That's a Long Way Down!

So Jordan and I decided to hike to Ben Lomond peak yesterday.  We got up at the crack of dawn and started up the mountain.  We started our 8.2 mile-one way-hike at the top of the divide at 6:30 in the morning.  The weather was perfect for the hike.  I love hiking in the cool morning air.  We started up and as we went around a switchback we would count it.  Jordan had checked his the google map before hand and had counted six.  Each distance gradually getting larger between the switchback.  We got to number six, then seven, and then it kept going.  We counted ten switchbacks in all.  This becomes important later.  The hike up is always beautiful.  My favorite part is the section where you go through the pine forest on the back side.  We came around to the front side and got our first sight of Old Ben.  I noticed at this point that the shady side was still covered in snow.  I didn't know if we would be able to get to the top, but we decided we would go as far as we could. 

Our first look at the peak

As we got to the saddle just below Ben's peak we got to talk to someone who had ridden his bike to the top.  I told him I was impressed and wondered how he did that.  He said he didn't know.  He felt like he was crazy too.  He said fortunately he didn't have to go any further because of the snow.  So I asked if he thought we could do it on foot.  He told us no problem the trick is getting down:) We started up the last 1000 verticle feet of the journey.  We went up on the trail until we reached the snow.  Then, not knowing how else to go, started straight up, trying to avoid the snow.  We didn't have too much trouble at first.  We passed a man who was probaby 70 years old who had been to the top and was on his way back down.  He was sliding through the snow like he was on a pair of skis.  I was impressed.  He gave us words of encouragement and we continued on. When we got closer to the top there was a lot more snow.  I wasn't sure which way to go.  I looked around and saw some footprints in the snow over a small, yet steep section of the ridge.  I thought we should try to get over the ridge because then there wouldn't be any snow.  Jordan saw a different route.  It was less steep but more snow.  We tried it, but after getting my feet all cold and wet I told him I wanted to go over the ridge where there wasn't any snow.  We made our way over there and "voila" no more snow, but now we had to finish the hike up by doing a bit of rock climbing. 

Only one way to go...straight up

A short rock climb to the top

Over the ridge there was no snow

Calling Dale from the top

We made it to the top, stopped, took pictures, read the plaque, and ate our snacks.  It took us just over 3 1/2 hours to get there.  We called Dale on the cell phone and told him to find us.  He did.  We waved.  Then the hard part started, getting down.  Getting off the peak was easier than getting up.  We could pick out a trail avoiding the snow much easier going down. Once we made it back to the saddle we took a few more pictures and started the LOONNNGGG trek down. I don't know why the hike down seems so long.  There was a cool breeze and the hike wasn't hard. Every time we would go around a bend I would think the pine forest must be close.  I was usually wrong.  I would look at my watch and think we should be a lot further along than we were.  Finally we hit the swichbacks.  Luckily we had counted them on our way up and so we counted down as we went down.  It was very helpful to know how much further we had to go.  When we hit 7 there was a LOOONGGG stretch before number 6.  We could see the parking lot and it was still so far away.  My knees were aching and Jordan was getting a blister or two, but we kept going.  Finally 4, 3, 2, 1.  We were down, we had made it.  We got to the car and drove home.  It was 1:30 when we got home. It was a great hike, but my legs were jelly.  I was so tired.  I felt better after a nap.  I think part of the problem with the downhill climb is the hurry we are always in to get finished.  I think if we had just taken our time and enjoyed the day and played on our way down, stopping occasionally, enjoying the weather, it would have been a better trip.  It really is a fun hike.  One I'm glad to have done again this year.

Photo op at the bottom