Two years ago this month I was in Grand Teton National Park on my way with a couple of good friends to ascend the upper Exum Ridge on the 13,770' Grand Teton. I got altitude sickness at 10,000' and spent an awful night suffering it out in the Petzolt Caves before literally dragging myself down the trail the next morning. Oh, did I mention that I had WAY over packed and this time I was carrying a 50 pound pack? I thought I was strong enough. What a difference a decade makes!
The point of all of this is that I need to get back to the shape I was in before I acquired three kids and a bad eating habit. Not that I'm fat, I just don't eat things that would contribute to my body's ability to function properly. So lately my focus has been better nutrition and exercise (except for the nightly cookies and milk as I'm laying in bed watching TV).
On Saturday of last week I decided to push things a bit. It was time to test out my progress physically. I had always wanted to see the lakes in Maybird Gulch in Little Cottonwood Canyon. But this hike would be different. Instead of lugging my camera equipment in a backpack with a 3 liter hydration bladder and an assortment of other non-essential crap, I would try to go as light as possible carrying only the absolutely essential items.
I picked up my old, but highly reliable, Mountainsmith lumbar pack that I bought in high school and loaded it with my wife's point-and-shoot camera, a first aid kit, a 1 liter Nalgene water bottle, an MSR water filter, my Marmot rain jacket, a lighter (just in case), and a Cliff Bar and two packs of powdered Gatorade that I had bought that morning at REI.
I made the trail head by 12:00 and hurriedly put on my mountaineering boots as I had anticipated making a rocky traverse under the Pfeifferhorn and dropping into Red Pine Lake. I started on the trail with great enthusiasm.
About 1-1/2 miles in I was feeling great. My heart-rate was good, breathing was relaxed, and feet were doing fine. I had purchased a Spenco 2nd Skin blister prevention kit and applied it to the backs of my heels where my boots have a tendency to destroy my skin. No problems thus far!
At the 2-1/2 mile mark I came to the diversion in the trail between Maybird and Red Pine. I stopped for a quick hydration break and to check my vitals to see how I was feeling. I couldn't believe the energy I had!
After pausing, I crossed a small foot bridge, headed west, and disappeared into the forest along a not so obvious trail. This is where I love to be. I love when the trail becomes less traveled and you have to pay close attention to the lay of the land and keep your bearings constantly in mind. As I walked along hopping over fallen trees and passing through the most beautifully carpeted meadows of wild flowers, I couldn't help but notice how good I was feeling (except for the now present and familiar sting on the backs of my heels).
A little over a mile later I reached the Maybird Lakes and stopped to filter some water. I met a couple that had also recently arrived and we sat on the lake shore in the shade and chatted about cars and our kids for about a half hour. What a pleasant setting. People pay millions of dollars to landscape their yards in hopes that the end result will look like this!
After taking the customary "I was here" shot with my wife's camera, I made my way up into the boulder field to the south of the lakes (just to the left of my head in the above photo). I had debated whether or not to continue up the mountain, but was satisfied to know there were plenty of opportunities for gathering water.
After a half mile or so of boulder scrambling, I reached an apex on a ridge that revealed the most spectacular views of the Pfeifferhorn, the ridge line into Hogum Fork, and the serrated ridge line eastward into Red Pine Gulch. I sat in awe for a few minutes taking it all in.
Across the canyon, to the north, stood Broads Fork Twin Peaks. I have wanted to summit that peak since I was in high school, but have never made the attempt. Soon my friend... very soon.
Looking to find a passage to Red Pine Lake, I continued my boulder scramble along the vast field of scree that lay before me. I picked out a point on the east ridge and made my way quickly, but cautiously.
As I reached the crest of the ridge, I was caught off guard at the scene before me. There was Red Pine Lake, the trail down the gulch from the lake, and a 1,000' couloir with an 80 degree slope between me and the lake!! For a moment I contemplated turning back. But as I calculated the route I would have to take to descend this slope it became more and more doable in my mind. There was an ample amount of hand and foot holds along the parallel cliff band that I could employ my 26 years of rock climbing experience in tackling. So off I went!
I reached the bottom faster and easier than anticipated. As I looked back up the slope, the thought came to mind of just how fun that was! I had a Bear Grylls moment and believed I could conquer anything in these hills!
Red Pine Lake was beautiful with deep, mineral rich aqua colors and crystal clear water. I rested again before making my way down the trail back to the car. I was feeling great! I had so much energy, in fact, that I found myself running down the trail. This after I had just blazed through some pretty unforgiving country and descended the "couloir of death".
I reached the car after 8 miles and 5-1/2 hours. I knew my heels weren't happy, but the rest of my body could have gone 8 miles and 5-1/2 hours in reverse! I had gone further than I thought possible and felt energetic and strong at the end. Maybe it's coming back. Maybe I'm not as out of shape as I thought. Maybe, just maybe, I need to stop carrying so much non-essential gear with me when I go into the mountains!
Next on my tick-list: Broads Fork Twin Peaks!!
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