Driskill Mountain is my first state high point. I prepared by spending the past six months hiking a nearby ten-mile loop with 40-pound pack each weekend. These weekend hikes culminated with a 30-mile trip through the Grand Canyon at the beginning of May. My hope is that this training will give me the stamina to summit this high point.
The roads were free of snow to the trailhead. I was able to park my 4Runner at the trailhead parking lot without using 4WD. (Upon leaving, a couple had just parked next to me in their new Saturn L300, so most 2WD vehicles should be able to navigate the church parking lot that is the trail head.)
I began the hike to the summit at 8:30 am, cloudy skies kept the temperature to a low 84. (Skies had cleared by the time I reached the summit.)
After checking my GPS coordinates and topo, I was able to locate the trail:
There is a map at the trailhead delineating the .8 mile trek to the summit.
Despite the lack of cairns, I used my acute navigation abilities to stay on course to the summit:
This picture doesn’t do the true grade justice. This is the final push to the summit:
Mountain Dew at the summit:
Celebrating at the summit, a hard-earned high pointer:
I left a printed copy of one of the sticker designs with the registry:
In the nearby town of Arcadia, I found the following restaurant.
It reminded me of a winter summit of a 14er, although instead of my Chick-a-Dilly, my……
Ben
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.