I had every intention of camping at Kite Lake and doing 4 14'ers on Friday, but when Thursday night came I knew it wasn't happening. I got off work and the last thing I wanted to do was drive into Kite Lake and crawl in my tent. This got me worried as I am usually always up for sleeping beneath nylon in the middle of nowhere. So plans change, no worries, just get up early and resume with the plan for a big climb. I woke up late, again not usual, and with no motivation. I finally got out of the house at 8 am and started climbing about an hour later.
I knew it would be a relatively quick climb up to Lincoln (first stop on the Lincoln, Democrat, Cameron, Bross circuit) since the route starts at around 12,000 feet and there was no snow to be seen. Twenty minutes in and I felt like I was sucking my air through a straw, another unusual. So I got to the summit of Lincoln and my stomach was twisting, I didn't want to eat my PB&J so soon but I thought it would allow me to push it to the next 3 summits. I descended to the saddle and looked around, storms a brewing. I made the call to descend all the way with all of these factors pointing me that way.
I didn't mention the sinus pressure and pressure in my left ear that I felt on the way up - I felt like I had a cold later that night. Getting home I decided on a quick lunch and nap - well that nap turned into 2 hours and made me feel great. I waited for the skies to part after the afternoon storms and headed to Summit Cove on the single. After exploring trails I'd been meaning to get to I was headed home in dying daylight.
Life seemed pretty good for the day even though I hadn't completed my first goal. Saturday brought rain, rain, 10 minutes of sun, and finally thunderstorms that rattled the walls. We needed that bad, so now that the trails are tacked up instead of dust on concrete - I'm off and leaving you with some pictures.
I knew it would be a relatively quick climb up to Lincoln (first stop on the Lincoln, Democrat, Cameron, Bross circuit) since the route starts at around 12,000 feet and there was no snow to be seen. Twenty minutes in and I felt like I was sucking my air through a straw, another unusual. So I got to the summit of Lincoln and my stomach was twisting, I didn't want to eat my PB&J so soon but I thought it would allow me to push it to the next 3 summits. I descended to the saddle and looked around, storms a brewing. I made the call to descend all the way with all of these factors pointing me that way.
I didn't mention the sinus pressure and pressure in my left ear that I felt on the way up - I felt like I had a cold later that night. Getting home I decided on a quick lunch and nap - well that nap turned into 2 hours and made me feel great. I waited for the skies to part after the afternoon storms and headed to Summit Cove on the single. After exploring trails I'd been meaning to get to I was headed home in dying daylight.
Life seemed pretty good for the day even though I hadn't completed my first goal. Saturday brought rain, rain, 10 minutes of sun, and finally thunderstorms that rattled the walls. We needed that bad, so now that the trails are tacked up instead of dust on concrete - I'm off and leaving you with some pictures.
View back down the valley.
On the way up.
Mr. Marmot surveying the morning, he looked quite content.
View to the south from the summit of Mt. Lincoln.
Storms rolling over Mt. Lincoln, I just reached the truck.
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