I enjoy class 3 routes, they challange me to both think and extend myself phyically as well as mentally. I chose to head out west where most class 3 routes are found, that was 4 yrs ago. Ive enjoyed the challange of the many peaks Ive done from the Sierra's to the CO rockies, but alas Im heading back to NH in July. Im very anxious to see and climb the Whites, Im very homesick for those lush appalachians and water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
On a side note, I think we are very lucky in the east, many westerners scoff at the lowly elevations in the Apps, but the diversity of the terrain and mostly the weather in the winter, provides us easterners with one heck of a training ground. I remember my first big peak out west.
Mt Dana (13005 ft). I spent the night at the base and it had snowed over night, about 6 inches. As I climbed up the peak in the clouds, I ran into 2 seperate parties turning back, they commented that it was cold, visibilty was very low and where not sure if conditions warranted heading for the summitt. I couldnt believe what I was hearing, I heading up alone and had the summitt to myself as the clouds lifted, visibility increased to 100 miles or so, the sun shone on me alone up there thinking, theses California dudes havent seen anything, on MT Washington that would have been a great day.
Sorry I digress.
You always know you had a good hike when you go to bed that night and hurt like heck from head to toe.
