Square Top Mountain

Here are a few pictures from our latest hike. The goal was the summit of Square Top Mountain, 13,780 feet (or something close to that). It's just off I-70 near Georgetown (the one with three streets, not the great basketball team). The hike was supposed to be six miles and 2000 ft of elevation gain. I think we probably hiked a bit more than that, and though I never made it all the way to the top, I'm pretty sure I hiked up every one of those damn 2000 ft due to a slight trail malfunction--as in we lost the trail less than a mile into the trip. We ended up taking a very beautiful route along the ridge line, but unfortunately we had to hike back down 600 ft--and then up again--before we could actually approach the summit. So I made it to the top of the cirque and let the more adventurous men finish off. My body had had quite enough of steep inclines and thin oxygen (if I look grumpy in these pictures, it's because they were taken immediately before I said "I quit"). I must admit I was a little ashamed that the three Texans who came with us (all interns at EnCana), who were wearing old running shoes, shorts, and each carrying one bottle of water they'd bought at the gas station before driving to the top, were able to make it to the top and I, who was outfitted in new hiking boots, a fancy pack, camelback, extra Nalgene, gorp and other munchies, lightweight non-wicking clothing and Nike sunglasses, did not. One of the Texans, who usually resides at sea-level, had not even been on a hike before, much less one into thin air nearly 14000 feet high. I'd just done that last week. Joe and Nick tried to tell me their success was largely due to youth (they're all about 21--as if four years makes a great difference) and testosterone--and these young Texas males clearly have a lot of that--but I still felt pretty silly. However, I enjoyed a fabulous view of several 14,000 ft peaks across the valley and an entire tupperware of cherries all to myself while the others busted their butts to the top. And I learned how to spit cherry pits quite a distance while I waited for them, which I believe the pikas (little mouse-ish things that squeak) enjoyed--or really didn't enjoy, depending on how you interpret increased squeaking.