a whirlwind tour of Engineer Mountain
Oct. 2nd, 2011 08:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ilanaramaBritt and I had been planning to go backpacking this weekend, but work stuff started coming fast and furious for him, and he decided he really couldn't justify taking the whole weekend off. (This is what happens when you have your own business...) Instead we decided to climb Engineer Mountain, a local peak that is just under 13,000 ft; we've climbed it before, but it's pretty, and it's nearby, and there are awesome views from the top.
We've hiked maybe a half-dozen times up to the bench at treeline, but mostly we've gone during the height of summer wildflower season, and it was very different to see it, as in the photo above, all gone dry and brown. But it was still pretty, though, and very dramatic with the skiff of new snow on the north face contrasting with the blue sky and the dark evergreen of the highest trees. Then we remembered that the route to the summit was on the north side. Hello, snow.
It wasn't too bad, although we got a little off-trail and had to scramble up a steeper slope than we liked. (On the way back we stayed on the ridge and it was much easier.) Soon we were climbing along the rocky fin that defined the northeast ridge. That's where the crux is - a slot that you need to climb up partway, then exit to the face onto teeny hand- and foot-holds. It's not hard enough to be technical rock climbing, but it's definitely scrambling, what's called class 4, and it can freak people out. We had caught up with a small group here, easterners who had recently moved to New Mexico, and they let us pass here and then followed our lead. (The photo is actually me descending the slot on the way back down, but you can see what it's like!)
Britt and I were moving pretty fast, as we were considering this a "workout" - I was thinking about my half marathon to come, and he was contemplating hunting season (which begins the same weekend). We hit the summit slightly less than two hours after we left the car, a very good time considering the total elevation gain of 2300+ ft.
The weather held out for us, and we enjoyed our lunch on the summit without even having to pile on more clothes. We could see that it was storming over the La Platas not far to the southwest, and knew it was on its way to us, so we headed back down at a good clip. Although we got a few good gusts of wind, signaling the storms in the area, we made it back down to the trailhead without having to pull out our rain gear.
In fact, we made it home in time to take a shower and head out to the orchard of a friend of a friend's, north of Cortez, where we joined in an apple-picking and cider-making party. We now have a good haul of apples and pears, and three gallons of fresh cider - mmmm!
Eight photos on Flickr
We've hiked maybe a half-dozen times up to the bench at treeline, but mostly we've gone during the height of summer wildflower season, and it was very different to see it, as in the photo above, all gone dry and brown. But it was still pretty, though, and very dramatic with the skiff of new snow on the north face contrasting with the blue sky and the dark evergreen of the highest trees. Then we remembered that the route to the summit was on the north side. Hello, snow.
It wasn't too bad, although we got a little off-trail and had to scramble up a steeper slope than we liked. (On the way back we stayed on the ridge and it was much easier.) Soon we were climbing along the rocky fin that defined the northeast ridge. That's where the crux is - a slot that you need to climb up partway, then exit to the face onto teeny hand- and foot-holds. It's not hard enough to be technical rock climbing, but it's definitely scrambling, what's called class 4, and it can freak people out. We had caught up with a small group here, easterners who had recently moved to New Mexico, and they let us pass here and then followed our lead. (The photo is actually me descending the slot on the way back down, but you can see what it's like!)
Britt and I were moving pretty fast, as we were considering this a "workout" - I was thinking about my half marathon to come, and he was contemplating hunting season (which begins the same weekend). We hit the summit slightly less than two hours after we left the car, a very good time considering the total elevation gain of 2300+ ft.
The weather held out for us, and we enjoyed our lunch on the summit without even having to pile on more clothes. We could see that it was storming over the La Platas not far to the southwest, and knew it was on its way to us, so we headed back down at a good clip. Although we got a few good gusts of wind, signaling the storms in the area, we made it back down to the trailhead without having to pull out our rain gear.
In fact, we made it home in time to take a shower and head out to the orchard of a friend of a friend's, north of Cortez, where we joined in an apple-picking and cider-making party. We now have a good haul of apples and pears, and three gallons of fresh cider - mmmm!
Eight photos on Flickr
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2011-10-03 04:25 am (UTC)Glad you beat the storms.
I'll have to bring hiking gear next time I'm in your neck of the woods and schedule to be there when y'all plan another of your adventures.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-10-03 09:27 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-10-03 07:24 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-10-03 09:27 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-10-04 05:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-10-04 05:18 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-10-09 05:47 am (UTC)Cider...great idea! Yum. It sounds like a good way to use up pears too.. :)
-Raina (open ID issues- or computer issues again- not sure which!)
www.smalltownraces.blogspot.com .