When I arrived on Friday, the weather was perfect! Sunny and warm. I found a hillside that jutted out to the north and allowed me to see Snow Mountain to the east and a great view to the west. I decided to make this my campsite as it offered such great views!
![Image](http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f39/Cowboytutt/IMG_0190.jpg)
Here is Snow Mountain to the east as seen from camp.
![Image](http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f39/Cowboytutt/IMG_0208.jpg)
I don’t know for sure why but I decided to put my tent up. I seldom do this anymore in good weather. I just sleep on the ground on a pad and tarp. But it was Fall in the mountains and the weather can greatly change overnight so I decided to be prudent and put up the tent.
Never have I made a better decision! In the late afternoon, a generous wind kicked-up. It was so strong it was necessary to douse the fire I had started and take shelter in the tent. I took my camp stove off of its legs and put it next to the tent to shelter it from the wind and cooked up dinner instead of grilling the steak I had planned.
As the sun went down, I was mesmerized by the ensuing sunset. Seldom have I seen any this good! It was worth braving the wind every few minutes to watch the sun descend.
![Image](http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f39/Cowboytutt/IMG_0237.jpg)
After night fell, the wind increased more! It was one of those turbulent nights with the tent walls flapping. I had already secured the tent with extra stakes and connected the loops to heavy rocks by bungee cord. I knew I would not blow away in the night and slept pretty soundly actually.
The next morning I skipped breakfast and headed for the trail. The wind had subsided some but was still blowing. I hadn’t had much exercise of late and the hike turned out to be very difficult for me. It is 4 miles to the summit with switchbacks and few flat spots. Just a general uphill climb, some of it quite steep, with few flat areas to rest up. I thought of turning back more than once, but had already gone far and was not going to give up. My feet were plodding along and I had to rest often but only briefly each time.
It is a very remote area, very primitive and “wild-feeling” and while I saw fresh foot prints of other hikers or backpackers, I saw no one the whole day. After what felt like hours, I found a sign that directs you to either the East or West Peak by some of the steepest trail yet. I decided for the West Peak so I could look down towards camp.
As the highest local point, it was very windy up there, but I was glad I had persevered! Here was a view looking east as I made the ascent.
![Image](http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f39/Cowboytutt/IMG_0240.jpg)
Here is the totem on the West Peak and the view from there looking west.
![Image](http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f39/Cowboytutt/IMG_0247.jpg)
![Image](http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f39/Cowboytutt/IMG_0255.jpg)
I made it down rather rapidly passing all the landmarks I had seen coming up the trail almost in a blur. In the end, I made it there and back in 5 hours almost exactly. Not so bad for 8 miles round trip that starts at about 5000 ft and ascends to 7300 or so.
I was disappointed to get back to camp to discover the wind was still blowing strong. The only other people camping in the area left that afternoon, I suspect because they did not want to spend another windy night on the mountain.
I actually felt pretty good after the hike, better than I thought I would. I enjoyed a beer (or two!) and made another dinner on the stove behind the tent. I put on a coat and spent a lot of time in the wind just watching the sun descend again and the changing colors on the landscape and sky. I think this will always be one of my favorite sunset pictures.
![Image](http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f39/Cowboytutt/IMG_0286.jpg)
By the next morning, the wind had died completely and I awoke to a perfect morning. I made a hot pot of percolated coffee followed by a leisurely breakfast of sausage and eggs. I felt just fine despite the previous day's death march. I would do it again in a heartbeat (OK, make that many VIGOROUS heartbeats!)
Snow Mountain is now, of course, snowed in. I will not be back until things thaw out. But I look forward to hiking to the east peak next time!
-Tutt