14ers.com • Trip Report - Crazy old man route

Peak(s):	Garfield Pk A - 13,780 feet
Date Posted:	10/16/2019
Modified:	10/24/2019
Date Climbed:	10/14/2019
Author:	Jay521

Crazy old man route
Don't try this at home... I know that most people do Garfield in combo with Grizzly. Most people are smart! Not me, I guess. I figured that I had done Grizzly twice - once via Bill's route and once via the Grizz couloir that I documented here. So, why not go up the down staircase and do Garfield the hard way. I had more than a little trepidation about the trek after reading Wild Wanderer's TR here and Glenmiz's excellent report here but I figured I'd give it a shot. And I will say that I was in total agreement with WW as I was going up - the scree was merciless. But I found that going down wasn't all that difficult - perhaps because it was easier than going up or perhaps dementia is settling in? <smile> Anyway, here are the pictures on what was a beautiful, albeit windy day. Avalanche debris on FS394 My FJ all alone at the TH A new chain and lock on the gate? Sun hitting Grizz on the way in. An old miner's shack? Or a miner's old shack? Ice stalactites and stalagmites at the mine entrance. Zoom on Garfield I had been trying to decide if I wanted to do the Grizz/Gar combo or just go for Garfield. The above picture sealed the deal for me as it looked doable. I decided to go up just right of the large rock mass pictured below and see what it looked like from there Head to the right of the rock mass. Head up the center of this picture. And this is what you see. But, after you top out, you get a clear view of the route ahead Aim for the saddle but stay to the left. A closer view Then you are in the scree and talus. There are trail remnants (or paths carved out by sliding mountain goats) and some areas where you just kinda have to pick your way. I'm not sure I took the optimal route but it worked. And a note here that usually rocks with lichen on them are stable - not so here. Ask me how I know. Scree... Looking back down from the same spot. One of the trail segments A note here - this was analogous to going up a down escalator. The ground/rocks seemed to move out from under every step I took and it was a bit of a struggle. I have noticed that as I have gotten older, my balance just isn't what it used to be. (Any other 70+ y/o hikers have that trouble or is it only me?) Anyway, I usually do better going up than going down (the balance thing). But this one was different. With everything moving it seemed like I was in a fun house after having a couple martinis. But coming down didn't seem all that bad. I also tried to stay high on the left hand side going up and I seemed to find a little more stable rock there. But nothing is stable until you get to the saddle. Almost to the saddle. And finally, a view of the summit block. As always, the views from the summit were fantastic Looking west Looking north to Grrizzly Looking east Looking southeast Looking south The wind was pretty ferocious so I didn't stay long on the summit - just enough time to shoot the pics and vid and then head down. I didn't see the summit register but I really didn't look all that hard. Had I found it, I probably wouldn't have taken it out anyway cuz the wind would have moved it to another peak. It was good to get off the summit and out of the wind and I took a few photos on the way down. My route up (and down) is still in the shade. From near the saddle -Henschel Lake that I hadn't noticed on the way up. Once I got out of the wind, I stopped just below the saddle for a quick bite to eat and took this vid. Note how the wind isn't a factor now. And a final shot of Garfield. On the way down, I couldn't help but look at Grizzly - what a beautiful mountain! Grizz Thanks for taking the time to read this and please be careful out there! Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Crazy old man route

Don't try this at home...

19929_22

I know that most people do Garfield in combo with Grizzly. Most people are smart! Not me, I guess. I figured that I had done Grizzly twice - once via Bill's route and once via the Grizz couloir that I documented here. So, why not go up the down staircase and do Garfield the hard way. I had more than a little trepidation about the trek after reading Wild Wanderer's TR here and Glenmiz's excellent report here but I figured I'd give it a shot. And I will say that I was in total agreement with WW as I was going up - the scree was merciless. But I found that going down wasn't all that difficult - perhaps because it was easier than going up or perhaps dementia is settling in? <smile>

Anyway, here are the pictures on what was a beautiful, albeit windy day.

Avalanche debris on FS394

19929_30

19929_31

19929_29 — A new chain and lock on the gate?

19929_02 — Sun hitting Grizz on the way in.

19929_03 — An old miner's shack? Or a miner's old shack?

19929_04 — Ice stalactites and stalagmites at the mine entrance.

I had been trying to decide if I wanted to do the Grizz/Gar combo or just go for Garfield. The above picture sealed the deal for me as it looked doable.

I decided to go up just right of the large rock mass pictured below and see what it looked like from there

19929_08 — Head to the right of the rock mass.

19929_09 — Head up the center of this picture.

But, after you top out, you get a clear view of the route ahead

19929_11 — Aim for the saddle but stay to the left.

Then you are in the scree and talus. There are trail remnants (or paths carved out by sliding mountain goats) and some areas where you just kinda have to pick your way. I'm not sure I took the optimal route but it worked. And a note here that usually rocks with lichen on them are stable - not so here. Ask me how I know.

19929_14 — Looking back down from the same spot.

A note here - this was analogous to going up a down escalator. The ground/rocks seemed to move out from under every step I took and it was a bit of a struggle. I have noticed that as I have gotten older, my balance just isn't what it used to be. (Any other 70+ y/o hikers have that trouble or is it only me?) Anyway, I usually do better going up than going down (the balance thing). But this one was different. With everything moving it seemed like I was in a fun house after having a couple martinis. But coming down didn't seem all that bad. I also tried to stay high on the left hand side going up and I seemed to find a little more stable rock there. But nothing is stable until you get to the saddle.

19929_22 — And finally, a view of the summit block.

As always, the views from the summit were fantastic

The wind was pretty ferocious so I didn't stay long on the summit - just enough time to shoot the pics and vid and then head down. I didn't see the summit register but I really didn't look all that hard. Had I found it, I probably wouldn't have taken it out anyway cuz the wind would have moved it to another peak.

It was good to get off the summit and out of the wind and I took a few photos on the way down.

19929_23 — My route up (and down) is still in the shade.

19929_24 — From near the saddle -Henschel Lake that I hadn't noticed on the way up.

Once I got out of the wind, I stopped just below the saddle for a quick bite to eat and took this vid. Note how the wind isn't a factor now.

19929_26 — And a final shot of Garfield.

On the way down, I couldn't help but look at Grizzly - what a beautiful mountain!

Thanks for taking the time to read this and please be careful out there!

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Mtnman200	Okay then, I'll ask... 10/16/2019 09:01 How do you know the rocks with lichen on them are unstable on Garfield? I've descended Garfield the way you ascended, and I recall it being quite loose.Nice job making your route work.
glenmiz	What a concept! 10/16/2019 13:29 A few martinis on the trail... It couldn't have made it any more difficult. Not sure if it would have helped, though. I'm also interested in the lichen story. Too bad you didn't look at the trail register. That's, generally, not my thing but I did look at and sign this one. Pretty tough company! Good to see you back in report mode Jay. Good luck and enjoy!
Jay521	Lichen... 10/16/2019 14:07 Odd - I thought most people knew this - at least we were taught that in Boy Scouts - admittedly in the late 1950's - that lichen likes to grow on stable surfaces and if a rock moves a lot, lichen doesn't take a liken to it. Found this that more or less backs up the 60 year old Boy Scout thought that one should seek out lichen covered rocks when hiking. Most lichens grow on stable rock surfaces or the bark of old trees, but many others grow on soil and sand. In these latter cases, lichens are often an important part of soil stabilization; indeed, in some desert ecosystems, vascular (higher) plant seeds cannot become established except in places where lichen crusts stabilize the sand and help retain water. Lichen - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen(/i) I have found the "stick to lichen covered rocks" to usually be valid. Exceptions always exist and the route up the north face of Garfield bore that out. Anyway, Thanks to both of you for your comments. I appreciate the feedback very much.
yaktoleft13	Interesting.. 10/16/2019 14:33 I saw that lichen theory posted elsewhere on here earlier this summer and decided to test it out. Thus far, I haven't found the lichen rocks to be any more stable. I'm also not sure how lichen would be able to tell whether a 50 pound rock would shift if I put my weight on in. Perhaps by "stable", they mean the surface isn't likely to deteriorate due to the effects of weathering. Then again, i just may not be luchen out...
12ersRule	I avoid lichen... 10/16/2019 16:12 Like the plaque that it is..... At least, I instinctively avoid it when I can. It's just another thing between my cheapily made $50 hiking shoes and the rock. Interesting commentary on it, though. I'll keep it in mind.
Chicago Transplant	Nice Report! 10/16/2019 16:19 Thanks Jay! I think the lichen get knocked off of loose rocks as they tumble, but that doesn't necessarily mean the rock is stable for human travel if it has lichen on it. Just that it hasn't rolled yet, or something like that ;)
Jay521	Wow! 10/16/2019 18:06 I had no idea there would be so many and varied opinions about lichen! For me, it always seemed to hold that lichen covered rock was more stable but then I've not done the number of, nor the difficulty of the hikes and climbs that you folks have done. Perhaps we should start a poll.... Or a focus group... Or a government funded study... Or ??? (humor intended! - PLEASE don't take me seriously. Actually, nobody should EVER take me seriously!)
osprey	You 10/16/2019 19:10 are neither crazy nor old as long as you keep climbing.
Tornadoman	Good job my friend! 10/16/2019 18:54 Always good to see your trips to the mountains. Keep on getting out there!
Jay521	Thanks! 10/16/2019 19:23 @Osprey - thanks. Hopefully, you are correct on at least one of your assertions! @Andrew - I appreciate that very much. We have to do a winter hike one of these days, don't we?
SnowAlien	Also 10/17/2019 09:58 did Garfield the way you describe (with some snow too) and it was loose. Just glad you didn't go after that unranked bump in Pic 17! (I was quite relieved it wasn't ranked or anything). Keep on rockin Jay! P.s. did in in early October too one year and there already was snow! More like a nuisance than anything.
Dan_Suitor	Moss 10/16/2019 21:23 Like most, I went down what you went up (and down). Real loose crap rock, must have really sucked going up. However, unlike looking for lichen, I look for rocks covered in moss. Get it!
nesterpete	HOLY LICHEN 10/17/2019 00:49 Another Jay adventure that I found myself lichen a lot. Looked and sounded liche fun. How cold was it that day?
Jay521	More thanks... 10/17/2019 03:41 @Natalia - Wow - with snow, too? Yikes! Yeah - that unranked one looks pretty gnarly for sure. And I will try to keep rockin' as loong as I can. @Dan - LOL! @Pete - Honestly not that cold - maybe in the high 30's/low 40's. The wind made it seem colder, tho. Sure was nice to gget out of it on the way down. Be well, my friend.
mathguy	A fun read 10/17/2019 08:30 Looks like that was a cool hike. Your nice narrative and great pics went along well with morning coffee. "(Any other 70+ y/o hikers have that trouble or is it only me?)" Er...I'm in denial on the balance thing. Thanks for posting.
Matt	I'm Lichen This Report 10/17/2019 10:12 You The Man, Jay. I remember a long, fast scree ski down Garfield and thinking I would not want to go up that way.
supranihilest	Janktastic 10/17/2019 14:19 Garfield has one of the worst descents I can remember. Endless, steep, ankle deep scree. At least I had Grizzly Couloir to reduce the suck by half, I can't imagine going up that stuff.
Jay521	Thanks!! 10/20/2019 21:33 @MathGuy - Glad I'm not the only one! LOL! @Matt - Thanks, man. Coming from you, that means a lot! @Supra - The couloir is a hell of a lot more fun than Garfield for sure! Thanks for your comments - they are spot on.

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