Double Bow
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- Apr 29, 2005
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While spending the weekend camping with friends at Campton Campground (What? You couldn't HEAR us??) Shamie and I decided to revisit Osceola and East Osceola. We had George with us and figured that perhaps he would be able to get his second 4K (we know he couldn't do the stretch over to E. Osceola).
I was looking forward to it since I hadn't been up those peaks in almost four years. It was almost like doing them for the first time all over again. Osceola has a special place in my heart since that's where I got bit by that bug. You know the one! When I first got out to the leddge and took in that view, it blew me away and I was hooked. At the time, I didn't know what I was looking at. This time, I knew. I thought it was neat too that I was looking at the Tripyramids and Scaur Peak which I'll be going up next weekend.
Anyway, we dropped Arghman off at Livermore as he was planning on doing the Tris that day then drove to our trailhead. It was packed! Lots of cars from out of state. Lots of folks in jeans (on a hot day?) and tee shirts. We were lucky enough to find a space and then we waited for some people to start up before we started. George was very excited. He hadn't been hiking in a couple of months!
On the way up, George was stopping a fair amount and since both he and Shamie had no intention of going over to the east peak Shamie told me to go on ahead and that they would hopefully meet me at the ledge. I questioned her if she was sure (never know, it might be a test
) and she insisted that I go. Off I went at a much faster speed. I stopped at a large bouder that rises from the trail and offers a good view of Tecumseh. There I had a snack and took the legs off my pants. Faster now, I continued non-stop until I reached the summit area. Knowing that I had some time, I explored. I checked out all the little side paths to boulders, illegal campsites, and view points I hadn't seen before. Coming out to the ledge, I drank in the view that has launched a thousand hikes (at least). I didn't stay long though, I was more interested in getting away from the crowd and getting over to East Osceola.
Off again, a raced down to the fork and opted to take the chimney by-pass down and then climbed up the east peak. I had very little recollection of it (other than the fact that it was steep) so it seemed very new to me. Though it was still steep. Once at the summit cairn, I checked my watch. despite my slower start, I still managed to get to the east summit in about 66% of book time. "Not bad!" I laughed to myself. I never really hike fast unless I'm with partners that are going fast and I don't do trail running. I usually go whatever speed my partner is going but, going solo for awhile on that day, I decided to put on the gas just for the heck of it. Part of the reason was that I wanted to get back to Shamie and George. Part of it was for the workout.
I took some pictures at the cairn and the viewpoint a little down the trail from it and checked out some other viewpoints before having another snack and heading back. I really liked East Osceola. It has character. I also enjoyed seeing people coming up, glad to have made it there.
Heading back to Osceola, I took the chimney up and that was fun. We'll see how much fun I think it is when I attempt it in winter. Back at the ledge, there was no sign of Shamie and George. Reluctant to leave, I decided to eat my sandwich and contemplate that view that has lead me to where I am today. This climb was so different from the first one I did there where I had been huffing and puffing and was getting passed by many people. Now, I was one of those people who was passing others.
You must understand. I don't care if I'm faster or slower than other folks but, this means to me that I am in much better shape than I was before. My health is improved. I've lost a lot of weight and gained muscle. Best of all, now that I don't feel like I'm working so hard (or like I'm going to die) on hikes, I enjoy them much more. I can actually have conversations with my friends while hiking! All because I've been hiking so much more over the last four years. It's been a win-win situation.
After contempating it all, I started down to find Shamie and George. I had thought before about bushwhacking over to West Osceola but, I knew that wasn't going to happen on this day. Still, I had taken a bearing with my map and compass while breaking and I watched the compass as I decended in the general direction of my bearing. Eventually, I got to a point where the trail turned off sharply from the bearing but, I saw what looked like a herd path following the bearing perfectly! I followed it a for a little bit to mak sure it didn't instantly peter out, which it did not. Then, it dawned on me, "What if Shamie and George pass by here? How will I know?" Quickly, I got back on the trail and asked the first person I saw coming up if they had seen a woman and a large brown dog and they said they had about 10min prior and that they were stopped. Relieved, I continued down to meet them.
I got to where they were and saw George lying down in the shade. Unfortunately, the hot weather got to him and sapped him of his energy. George bonked at 3900'. He was so tired, we knew he wasn't going to make the summit and Shamie wasn't interested in going on up by herself. I though to myself, "If we were doing Tecumseh, he might have made it". After a little rest, we continued on down and back to the car where we were asked by a young couple from Boston if we would give them a ride back to Waterville Campground which we did. They had walked the approx. 2mi to the trailhead not realizing how far it was and were too tired to make it up the summit, though I had passed them on my way down at over 3900'. At this point they couldn't imagine walking back to the cg.
We gladly gave them a ride, swung back to Livermore to see if Arghman was there and then went back to our cg where we saw him and enjoyed a fantastic night of friends, food, and fun.
I was looking forward to it since I hadn't been up those peaks in almost four years. It was almost like doing them for the first time all over again. Osceola has a special place in my heart since that's where I got bit by that bug. You know the one! When I first got out to the leddge and took in that view, it blew me away and I was hooked. At the time, I didn't know what I was looking at. This time, I knew. I thought it was neat too that I was looking at the Tripyramids and Scaur Peak which I'll be going up next weekend.
Anyway, we dropped Arghman off at Livermore as he was planning on doing the Tris that day then drove to our trailhead. It was packed! Lots of cars from out of state. Lots of folks in jeans (on a hot day?) and tee shirts. We were lucky enough to find a space and then we waited for some people to start up before we started. George was very excited. He hadn't been hiking in a couple of months!
On the way up, George was stopping a fair amount and since both he and Shamie had no intention of going over to the east peak Shamie told me to go on ahead and that they would hopefully meet me at the ledge. I questioned her if she was sure (never know, it might be a test
) and she insisted that I go. Off I went at a much faster speed. I stopped at a large bouder that rises from the trail and offers a good view of Tecumseh. There I had a snack and took the legs off my pants. Faster now, I continued non-stop until I reached the summit area. Knowing that I had some time, I explored. I checked out all the little side paths to boulders, illegal campsites, and view points I hadn't seen before. Coming out to the ledge, I drank in the view that has launched a thousand hikes (at least). I didn't stay long though, I was more interested in getting away from the crowd and getting over to East Osceola.Off again, a raced down to the fork and opted to take the chimney by-pass down and then climbed up the east peak. I had very little recollection of it (other than the fact that it was steep) so it seemed very new to me. Though it was still steep. Once at the summit cairn, I checked my watch. despite my slower start, I still managed to get to the east summit in about 66% of book time. "Not bad!" I laughed to myself. I never really hike fast unless I'm with partners that are going fast and I don't do trail running. I usually go whatever speed my partner is going but, going solo for awhile on that day, I decided to put on the gas just for the heck of it. Part of the reason was that I wanted to get back to Shamie and George. Part of it was for the workout.
I took some pictures at the cairn and the viewpoint a little down the trail from it and checked out some other viewpoints before having another snack and heading back. I really liked East Osceola. It has character. I also enjoyed seeing people coming up, glad to have made it there.
Heading back to Osceola, I took the chimney up and that was fun. We'll see how much fun I think it is when I attempt it in winter. Back at the ledge, there was no sign of Shamie and George. Reluctant to leave, I decided to eat my sandwich and contemplate that view that has lead me to where I am today. This climb was so different from the first one I did there where I had been huffing and puffing and was getting passed by many people. Now, I was one of those people who was passing others.
You must understand. I don't care if I'm faster or slower than other folks but, this means to me that I am in much better shape than I was before. My health is improved. I've lost a lot of weight and gained muscle. Best of all, now that I don't feel like I'm working so hard (or like I'm going to die) on hikes, I enjoy them much more. I can actually have conversations with my friends while hiking! All because I've been hiking so much more over the last four years. It's been a win-win situation.
After contempating it all, I started down to find Shamie and George. I had thought before about bushwhacking over to West Osceola but, I knew that wasn't going to happen on this day. Still, I had taken a bearing with my map and compass while breaking and I watched the compass as I decended in the general direction of my bearing. Eventually, I got to a point where the trail turned off sharply from the bearing but, I saw what looked like a herd path following the bearing perfectly! I followed it a for a little bit to mak sure it didn't instantly peter out, which it did not. Then, it dawned on me, "What if Shamie and George pass by here? How will I know?" Quickly, I got back on the trail and asked the first person I saw coming up if they had seen a woman and a large brown dog and they said they had about 10min prior and that they were stopped. Relieved, I continued down to meet them.
I got to where they were and saw George lying down in the shade. Unfortunately, the hot weather got to him and sapped him of his energy. George bonked at 3900'. He was so tired, we knew he wasn't going to make the summit and Shamie wasn't interested in going on up by herself. I though to myself, "If we were doing Tecumseh, he might have made it". After a little rest, we continued on down and back to the car where we were asked by a young couple from Boston if we would give them a ride back to Waterville Campground which we did. They had walked the approx. 2mi to the trailhead not realizing how far it was and were too tired to make it up the summit, though I had passed them on my way down at over 3900'. At this point they couldn't imagine walking back to the cg.
We gladly gave them a ride, swung back to Livermore to see if Arghman was there and then went back to our cg where we saw him and enjoyed a fantastic night of friends, food, and fun.
