Thursday, June 21, 2012

First Excelsior Pass attempt

Jonelle at the Flume
Nine Senior Trailblazers met at the Senior Center this morning to make our first 2012 attempt to get to Excelsior Pass. Three weeks ago, Fred and Al headed up to this trailhead to see what kind of shape it's in. Here's what Al wrote about it then. In the three weeks since he was here, he said much of the snow that he was falling through at that time is now gone. We went almost three miles before we ran into some serious snow, at about 4,000 feet elevation.
Snow and downed trees
By the time I took this picture, we were on snow the whole time, with only Al's GPS and some previous trail markers giving us an idea that we were headed towards the pass. We soldiered on for another mile, gaining almost another 1,000 feet, before we stopped for lunch. We had 800 vertical feet to go in heavy snow before we would be at the top, so we decided to try again another day and just find a sunny spot on the snow. On the way up, we noticed that the air temperature would be very cold and then very warm, as if competing weather systems were fighting for the upper hand.
Our lunch spot was pretty nice, considering that we were sitting on snow but basking in the sunshine as we ate lunch and gathered our strength for the descent. While I was sitting here enjoying the sun, I looked up and saw a ring around the sun, which we decided must have something to do with the humidity. (None of us really knows what caused it.) It made for a very impressive picture, though.
I suspect that the ring follows all the way around the sun, but I was only able to get this picture with the tree covering the sun itself. Pretty cool, huh? I wasn't at all convinced that the picture would turn out, but it certainly did. As I readied myself for the descent, I noticed that Jonelle was looking pretty spiffy, all black on the white snow, so I begged for a picture.
Jonelle in the snow
Linda told Jonelle she has never had so many pictures taken of her as he has since I joined the group, pointing my camera impertinently at my photogenic companions. Jonelle and I both have transition lenses on our glasses, which turn jet black when we are on the snow. I love this picture and make no excuses for including it.
We made our way back through the snow to the incredible greenery; that one mile we spent totally on the snow was the slowest and most difficult part of this journey. It gives us a chance to come back here a bit later in the season and make it all the way to the top. When we did that last year, we had an incredible view, but it wasn't until August that we got there. In fact, it was the first summit we reached last year, and it took another another two months before the snow gave us a chance. Hopefully this year will be better, but it's still early, only being the end of June and all.
Jonelle blowing out her candles
When we finally reached the trailhead, Amy pulled out some cupcakes so we could celebrate Jonelle's June birthday with her. I didn't actually get a picture of her blowing out the candle, but our social secretary, Amy, was (as always) making sure that we ALL feel the love. It was a very good day, even if we only went 7.2 miles (one of those miles was up snow!). In those short miles we covered 3,000 feet of elevation up and down. No wonder I'm feeling a bit tired.
:-)

32 comments:

  1. Snow can be easy or hard. If you fall through to the bottom of the snow on each step it takes incredible energy. If you only go ankle deep in the snow it's easy.
    What is the elevation of the snow on this pass?

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  2. after all that activity and fresh air, i'd have eaten that entire tray of cupcakes!

    jonelle is beautiful. i love her hair! :)

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  3. Is there ever a time that you don't see snow? This is the end of June after all.

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  4. Love the sundog or sun halo shot! What a hike--from lush green to lunching on snow. You really have it all there. And then birthday yummies to boot! :):)

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  5. only 7.2....smiles...yeah that elevation change makes a bit of a difference for sure...smiles...pretty cool to be in snow and sun...and a neat capture of the ring around the sun...

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  6. I've seen colourful sun dogs and distinct halos around the sun but never have I seen such a colourful halo as this. Just beautiful.

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  7. Let's see: Excelsior Pass this year, Everest next year.

    Sounds like a reasonable training schedule.

    Best wishes on getting to the top, at some point.

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  8. A BIT tired? A BIT? Good gosh! You are so amazing, DJan! That photo of the ring around the sun is incredible! I just googled "ring around the sun" and saw all kinds of explanations. I guess you don't really need one. You can just enjoy the sight.

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  9. BWAAAAAAhahhhhhaaaaaaaaa!
    "...even if we only went 7.2 miles..."

    Thanks for that good laugh. I believe my blood is nice and full of oxygen for my third of a mile trip to the mailbox and back...

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  10. The sun halo is amazing...I've never seen anything like it. And odd how the heat and cold were competing with each other.
    Happy birthday to Jonelle!
    Looks like this hike had much to offer in various ways.
    Thanks for the photos...a little nature fix for me! Thanks DJan.

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  11. Gorgeous sun halo. And the pics of you are terrific. You look to be very much i your element!

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  12. ooo, yummy chocolate cupcakes, my fave! Don't tell me you passed them up due to your avoidance of anything containing wheat! Haha.

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  13. Hi DJan - Great Photos and I am amazed at the amount of snow, as it is hard to think of snow around here with our 102 temps yesterday. I love the photo of Jonelle against the white. Gee for a minute there, I thought it was you.
    The circle around the sun - read about it on my blog in a past post on March 31, 2011, and photos as well. You might find it interesting and will answer some of your thoughts.
    Great post - always enjoy your hikes.

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  14. I've never seen anything like that halo around the sun. What a great day you had. No wonder you felt tired! Enjoy the rest of your week - maybe even take a rest sometime.

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  15. off topic - that comment you made on the post - I made a mistake. Both will go up on the 25th!

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  16. Isn't it amazing the sights you see when you venture high up in the clouds...
    So much snow, and still you ventured on, what troopers :)
    Love the shot of the sun halo, how very special..
    I too would have eaten the tray load of cupcakes after making that hike :)
    ~Jo

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  17. I'm checking in from Oregon, where we are for the weekend. It's raining. Sure glad we had two days of summer at least.

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  18. First off, the photos of you show us just what you are....YOUNG at heart and in mind and body. But snow? Nope. Not for me in the least. I'll take the high humidity and the hot temps. LOL But, oh the scenery you see and share with us...and that aura around the sun...wow!! That's all I can think of, is.........WOW

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  19. LOL..even though IO have lived in the Pacific Northwest, I'm having a hard time imagining snow today. It was already 80 by 9 AM....

    Loved the sun halo...

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  20. Great pictures D-Jan, especially the ones of you and the sun. That one is pretty special, isn't it! The garden is coming on just fine. Hope the rabbits in your locale don't find it!!

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  21. Happy Birthday Jonelle
    She looks like a really cool lady

    I love the sight of people wearing shorts and sitting in snow
    only in your part of the country
    whose weather I prefer btw :)

    the rainbow ring is stunning!

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  22. Dear DJan, that photograph of the rainbow ring around the sun is lovely. Have you ever tried to get any of your photographs published in a Northwest US magazine or in a Washington State magazine? In Minnesota the Department of Natural Resources has a monthly magzine called "The Minnesota Volunteer" that publishes evocative and lovely photographs like this one of yours.
    Peace.

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  23. Looks like work to me. Some people enjoy their work more than others. I love the scenery.

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  24. Somehow I doubt that you guys need a birthday to celebrate life. Loved the photographs...

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  25. Great hiking, Jan! and thanks for sharing the photos. I love the one showing the sun halo- your reward!

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  26. Your sun ring is beautiful..good to see snow someplace in the summer. I am certain you will summit this one yet this year. Of course you should be tired:)

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  28. I can't tell you how thrilled I am to see snow...in June! Amazing, Jan.
    You are blessed to live in this area and have opportunities to see such beauty. Thank you for sharing your trailblazing experiences with us. I smile as I read that you were sitting in snow and basking in the sun. Life is good!!
    Hugs,
    J.

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  29. Sunshine and snow make for some really nice photos. We saw a little snow the first of last week when we visited a camping area in the Blues so I'm not surprise you ran into it there. I love your shot of the Solar halo, that is gorgeous.

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  30. The snow in June and the ring around the sun make really interesting experiences and photos. The fun of hiking must be all of the unexpected bonuses. When I read about all of the bad weather experiences, I sometimes wonder why the group keeps hiking, but you are hiking for the unique. That is why I keep reading about your hikes. You always show us something new and interesting.

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  31. That you have such awesome days out thrill me to read. And the ring around the sun is very cool. So are the friendly trail blazers!

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  32. Snow, still, in June.

    Looks like an especially good hike.

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