How I did it: I was 15 and I climbed it with my mom and a a couple other mountaineers. We arrived early and hiked for a long time. With my almost 40 pound pack on every step was draining. As soon as camp was set I ate my dinner of mashed potatoes already in my sleeping bag. I then crashed hard for maybe 10 or 11 hours. Also my first experience sleeping in the snow.
We got up before dawn the next day and started the brutal "stairway to heaven". Seemingly endless footsteps in the snow for many hours to get to... a false summit. We then saw the real thing about 400 feet higher. I was pretty much destroyed by now but seeing the real thing gave me fresh determination. At the top, sadly there was no view. We were in a cloud and everything was white. An old mining shaft is at the top which surprised me. How did someone build this up here? and why? Who would carry the material up this mountain? anyways I will never forget the 5 minutes of victory on top. Then we pulled out our ice axes and slid down the mountain to our camp in probably less than 40 minutes after 5-6 hours of climbing. After that it was all downhill to the car, followed by a long nap on the drive home.

Lessons & tips: Train! and train some more! I was 15 and didnt take it seriously. I only hiked occasionally (mainly because of my moms pressure) and it felt like it took every ounce of energy I had. But now that I am almost 21 I have a much deeper respect for the mountains and am thankful to have been pushed when I was younger.

Dec 01, 2009, 10:01PM PST | 0 comments | 1 cheer