After Madulce I headed for Samon. Along the way I filtered water at Chokecherry spring. It was 4:24pm when I started up the gully to Samon and I was beginning to feel pressured for time. As I worked my way up the gully I soon realized the flaw in my strategy. Having now done 32 miles my body wasn’t exactly thrilled to be going up steep terrain. Uknowingly I had saved the hardest peak for last. Oh well, so be it. Even worse the route-finding on this peak is exceedingly difficult and the brush is formidable. This peak easily ranks as one of my least favorites. Getting off route a few times I quickly entered impenentrable brush and had to backtrack. Soon I was mocking this peak. “Is that all you’ve got”, I yelled out loud. The peak obviously heard me. The closer I got to the summit the worse the brush got. Not having the luxury of time I forced my way through. Nothing was going to stop me now. By the time I reached the summit I was itchy and bleeding. It was now 6:09pm. I brushed off a few ticks and quickly signed the register just as the sun dropped below the horizon. Success! I was finished! Well, except for that minor matter of a mere 12 miles to get back to the trailhead.
Folks usually do this route over four peaks in three days. A lot of trouble to avoid having to sleep on a ThermaRest, but until I get my first good night’s sleep on one of those things I’ll understand the motivation.
You know its been a good outing when your trip report contains the term “itchy and bleeding” 🙂
You know its been a good outing when your trip report contains the term “itchy and bleeding”
Unless your trip was to a proctologist’s office.