When the alarm rang at 6 am at the 2nd mountain hut, we were moving slowly, but after the previous day's experience, knew we had to get going!
To add to our uncertainty, a light snow was falling. So we dug out our warmer clothes and conferred with the other hikers. You could tell everyone was a little anxious about setting out under the conditions - but we didn't really have choice.
So we after a quick breakfast, we got ourselves outside ready to go.
I think these two pictures give you an idea about the first part of our hike this day - in addition, now that I understood the term col, I heard from Captain Kevin that we had two cols to go over today. The second col was higher than any of the previous 3 we had done the day before. In my mind, I was already beginning to think about modifying the remainder of the trip!
Once we got up through the first col, the snow stopped and we had a beautiful view of a long lake below that we would hike by. We were particularly thrilled by the fact that this portion of the hike would be low and flat.
We made good time hiking by the lake and enjoying the beautiful scenery. Our uncertainty from the initial start was replaced by a foolish optimism that we might actually make it to our next stop, Arolla, in time to shower, have dinner at a reasonable time, and enjoy some evening before going to bed.
However, after a nice lunch stop at the end of the lake next to a mountain waterfall, we began the climb of the next col.
After about an hour's steep climb we has once again asked Captain Kevin for short rest stop, Kevin went up to look over the next rise. He came back quickly very distressed and he and Greg conferred with the guidebook. He thought that we had taken the wrong trail and were now heading to another mountain hut instead of the trail to Arolla.
Kris and I sat put while Greg and Kevin went back down the mountain we had just climbed up to see if they could determine the place where the trail broke off to Arolla. Eventually, Greg found the place where we should have turned and signaled up the moutain that we should proceed down. This mistake probably cost us at least 1.5 hours plus the additional wear and tear on our bodies.
This is what we traveled back down to - a suspension bidge (luckily, not a swinging bridge!) high above a rushing river. Once we crossed, the fun began as we spent the rest of the day hiking over either large boulder fields or scree fields. At one point as I was struggling up a mountain of loose rock I asked Greg what angle he thought we were hiking. He thought we we going up at a 45 degree angle - basically that means your face is practically in the mountain as you try to figure out your next step.
This was a brief section high above the lake that was between rock fields - here once again, the trail direction wasn't entirely clear and we definitely didn't want to make any additional mistakes that would cost us more precious time.
By this point, we are still a long way from the col - Kevin is shuttling Kris' pack for awhile and Greg has taken even more items from my pack in effort to see if I could travel any faster. Just look at how Geg is weighted down now!
Here is Kris, picking her way through the boulders - note the lake now far below us.
Late in the afternon, we conferred with the guidebook again as we had two choice for the final ascent of the col - the first was descibed as "an unrelenting climb up through loose scree" and the second was to take a series of ladders up a sheer cliff. As frightening as the ladders seemed, at this point, the term "unrelenting climb through scree" seemed worse. We chose the ladders.
Our amazing Kevin and Greg told us to drop our packs - they went ahead to get their packs to the top and then came back for ours. To make our way to the ladders, you stop using your poles and basically just hold on for dear life to a chain that is attached to the mountain.
Here is Kevin climbing back down one of the 4 ladders to come back down to get Kris' pack. And here are the photos of "our heros" coming up with our packs after Kris and I were safely at the top.
Note Kris' excitement at being at the top of the col! For reference for all you mountaineers, Greg estimated the elevation at the top of the 2nd col was just under 10,000 feet. After a brief treat of Swiss chocolate as a reward for our accomplishemt, we began the long descent to Arolla. By this time, we knew we wouldn't make it there until about 7:30 pm - and we all had various places on our bodies that hurt.
This is the point in the hike you have to dig deep inside and find the will to keep taking step after step until you finally reach your destination.
After a 12 hour hike day, we finally reached Arolla and our hotel. We are so thankful we have a planned rest day (more accurately called a recovery day). Tom and Chanda are joining us in Arolla for the 2nd half of the hike. They are excited and enthusiastic, and we are tired and sobered. We are hoping that with some rest, and possible trip stages revision, that we will all be ready to hit the trail again on Sept. 3rd!
Posted with Blogsy
No comments:
Post a Comment