skybytch 273 #1 May 28, 2007 Yesterday morning I was awakened at 4:30 am. Instead of being upset I unzipped my sleeping bag, added all my layers, pulled on socks, boots and a headlamp and stumbled off to find a private place to perform my morning rituals. When I was done everybody was just about ready. Mary put a few quarts of water, the JetBoil and some coffee in a backpack, Kim strapped on her way-cool camera, we picked up our poles, turned on our headlamps and started up the trail toward the summit of East Snow Mountain. It wasn't a tough climb but it wasn't exactly easy at 5:00 am either! It was light enough to turn off the lamps as we were approaching the summit. Mary hunkered down in a somewhat protected area and got water boiling for coffee. I wandered around, climbing on various rock formations, trying to decide which was the highest, admiring the view, chatting with Deedy and Mary while Kim scouted the best camera angles. East Snow Mountain is the highest point in Solano County at 7056 feet - pretty high when you consider that parts of Solano County are under 100 ft msl. The surrounding mountains of the Snow Mountain Wilderness and Mendocino National Forest seem to roll on nearly forever from up there. To the west was the tops of the thick marine layer covering the coast. To the east was the top of Lassen Peak, sticking up out of the morning fog covering the Sacramento valley, and an outline of the Sierras above the top of the fog. We took our cups of hot coffee over to the highest rock formation, sat on the wind-protected east side and watched the sun come up over the Sierras. A couple that camped near us had hiked up at the same time we did; we enjoyed some good conversation with them as we admired and welcomed a beautiful new day. They'd heard there was a register on the summit so they wandered off looking for it as we were gathering our stuff. When they found it we hurried over to the rock formation on the other side of the summit. It had been placed by the California Alpine Club (and dedicated to out of doors people ). Of course we all signed it. After a few more pictures we headed back down the mountain to camp, where we broke down and packed up for the hike out. I guess this was my first official "peak bag" - but I didn't get it on video. Pics below were taken by Kim; the hi-res ones are way better but you'll get the general idea... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keith 0 #2 May 28, 2007 Have I told you lately that I hate you Keith Don't Fuck with me Keith - J. Mandeville Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #3 May 28, 2007 Cool, well done I'll be doing a long hike next month. Only Yorkshire 3 peaks but should be a bit of an endurance challenge. The scenery won't be too spectacular but I'll try to get some pics if I can bare to carry my camera for 24 miles Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #4 May 28, 2007 Awesome. ~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #5 May 28, 2007 Here are a few more pics from the trip. All except the last one are from my camera. 005 is the view from the first nights campsite. 015 is everybody else on the trail. 025 is Kim getting a picture of a rattlesnake with Mary cheering her on and Deedy getting a picture too. 033 is scenery. The last one is the snake from Kim's angle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cloudseeker2001 0 #6 May 28, 2007 That's cool. Do you have the Jetboil coffee press or was it just regular joe? "Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance, others mean and rueful of the western dream" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CSpenceFLY 1 #7 May 28, 2007 That looks like a good sized snake. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DJL 235 #8 May 29, 2007 QuoteThat looks like a good sized snake. Yeah, how did it taste?"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #9 May 29, 2007 QuoteQuoteThat looks like a good sized snake. Yeah, how did it taste? Like Chicken. Actually, more like frog legs (which taste alot like chicken). Snake is good eating. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #10 May 29, 2007 Was it named "Snow Mountain" as a joke? Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #11 May 29, 2007 Quote Was it named "Snow Mountain" as a joke? It's been a dry year. We hiked some of the same trail in late May 2 years ago and it was solid snow beyond where we spent the first night this time. There was a bit of snow on West Snow Mountain though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #12 May 29, 2007 Lisa, You're such a nice skybytch. Thanks for sharing. I like pretty wilderness pictures. I think it may be called "Snow Mountain" because a) it is the highest mountain in the area and b) usually the most snow. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weegegirl 2 #13 May 29, 2007 Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet! Looks like you guys had fun! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
d_squared431 0 #14 May 30, 2007 Here are a few more pictures of sunrise ...... http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k293/ff_gril431/backpackingtrip5-26-07061.jpg http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k293/ff_gril431/backpackingtrip5-26-07017.jpg http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k293/ff_gril431/backpackingtrip5-26-07016.jpg http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k293/ff_gril431/backpackingtrip5-26-07012.jpg http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k293/ff_gril431/backpackingtrip5-26-07064.jpgTPM Sister#130ONTIG#1 I love vodka.I love vodka cause it rhymes with Tuaca~LisaH You having a clean thought is like billyvance having a clean post.iluvtofly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #15 May 30, 2007 QuoteHere are a few more pictures of sunrise... Wow! Great photos. And nice tongue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #16 May 30, 2007 Sweet pics, Deedy! I love the last one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
d_squared431 0 #17 May 31, 2007 I will post some more later those were my favorites out of the ones I took. TPM Sister#130ONTIG#1 I love vodka.I love vodka cause it rhymes with Tuaca~LisaH You having a clean thought is like billyvance having a clean post.iluvtofly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
