Mt. Lindsey Trip Report 09/27/2011

Peak(s):	Mt. Lindsey - 14,055 feet
Date Posted:	09/27/2011
Modified:	09/28/2011
Date Climbed:	09/25/2011
Author:	M_Sandoval52

Mt. Lindsey
This was my second attempt to summit Mt. Lindsey. The first time we turned around after a thunderstorm swept over the peak. We were about 300 feet from the summit. Ugh.. One loud crack and boom was all I needed to get my adrenalin racing. As we were going down others were going up. Why! A friend of ours who was waiting below the saddle took off running for shelter. I decided then that on my second attempt I was going to make sure the weather would hold until I could get to the top. We had been watching the weather all week. We were aware the higher elevations had a pinch of snow. We figured as long as there was no new snow we would be fine. We started the drive to the trailhead at 3:11 a.m. Sunday, September 25. The drive is 21/2 hours. When we arrived at the trailhead, we noticed that there were no cars in the parking lot. I started to wonder if the peak had too much snow. I could not believe that no one was taking advantage of the good weather. After finalizing the contents of our packs we started the hike. The sun was up in no time. We arrived at the large water crossing and took out our plastic boot covers slid them on and waded across the stream. Paul had purchased the plastic boot covers just for this reason. They worked out great. The trail had a few muddy patches. I also noticed that a lot of rocks and trees had changed the trail a bit. Of course once we turned the corner and headed up the valley I was reminded how pretty this place was with its spectacular scenery. Off in the distance the aspens were changing colors. I loved looking at the way the water fell. Up we went finally reaching the saddle. That's a lot of vertical! I was surprised to see how much snow there was. In some places it was over a foot deep. We stopped and put our helmets and Kahtoolas on. Then at about 300 feet from the summit we see a dragonfly with his limbs stuck to the snow. My hiking partner, Paul, touched it to see if it was alive. It looked frozen. We stepped over it even if it was dead. Reaching the summit was hard. I do not like steep places with snow and ice. The large crack had enough snow that you could just walk up it. The small crack that you climb through had a layer of ice beneath the snow. To slick for me! My kahtoolas did not keep me from sliding. All I could think of, was why didn't I bring my ice ax. We scrambled up any place we could find that had no snow or ice. We reached the summit at about 12:00 noon. Here is a picture of Paul and I on the summit. I made it! What a site! I created a pano of the other mountains surrounding Lindsey. Wow! The hike down was not as bad as I thought it would be. The snow was a bit slick because of the warm temperature. The snow and ice made it tough. On the way down I walked up to the dragonfly and noticed that he had moved his wings. So with the tip of my trekking pole I broke the snow loose from its limbs. Once the dragonfly was free it grabbed the end of my pole. I lifted the insect and placed him on a sunny spot on a rock. I could not believe he was alive. I am glad that I was given the chance to summit Mt. Lindsey. We made it back to the jeep after a few stops. I believe it was 5:00 p.m. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Mt. Lindsey

This was my second attempt to summit Mt. Lindsey. The first time we turned around after a thunderstorm swept over the peak. We were about 300 feet from the summit. Ugh.. One loud crack and boom was all I needed to get my adrenalin racing. As we were going down others were going up. Why! A friend of ours who was waiting below the saddle took off running for shelter. I decided then that on my second attempt I was going to make sure the weather would hold until I could get to the top.

We had been watching the weather all week. We were aware the higher elevations had a pinch of snow. We figured as long as there was no new snow we would be fine. We started the drive to the trailhead at 3:11 a.m. Sunday, September 25. The drive is 21/2 hours. When we arrived at the trailhead, we noticed that there were no cars in the parking lot. I started to wonder if the peak had too much snow. I could not believe that no one was taking advantage of the good weather. After finalizing the contents of our packs we started the hike. The sun was up in no time. We arrived at the large water crossing and took out our plastic boot covers slid them on and waded across the stream. Paul had purchased the plastic boot covers just for this reason. They worked out great. The trail had a few muddy patches. I also noticed that a lot of rocks and trees had changed the trail a bit. Of course once we turned the corner and headed up the valley I was reminded how pretty this place was with its spectacular scenery.

Off in the distance the aspens were changing colors.

I loved looking at the way the water fell. Up we went finally reaching the saddle. That's a lot of vertical! I was surprised to see how much snow there was. In some places it was over a foot deep. We stopped and put our helmets and Kahtoolas on. Then at about 300 feet from the summit we see a dragonfly with his limbs stuck to the snow. My hiking partner, Paul, touched it to see if it was alive. It looked frozen. We stepped over it even if it was dead.

Reaching the summit was hard. I do not like steep places with snow and ice. The large crack had enough snow that you could just walk up it. The small crack that you climb through had a layer of ice beneath the snow. To slick for me! My kahtoolas did not keep me from sliding. All I could think of, was why didn't I bring my ice ax.

We scrambled up any place we could find that had no snow or ice.

We reached the summit at about 12:00 noon. Here is a picture of Paul and I on the summit. I made it! What a site!

I created a pano of the other mountains surrounding Lindsey. Wow!

The hike down was not as bad as I thought it would be. The snow was a bit slick because of the warm temperature. The snow and ice made it tough. On the way down I walked up to the dragonfly and noticed that he had moved his wings. So with the tip of my trekking pole I broke the snow loose from its limbs. Once the dragonfly was free it grabbed the end of my pole. I lifted the insect and placed him on a sunny spot on a rock. I could not believe he was alive. I am glad that I was given the chance to summit Mt. Lindsey. We made it back to the jeep after a few stops. I believe it was 5:00 p.m.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

unclegar

congrats!
9/30/2011 3:01am

Glad you got a second chance to summit and were able to give one to a dragonfly while you were there.

Good job in what looks like some slick conditions.

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