Training Log Archive: kbreseman

Oh dear, the altitude. However, the views were phenomenal.

We hiked up, intending to go just to Serpent Lake, but decided the summit hike was too close to pass up. So we followed the trail blazes up through the snow (we must have been the first ones up this year because there were no footprints). Reaching the pass, the view was unbeatable- mountains stretching out to the Great Plains and a bright blue sky with drifting clouds. Eileen started feeling the altitude, so she turned around after a while; Rick and I pushed on to Jicarita Peak (12,835 feet). At the top, the air was pretty thin- started to get loopy and nauseous.
We picked our way down, back to the snowy treeline... and couldn't find the trail for a while. We were all pretty beat, so we lay down in the sun to regroup for a few minutes, then discussed our options. We had a compass and USGS, so thought we might aim for the saddle. Eventually we had to go on a bearing through the snow... and found the trail.
A long hike down, and I felt pretty sick all day, but we made it and it was definitely worth it. Next time maybe we'll wait a couple of days after flying from sea level into 7,000 foot elevation before we go hiking to nearly 13,000.