ONE week to Peru. Mt Evans done and dusted

As you may already know, I had my sights set on another fourteener before I set off on vaca.
Mt Evans was the chosen one. At about 14,200' it was 200' higher than Bierstadt... but in the same vicinity.

Kelly and I set off from my house at 5am. The 90 minute drive was dark and uneventful. We laughed and chatted.

Arriving at Summit Lake Trailhead around 6:30am, the sun was only just peeking above the horizon and the sky was bright orange. Gorgeous, if not chilly. And the wind was kicking up.

We put on a couple more layers, mine included an impressive down jacket. Hats stretched over morning hair, zippers up to the neck... you know the drill. 

Leaving the car with Lupe on the leash, we headed out of the car park area and up the trail. Fifty yards later, freezing and wind blown, I threw out the idea that we regroup in the car. Plan B being that we hunker down for 30 minutes until the sun has warmed the frigid air a little, perhaps have a little tea from my thermos flask and add the remaining layers we had packed. We LAUGHED raucously and ran back to the car!

With nothing left to wear, tea half drunk, breakfast power bar eaten... we were off again.

Around Summit Lake then up, up, up to the west ridge of Mt Evans. A beautiful blue sky hung over the 27 degree morning. There were other hikers and dogs on the trail too. Including those just in it for a quarter mile hike (wearing sleeping bags!?)

I was out of breath long before I was warm. And LONG before my hands stopped hurting from the cold! O.M.G. it was a freakin' cold morning. I was mentally running through my packing list for Peru for the 50th time and surprising myself with the knowledge that improvements could be made. YES... I'd be needing my warmest hat. YES times two, on the gloves (and let's look into hand warmers) and finally, that merino wool turtleneck that I'd just recently unpacked? It was on its way to Peru after all. (I love packing, so it actually made me happy to know I had good reason to rearrange stuff later today!!!)

Speaking of making me happy... 

At just over 13,000 feet now, I was feeling great. Warm, energetic, grateful. Euphoric, in fact. Hmmm. I can see how 14-ers could become an addiction. That feeling of wellbeing is quite lovely. Compelling in a way that food tastes better, views appear more fabulous and tiny alpine plants, a bit more magical.

Mt Evans and the West ridge

Kelli and Lupe

To the right of the lake... that's our car park!

Question: Did I take Diamox again? Yep, sure did. 

This time just one mid yesterday afternoon, 1 before bed and 1 before I set out this morning. That's fewer than last time over a shorter period of time before the hike began. Successful alleviation of symptoms still, but a little less of the tingly pins and needles. 

The view from about 13,500 feet, looking toward Mt Bierstadt. 

Near the top, similar to Bierstadt, the terrain is made up of big and medium boulders. We scrambled over them. Lupe was a champ! Then making our own way, following in the footsteps of others and kinda guessing... up the final section to the top of Mt Evans. The trail at the top, meets the road that some might drive up (in a warmer season, before it's closed). 

At the top, we located the geological pin and had our photo taken. I sorta want to publish it, but I hesitate to share. Why? Ok, so we asked a complete stranger to take our pic on my phone. He took 4-5, bless him. Each was worse... way worse... than the last.  All of our feet were cut off - even the ones where he stepped back and took in half a picture worth of sky! But that is not the worst part. Not even close. I'm really unflatteringly positioned behind Lupe in every picture and heck, there is another stranger clicking his fingers to get our attention, in the foreground. 

The decision to publish this crappy, but memorable pic came down to one thing. Laughter. The theme of the day was laughter, so why hold back now. Life is too short not to laugh at yourself, eh?!

Mt Evans Rd down to Summit Lake is a winding affair. We shortened it a few miles by cutting across the tundra between switchbacks. The ground was soft and boggy with holes and rocks in equal measure. It took some concentration to keep the ankles safe and the body upright, but it was also peaceful and natural feeling. 

Back on Mt Evans Rd - now closed for the season - and we found roadkill! Seriously, the last thing you'd expect to find on a road without vehicular traffic is dead meat, right? Alas, given the giggles of today, it had to happen that we came upon squashed jerky! 

The finding set in motion another round of laughter and an understandable conversation about adult (astronaut) diapers. Remember, Diamox is a diaretic and full bladders are part of this high altitude journey.

Kelli had never heard the story of the NASA love triangle involving astronaut diapers... So as soon as we had cell signal going done the mountain again, I took pleasure in reading her the account of Lisa Nowak and her astronaut diaper road trip!  Hahahaha. Like I had nothing better to do with my phone when it was finally out of airplane mode this afternoon!

Good times. Good hike. Great company. 

I could not be more excited or grateful that Kelli is joining Teresa and I in Peru, one week from tomorrow!