night: Bed. This usually occurs between 10 pm and midnight.
C'est mon vie!
6.45 am : Wake up, make lunch, eat breakfast, pack my bag, get dressed.
7.35 am: All eight girls putting their work boots on, then jumping into the car and jamming out to morning music.
8.00-ish am: Arriving at 'Sheep Camp' to split into our two trail crews. I am in the group that needs to drive further up the Shasta Bally Road (four-wheel drive required) to the 'Saddle' to hike 20 minutes into where we are working on hand digging/building trail.
8.30 - Noon: We work in 8-10 ft sections to 'cut' trail, or digging into create a flat area between where two stakes are put to mark the edge of the trail. During this time one can do a range of things including cutting new trail, 'flag' (measuring the gradient to structure the trail so that it consistently increased or decreases in steepness), stump removal, or 'de-hump-ing' already built trail.
Noon - 12.35 pm: Lunch. Often chatting. Much needed.
12.40 pm - 3.45 pm: Continuing trail work.
4.45-ish pm: Arriving at our house. Then often taking a 'tecnu' shower (removes oils from poison oak), running a 'tecnu' wash of clothes. Hang out. Going into town. Napping. Swimming. Sleeping. Reading. Writing. Walking. Etc.
Later that night: Bed. This usually occurs between 10 pm and midnight.
C'est mon vie!
Some Posted Advice.
“Stay Alive by Keeping Out”
This is the message of one of the most prominent signs we see on our way to work every day. The "glory hole" is a concrete drain that allows the over flow of water from the lake to pass through the dam creating electricity for many residents in Shasta County.
This is the message of one of the most prominent signs we see on our way to work every day. The "glory hole" is a concrete drain that allows the over flow of water from the lake to pass through the dam creating electricity for many residents in Shasta County.
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