PCT Map Miles 386.1
Miles Hiked 323.9
Elevation 6,663 feet
Miles Hiked Today 10.3
Mount Baden-Powell is one of the higher mountain summits on the southern portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. At the higher elevation (up to 9,400 feet), there is snow, so spikes, navigation skills and mountaineering skills are necessary. I have spikes and navigation skills.
Steve Kevin, Mike Mace and I started up the mountain at 6:30. We were able to follow a trail for a little bit, but then we hit snow. After putting on our spikes, we continued in the snow. We followed the trail and its switchbacks for awhile until the trail became completely covered in snow. Then we headed up vertically on the mountain side. It was tough going, and the threat of sliding backward down the mountain was omni present. A slide down the mountain would mean certain injury or worse.
After two and one-half hours of kicking in foot holds in the snow and following the tracks of others who went before us, we reached the summit. We took plenty of pictures and then rested while enjoying the view at the top of the world (at least for us). Then we started down. We hit many patches of snow on the way down, but the descent progressed without incident. At the end of the day, we stopped at a closed trailhead on highway 2 and made camp. It was an exhausting, although exciting and fulfilling day.
The above slideshow shows numerous pictures of me and others on the mountain summit. The group picture is of Mike Mace, myself and Steve Kevin.
