Russell and I decided to challenge ourselves with something super hard. Hiking Kings Peak in one long day. Russell had done it before in one day and I had done it in three days.
We drove to the trailhead Friday night and got there around 11pm. We slept in the van and woke up at 4:30 so we could hit the trail at 5am.
We hiked for a while in the dark before the sky started to lighten up. We heard an elk bugle.
We made it to the bridge. The weather was a little cool but not too bad.
These bushes that we passed were so pretty.
The first nine miles were ok then we started to climb! And the wind started whipping I mean gale force winds that would knock us over as we were walking.
We had to get to the top of that mountain in the shadow to make it to the summit. I think about 13 miles from the car to the top.
We did it! We even hauled Dr. Pepper's up there for a sweet reward.
Now we had to get back down to the car. The rock scramble up and down from the peak about 3/4 of a mile is no joke.
Another great view.
Russell is such a strong hiker. He never seems to get tired. He was a great partner getting me up the mountain.
After we left the top I told Russell I didn't want to face the wind on the short cut. We decided to go the long way back. Big mistake. It took forever! I fell broke my pole and got banged up and we had to hike up Gunsight Pass again. I will never go that way again...if I ever do it again. It added miles and hours to our already long day.
Down here all the way from here. About 9 miles to the car at it was 5pm.
I am trying to smile through my puffy face.
I fell again right after this picture and got my shoes wet! Nothing like hiking 7 miles it wet shoes.
Thanks Kings Peak for not killing us. We finally made it to the car at 8:30pm 15.5 hours after we started. We did not beat any speed record. But we did it. I am glad that we can do hard things and that our bodies our tough. We got back in the car and drove home and got back about midnight. What an adventure!
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