A weekend outdoors in the woods and on the snow.

It started with a scheduled search and rescue alpine training day set for Sunday at St. Mary's Glacier. Saturday was going to be a easy day at home. That changed Friday night when a non-emergency search was called for the driver of an abandoned SUV up Phantom Canyon Rd. for Saturday.

Saturday morning after meeting at the Sheriff's Office, we went up Phantom Canyon Rd. (back way to Cripple Creek/Victor) to the red bridge, about 12-13 miles. We spent 4 hours "purposefully wondering" the a draw to the north looking for the owner of the SUV that had first been spotted a couple of weeks before. There was not much info available, so we were clearing areas around where the vehicle had been parked.

We worked up the draw about 2.5 miles, then headed back to the trailhead. We may be back here again in the future, this is pretty rough country.

Saturday we left the house at 8am and returned at 6:30pm.

Sunday started with a wake-up call from the alarm clock at 3:45am. The drive to St. Mary's glacier is 133 miles and about 3 hours.

We met up with Kevin and Craig at 5am on Hwy 9 to carpool (truckpool) for the trip. Other then a stop in Silverthorne for a breakfast burrito (something I will regret) we arrived at the trailhead about 9am.

Gear/ropes were split up among the group and after gearing up in harness', crampons, ice axes, beacons, etc. we were on to the glacier. It looked like there were two other groups of about a dozen folks each, were also on their way up for a day of alpine hiking and self-arrest training.

We were going to practice moving roped up, setting snow anchors and rappelling.

The start though was a roped hike in teams of two, to the head of the glacier.

Marlys is amazing, I started calling her the mountain ant as she trudged up the glacier carrying a pack of 30+ pounds, which is over a third of her weight. Plus because of her gait length, she takes many more steps then the rest of us vs. the rest of us, with packs that may weigh more, but are less then 20% of our weight.

Amazing.

We must have looked pretty hardcore during the ascent as a couple of guys coming down asked if we were training for Denali. Does the ego good, especially in our 6 decade in to this life (very pc).

We had lunch at the glacier head, where the breakfast burrito started a dance in my gut. We were above tree line so finding a high enough snow drift was the only privacy possible. I would end up making 3 field trips and one to the porta-potty by the end of the day. I still feel less then well this morning.

We did some climbs up the sidewalls of the glacier placing snow pickets, building a equalizing anchor and rappeling back down to the glacier surface. About 3pm we started to collect and repack gear arriving back at the parking lot just before 4pm.

One equipment plug. I have been looking to replace my current Gore-Tex hard-shell with a newer, more technical cut one. My current NF hard-shell has served me well for 12 years, but it was time. I also wanted to get a more breathable shell, because as most folks know, I sweat...a lot.

Last week looking through the clearance rack at REI, I spotted a hard-shell made from eVent fabric, which I had read was highly breathable. So much so that it doesn't require pit-zips for venting. At least that is what the propaganda and online tests said.

I gotta tell you after wearing this hard-shell as a windbreak, on the glacier yesterday in the high 30's, I am totally sold on its breathability. No clamminess, no sleeve moisture drips. Still need to test the waterproofing, but it looks like that is not going to be a issue. It is also lighter in weight compared to my 3 layer Gore-Tex.

Today I am looking for a pair of eVent pants to replace my Gore-Tex ones.

After a Starbucks/7-11 stop in Frisco, we got home about 7:30pm, beat and sunburned.

Today is a rest day (no daily hike), sorting gear and replenishing the mountain money (TP) in my pack.

Miller Moth Migration Underway

Well the moths have started to show up around the house, but it is not as bad as when we lived in Parker. This is the time of the year when the Miller Moths move from the plains to the high country.

First Hummingbird of the Season

Marlys thought she heard one last Friday, so she put out a feeder. Today we were sitting outside in the 70 degree weather and a male Broad-tail (scarlet neck) showed up. Usually she doesn't put out the feeders until May and then it takes a few days for the hummers to show up.

And to think that next Sunday we are going up to St. Mary's Glacier for crampon and self-arrest practice. The seasons can get confusing this time of year.

Got our SARTECH II certifications

Marlys and I completed two days of testing for our SARTECH II certifications yesterday. This is one of the main certifications in the search and rescue. It is issued by the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR).

Thursday was the 145 question written test, knots/harness test and 24 hour pack check.

Saturday was in the field for; land navigation, route search, area search, tracking and map orientation tests.

We both passed.

Afterwards a couple of very gracious folks in Colorado Springs from El Paso County Search and Rescue about gave us a 2-3 hour private rope/rappelling lesson. Thank you.

Note: I filled my camelbak up last Saturday with water and sugar free peach ice tea mix. Yesterday is tasted like it had a little kick to it. Must be enough sugar like stuff in it to start a fermenting process. Luckily I also had a fresh one liter bottle of sugar free ice tea.

By the time we got back home we were pretty beat. Marlys even slept til after 8am this morning. I of course still got up at 5am. Someday I too will learn how to sleep in.

Finally reached the top of Picacho Peak

Finally made it to the top after three tries. Picacho is one of those peaks that because of its proximity to people seems to be easier then it really is. Ya that I10 in the background of the obligatory summit shot. 

Marlys and I have attempted this hike the last two years; once from the backside Sunset Vista Trail and once from the more direct east side Hunter Trail. Both times we were stopped either by a shortage of water or just seeing the quasi- "via ferrata" route that is part of the route.

We were drawn to this peak because of the state park in which is sits and is about half way between Phoenix and Tucson. This is once of our favorite stops during the late winter southwest loops we generally take with the camper.

While visiting CK/BK at their winter camp in San Tan Valley, BK and I decided to give it another try on St. Patrtick's Day before hitting the pubs. 

We went up via the front side to the notch on the right side of this shot: http://azstateparks.com/parks/pipe/gallery_01.html . It cross' to the west side via the notch and then along the back side using a few cable assist and caged traverses. 

Even with the cables it is pretty sporty. 

Having brought Dusty with us the previous two times it became pretty clear that this is not a hike for dog's.

It took us about 90 minutes to reach the top. Which gives a view of both metro areas.

After another 90 minutes getting down, passing numerous folks heading up. As in Colorado most were not prepared with the needed, water, boots or leather gloves. Some were pretty far up the trail. It did go through my mind a few times what the evacuate of someone from here would be like.

Over the course of the next week, we also hit the trails in the Superstition Mountains twice once going up to the hieroglyphs and another time to the Weavers Needle overlook.

We also did a mid-day hike through the San Tan Mountain Park on the goldmine trail. Even though this was a pretty straight forward walk, for me it actually was the most challenging physically.

We are back in Colorado preparing for our SARTECH II certification tests later this week.

We go back to Arizona for the Grand Canyon Kaibab-Bright Angel hike the beginning of June.

Today though it is snowing back here at Pinon Rock.