After Action Report â Mt. Humphrey PCT Training Hike
carol bruno
carolwbruno at yahoo.com
Sun Jun 3 15:11:06 CDT 2007
Nice report---including some brutal honesty....Enjoyed visiting with you guys and hope Mount Humphrey didn't scare you away from Arizona hiking. Even though our tents were poised on the side of a cliff and Halo insisted on sleeping in my down bag, I had a lot of fun. Hope to see you again along the PCT sometime. /can'tquit
Hiker97 at aol.com wrote:
Yes, once again, your fearless trail mountaineer, Switchback, has challenged death and Mother Nature and survived. This is to prepare for the ultimate outdoor experience, the Pacific Crest Trail thru hike.
This training expedition was to renowned 12,633 foot Mt. Humphrey near Flagstaff, AZ. A mountain famous for high winds, changing weather, strenuous trail, and many a dashed hope. Expedition members included famous professional hikers MeadowsEd and CanâtQuit. CanâtQuit brings her dog, Halo, to provide camp guard duties. Halo is always alert for strange sounds and friendly pets.
On Wednesday I pick up MeadowsEd at the Las Vegas bus station. Later that day we meet former thru hikers Eagle Eye and Jackalope for dinner at Claim Jumpers. The next day we drive to the Flagstaff holiday Inn Express. Each of us has luxurious double queen single rooms. We figure that staying a day in Flagstaff will help us with acclimation.
A nice lunch at the Cracker Barrel and then a well deserved meritorious combat nap ensues. Slowly I wake up head down to the motelâs Jacuzzi and indoor/outdoor pool combo. MeadowsEd is already there in the Jacuzzi relaxing surrounded by thousands of bubbles, while talking to folks.
Later we drive up to the trailhead parking lot to recon the area. Then we stop at the Snow Bowl restaurant for the Thursdayâs night half off special of Buffalo wings. The NBA playoffs are on the eatery tube, so a very pleasant evening is completed watching the game, while munching copious amounts of tasty wings.
On Friday we hit the Cracker Barrel again for breakfast. Then it is over to the Ranger station to gather intel. A visit to the old town area for shopping and to checkout the local scene is completed. CanâtQuit calls and says she has arrived in town. We meet her and head for lunch at a place she recommends. It is a converted old house into a restaurant. A very nice meal and then we head to the trailhead to start the hike.
MeadowsEd and CanâtQuit quickly are ready to hit the trail, while I struggle to complete my preparations. Halo is pulling on her leash to start the adventure. Everyone is excited as they move out. I will catch up later.
As I move across the grassy open area near the ski lifts, I notice I am not acclimated. But I bravely move forward and upward as I enter the pine/aspen trees in excellent hiking weather. The trail is very popular and well worn, but is steep. It is only 4.5 miles to the top, but it is rated a very strenuous hike.
I am breathing hard as the others patiently wait periodically for me to catch up. My pack is very light. My waist belt Hydration Integration system is working fine too. Yes, this expedition, which was full of promise and a sense of triumph, is turning into a Switchback struggle for survival. As we approach 10,000 feet we make our planned camp for acclimation. There is very little level ground. I pitch my tent on the only place I can find, which is on a slight slope.
My MSR Hubba tent is very nice. I really like the side door entry. I need to add a ceiling attic for tent gear. The small side storage pouch is not large enough. During the night I slide and have to readjust myself and I get up once to reset the tent. If I was on level ground, it would be a nice campsite. The tent and my sleeping pad system works fine. I have fun listening to my radio during the night and drink lots of water. I check my blood sugar periodically, which is a little high, but okay.
In the morning I announce that going on up is bad and going down is good. I tell the other expedition members that I will wait at the parking lot and talk to the Trail Days folks, who are preparing to work on the trail. No problem. They say that they have no problem going back down. CanâtQuit, who has summited the peak before is just out for a nice hike with her dog, Halo. MeadowsEd has other options to come back and hike the mountain trail.
Going down is not easy too. I am glad to finally arrive at the parking lot. I am breathing strong and move in slow motion. I am very glad that I decided to come down. All my gear has worked fine, but I can tell the blood sugar is a sensitive area out on the trail for me. CanâtQuit has gone ahead and has already left her Phoenix area home. MeadowsEd and I drive back to Las Vegas and I drop him off at the bus station. I shower and fall immediately asleep in my TV chair for 3 hours. I wake up to enjoy the NBA playoffs.
My wife notices me typing on my computer as I watch the game. I tell her I am doing my After Action Report. She says, "What action?"
In spite of this comment, another successful road trip completed, if not a totally successful hike. But at my age I am satisfied and had fun with some adventure. I always have lots of fun no matter what happens.
Respectfully submitted, Switchback the Trail :Pirate
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