Bombadil
Active member
There and Back Again (A Double Presi [full moon] Traverse Story), 8.13.11-8.14.11
Peaks: Jackson, Pierce, Eisenhower, Franklin, Little Monroe, Monroe, Washington, Clay, Jefferson, Adams, Madison (all x2 except Madison of course)
I'm not sure how I arrived at the decision that this would be a fun and enjoyable way to spend an evening. The idea of a double traverse had been in the back of my mind since winter when my friend Sean (jokingly?) suggested it for a hike to do this summer. After doing a N-->S traverse 2 months back (TR: http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=40847 ) where due to a small window of good weather and conflicting work schedules, my friend Sean and I started a traverse late at night and did about 1/2 under a nearly full moon and 1/2 under daylight. It went well and we had fun seeing the range at night. This time around I had the bright idea to up the ante and do a double traverse hitting all the peaks in both directions and do as much at night as I could. Not surprisingly no one else thought this would be fun.
I had a fantastic idea that since I would be starting my hike late in the day on Saturday, it'd be best if I stayed up very late consuming 'empty calories' with friends to fuel for the hike and to wake up late in the day well-rested. We'll call it a partial success since I did wake up at 1pm. Since I was going solo and didn't have a start time in mind other than to be above treeline for the sunset, I took my time getting gear together and hit the trail up Jackson at 5pm. I got into a nice rhythm and made it to Eisenhower at 7:45pm and hung out to watch the sunset and turned around to find the full moon had risen. It was headlamp time and I pushed on towards Lakes so I could fill up on water before things quieted down at the hut.
On Washington I noticed frequent lightning to the north and knowing the forecast for the next day I called up my dad to verify that the storm I was seeing wasn't headed my way. He confirmed the coast was clear so I pushed myself, probably too much, hoping to reach Madison by 2 am. In the back of my mind I knew I wasn't eating or drinking enough but I suppressed those thoughts since my legs felt great. I slowed slightly up Jefferson and got some bad chills at the summit. I knew I had f'd up. I tossed on a hat, gloves, pant legs, and shell and forced down some nuun and the first bit of food since Lakes (yeah, whoops). I staggered a little off Jefferson and a little ways below Sam Adams I felt decidedly unwell. I pulled out my emergency bivy sack I've carried for years (never used) and opened it up. I laid down for about 2 hours and though I wasn't able to sleep, with the rest and a little food/water I felt well enough to resume the hike and at least get to Madison and think about my gameplan from there.
I started out at a lethargic pace over Adams and up Madison but felt as though I was slowly feeling better. Despite the 2+ hr bivy I made it to Madison at 5 am to see the sky just starting to lighten up. Despite giving serious consideration to bailing only an hour before, I pushed up Adams to catch the sunrise without even thinking twice. My gas tank was still borderline on empty but I found taking a GU every 90 min or so before a balance or protein bar was helping to restore my appetite (anything other than GU first triggered nausea. First time for everything I guess). By the time I hit Clay I finally felt well again and could pick up the pace up Washington. It was too early for hot food (though I would have payed an obscene amount of money for a pizza! Good news: my appetite was back. Bad news: I still had terrible judgement!) and the weather was definitely looking more unstable so I headed down the long ridge back to the truck. Compared to seeing the sunset on Eisenhower, the sunrise on Adams, and spending the night out under a full moon during a meteor shower, the hike out was uneventful.
When all was said and done it took about 20.5 h (minus the 2h bivy). My math may be off (and please correct me if it is) but the trip over all the summits in both directions was 35.4 miles with ~13,600 in elevation gain. Definitely the longest hike I've done in terms of miles (by a little bit), hours (not by much), and elevation gain (by more than 40%). The novelty of being out under the full moon for 10 hours definitely wore off and it was a roller coaster ride of my own creation by neglecting to eat when I should have (consumed a mere 2700 calories, waaay less than I should have). But in the end it was still a fun hike for the challenge, the adventure, and the stunning scenery along the way. I just ain't gonna do it again on the next full moon
Pat
pcushing21 at yahoo dot com
photos:
Some clouds in the sky to start on Jackson
Skies clearing...
Last light from Eisenhower
Sunset from Eisenhower
Looking back at Eisenhower
Hey look, no line!
Dawn approaching from on top of Madison
Peaks: Jackson, Pierce, Eisenhower, Franklin, Little Monroe, Monroe, Washington, Clay, Jefferson, Adams, Madison (all x2 except Madison of course)
I'm not sure how I arrived at the decision that this would be a fun and enjoyable way to spend an evening. The idea of a double traverse had been in the back of my mind since winter when my friend Sean (jokingly?) suggested it for a hike to do this summer. After doing a N-->S traverse 2 months back (TR: http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=40847 ) where due to a small window of good weather and conflicting work schedules, my friend Sean and I started a traverse late at night and did about 1/2 under a nearly full moon and 1/2 under daylight. It went well and we had fun seeing the range at night. This time around I had the bright idea to up the ante and do a double traverse hitting all the peaks in both directions and do as much at night as I could. Not surprisingly no one else thought this would be fun.
I had a fantastic idea that since I would be starting my hike late in the day on Saturday, it'd be best if I stayed up very late consuming 'empty calories' with friends to fuel for the hike and to wake up late in the day well-rested. We'll call it a partial success since I did wake up at 1pm. Since I was going solo and didn't have a start time in mind other than to be above treeline for the sunset, I took my time getting gear together and hit the trail up Jackson at 5pm. I got into a nice rhythm and made it to Eisenhower at 7:45pm and hung out to watch the sunset and turned around to find the full moon had risen. It was headlamp time and I pushed on towards Lakes so I could fill up on water before things quieted down at the hut.
On Washington I noticed frequent lightning to the north and knowing the forecast for the next day I called up my dad to verify that the storm I was seeing wasn't headed my way. He confirmed the coast was clear so I pushed myself, probably too much, hoping to reach Madison by 2 am. In the back of my mind I knew I wasn't eating or drinking enough but I suppressed those thoughts since my legs felt great. I slowed slightly up Jefferson and got some bad chills at the summit. I knew I had f'd up. I tossed on a hat, gloves, pant legs, and shell and forced down some nuun and the first bit of food since Lakes (yeah, whoops). I staggered a little off Jefferson and a little ways below Sam Adams I felt decidedly unwell. I pulled out my emergency bivy sack I've carried for years (never used) and opened it up. I laid down for about 2 hours and though I wasn't able to sleep, with the rest and a little food/water I felt well enough to resume the hike and at least get to Madison and think about my gameplan from there.
I started out at a lethargic pace over Adams and up Madison but felt as though I was slowly feeling better. Despite the 2+ hr bivy I made it to Madison at 5 am to see the sky just starting to lighten up. Despite giving serious consideration to bailing only an hour before, I pushed up Adams to catch the sunrise without even thinking twice. My gas tank was still borderline on empty but I found taking a GU every 90 min or so before a balance or protein bar was helping to restore my appetite (anything other than GU first triggered nausea. First time for everything I guess). By the time I hit Clay I finally felt well again and could pick up the pace up Washington. It was too early for hot food (though I would have payed an obscene amount of money for a pizza! Good news: my appetite was back. Bad news: I still had terrible judgement!) and the weather was definitely looking more unstable so I headed down the long ridge back to the truck. Compared to seeing the sunset on Eisenhower, the sunrise on Adams, and spending the night out under a full moon during a meteor shower, the hike out was uneventful.
When all was said and done it took about 20.5 h (minus the 2h bivy). My math may be off (and please correct me if it is) but the trip over all the summits in both directions was 35.4 miles with ~13,600 in elevation gain. Definitely the longest hike I've done in terms of miles (by a little bit), hours (not by much), and elevation gain (by more than 40%). The novelty of being out under the full moon for 10 hours definitely wore off and it was a roller coaster ride of my own creation by neglecting to eat when I should have (consumed a mere 2700 calories, waaay less than I should have). But in the end it was still a fun hike for the challenge, the adventure, and the stunning scenery along the way. I just ain't gonna do it again on the next full moon
Pat
pcushing21 at yahoo dot com
photos:
Some clouds in the sky to start on Jackson
Skies clearing...
Last light from Eisenhower
Sunset from Eisenhower
Looking back at Eisenhower
Hey look, no line!
Dawn approaching from on top of Madison
