First Big Mountain Climb Attempt

[reinselc]

Hang in there Sarah.

First, you are smart for turning around. The mountain will be there next week, next month, next year. Be safe. I turned around my first big attempt at Longs Peak as a kid and was glad I did years later when I actually climbed it. I wasn't ready.

But stay motivated, keep working on your fitness level and finding the gear that works for you and you'll succeed. I've climbed almost 30 now after a very rough start where I think I successfully climbed something like 3 of my first 10 tries.

[CliminDave]

Sarah, 485' from the summit is a tough spot to turn around after the effort you have put forth, however, there is nothing wrong with turning back. Several times I've turned around on a climb due to weather or health of others in the group. Many times I've decided not to go at all due to physical exertion just prior to a scheduled climb, not being in the right frame of mind, weather, etc. In one case we drove from Golden to the San Juans and turned around driving back to Golden. It just didn't feel right.

[SoCool]

That summit will taste even sweeter now, when you finally get it. And you will.

[AndrewLyonsGeibel]

Turning around is always a tough decision but one that keeps you alive. Last fall, I had a friend from out of state visiting, and I had to make the turn around call at 9 am. We were on Pikes NW slopes just to the saddle before Devil's Playground and I saw clouds that I didn't like the looks of. Normally we would have had plenty of time, but the storms rolled in early that day. I'm glad we turned around because not 15 minutes later we were hearing rumbles.

[coclimber2]

You won't find anyone here with meaningful experience who hasn't turned around multiple times. It's part of the game, and actually a mark of knowing your limits, which some have to learn the hard way.
Find some comfy shoes, and get back out there! After a few hikes you'll start getting a feel for what works and what doesn't, and Bald is still there waiting for you. But by no means be discouraged! Just watch the weather and bring your 10 essentials, and it might not be a bad idea to find some partners who have some experience under their belt and are patient if you need to go slow.
We've all started out pretty ignorant, and some of us still are in many ways. Nobody starts out having it all figured out. Here's a good recent thread for inspiration:
https://14ers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=51282

That was an excellent thread! Thanks for sharing!

[coclimber2]

Thank you all for the replies!! I'm really happy to hear your stories and words of encouragement! Looking forward to my next climb!

[derekesq]

Agree with the comments on a good start and something to aim for. I turned around short of the summit on Borah Peak, Idaho on Sunday - first snow climb, played it safe and turned once i got beyond where i was comfortable with the ice ax and conditions, looking forward to a return attempt.

[ang2073]

Don't be hard on yourself. You went and learned what to do next time.
It is a part of the game.
My mantra when I climb: "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." ---- I repeat this until I reach summit.
You got this! Invest in good gear and you shall see great results, remember you are bound to "stumble" every now and then, get up, dust off and keep trying!

[719BR]

I'm still a little disappointed that I didn't make the final 484' to the top.

on mt hood last year i turned around 5 minutes and 40 feet from the summit.

that stung a bit, but i would make the same decision again today given the same factors in play.

[spiderman]

Wow, tragic to turn around 40 feet below the top of Hood. I didn't remember anything challenge on the summit Ridge, but obviously that peak is never the same for different attempts. It took us 4 times and cost a bunch of money before we got that bigger.

Getting to the top is optional. Staying alive is mandatory. A few close calls will teach you that lesson.

[719BR]

Wow, tragic to turn around 40 feet below the top of Hood. I didn't remember anything challenge on the summit Ridge

i assumed it would be understood that was 40 vertical feet from the top, sorry.

we were on the south side route, and climbing the final pitch before you stroll across the ridge to the summit. conditions were pretty lousy. very icy, i was wishing i had two axes with me. the folks above me (both exiting and entering the notch on their way down) were showering ice down on everyone. i watched a guided party get roped down from the notch, and i remember thinking, "i'm pretty sure i could get up, but could i get down?" and so i pulled the plug.

i got rainier three days later, and adams three days after that (which for me was the highlight of the trip), so it wasn't a completely wasted trip.

[Timothy]

Hi Sarah,

The fact that you realized you were reaching your limit and turned back demonstrates that you have something essential in a good mountaineer: Good judgment. Clearly you have already learned a few valuable lessons. Keep adding to what you have begun and before long, people will be looking to you for advice.

In 1971, my Dad and brothers and I attempted to hike Snowstorm Peak in the San Juans, after a five mile approach from the east. "Easy mountain." Just about everything that could have gone wrong did, almost entirely because of a series of bad decisions compounded by terrible weather, and it was almost a disaster. The lesson I learned at ten years old was, never again will I go unprepared and without a well thought out plan.

Tim