“The mountains are calling and I most go” – John Muir

Seems to happen every March.  Maybe it’s just the season.  Maybe it’s the newness of  annual goals losing luster 2 months in & the reality of day-to-day training/the struggle for balance sets in.  Whatever the itch, HUGE need for a mental reset.

Plan of attack: Snow hike in the high mountains.

4 weekends of marathoning.  4 different states, 3 different time zones.  Body held up/only superficial injuries, just a matter of making peace with the travel.  Out Friday nite/Saturday morning, home again Sunday evening.  Amazing life opportunity to see so many new places (that little gem isn’t lost on me).  Tired but SUPER appreciative.  #luckyinlife

Saturday: mountain snow & wind.  Hung with the pup; postponed my high peak retreat.

Sunday 4am: showered/backpacked, pup walked/everybody fed.  West on I-70, turnoff just before the tunnel.  Day’s climb goal: Mount Sniktau, directly across from Loveland Pass.

Gonna be a beautiful one.  Sunrise not yet crested the first false summit.  Light wind on a notorious windy peak.  Attempted to snow-summit this peak in November 2013.  Turned around in white-out conditions/blowing snow on the 2^nd false summit.

Mile UP to the first false summit.  Good way to get your head back in the mountains.  Three-quarters UP, morning sun peeped over the looming peak ahead.  Stunning.

11/23/2013:  Top of the first false summit – BEAUTIFUL!   Quiet, stunning, everything WHITE.  A-Basin, Keystone, Breckinridge & Loveland all visible.  Grizzly Peak & Torreys too.  Better than a class reunion – I missed you guys!

Switched out my water, downed half a burrito, repositioned the iPhone [camera] to my pants front pocket (battery was fast freezing in the backpack, now warmed against my right quad).  Temp: 23 above.  Light wind.  Perfect day.

Easy hike.  High wind from yesterday’s storm blew the ridge line free of snow.  No crampons, no snow shoes – just stuck to Sniktau’s craggy rock ridge.  Nice view of Grizzly Peak’s single track from the trail split below.

High above, quiet & alone.

Followed hoof tracks the last mile.  Goat or sheep – too small for elk, elevation too high for deer.  Lost 15 degrees fast, shielded my face from intermittent wind gusts/bitter cold.  Sunshine blasted above.  Pull down my bandana, nothing but SMILE 🙂

Slow summit push.  Nothing crazy technical but weather conditions limited hand holds.  Ice on Sniktau’s shady side, heavy snow where the sun cast.  Slow & steady.  AMAZING solo hike – only human on today’s snow SUMMIT.  Cold thin air, surrounded by white.

360 degrees, every high peak, SNOW  ❄❤⛄

Mount Sniktau 13,240ft