After yesterday's early morning run up Mt Crested Butte, I thought.. why not do it again. So, I got up at 4:00 AM, was out the door by 4:35, and on my way to the summit of Red Lady. Since I had to be at work by 8:00, and did not want to be late like I was yesterday, I decided on an out and back via the Plunge. After just 75 minutes, I was on the ridge and pushing for the summit.
I made it to the top (Red Lady - 12,392 ft) well before the sun actually rose, 6:05 AM to be exact. After taking a few photos, I took a seat to enjoy the show. With it being the 8th of November already, and a winter storm warning in the forecast (predicted to start tonight), this might very well be the final summit opportunity on foot until early next summer. There was no way I could pass that up.
I made it to the top (Red Lady - 12,392 ft) well before the sun actually rose, 6:05 AM to be exact. After taking a few photos, I took a seat to enjoy the show. With it being the 8th of November already, and a winter storm warning in the forecast (predicted to start tonight), this might very well be the final summit opportunity on foot until early next summer. There was no way I could pass that up.
After about 10 minutes on top, I started to get cold. There was a steady breeze and the temperature had to be in the single digits or lower. So instead of watching the sun actually come up from the summit, I decided that seeing if from lower on the ridge, where I was protected from the wind, would be a better idea. With that, down I went. Hurrying to get the blood flowing and my hands to warm up.
My left hip. Well, I should have known better than to rush down a steep, slightly technical ridge in near darkness (without a headlamp). Near the top of the mountain there is a very steep pitch that is littered with loose gravel. Before I could react, my feet came out from under me and I went down hard. In the process I threw my left arm back to gram hold of something and not slide down any further and as I hit the ground I felt my shoulder pop.
My first reaction was: "I hope I can still skate ski this weekend if we actually get the snow that's predicted". And then I thought, "ouch.. that hurt". After I got up, moved my arm around to make sure nothing was serious, I continued down the mountain. After about a mile, I could feel my hip throbbing and it felt warm. So I stopped to check it out, and sure enough, there was a nice bloody gash there. Falling on rocks while running down a mountain is probably not the best idea.
Anyway, other than a sore shoulder and scraped up hip, the run was a success. It was my 3rd mountain summit of the week, second of which I saw the sunrise from, and tomorrow winter will likely arrive and bury the peaks until spring. I have no complaints, a little blood and a sore shoulder are not enough to ruin a nice morning on the trails. I just have to remember I said that when I wake up tomorrow morning...
My first reaction was: "I hope I can still skate ski this weekend if we actually get the snow that's predicted". And then I thought, "ouch.. that hurt". After I got up, moved my arm around to make sure nothing was serious, I continued down the mountain. After about a mile, I could feel my hip throbbing and it felt warm. So I stopped to check it out, and sure enough, there was a nice bloody gash there. Falling on rocks while running down a mountain is probably not the best idea.
Anyway, other than a sore shoulder and scraped up hip, the run was a success. It was my 3rd mountain summit of the week, second of which I saw the sunrise from, and tomorrow winter will likely arrive and bury the peaks until spring. I have no complaints, a little blood and a sore shoulder are not enough to ruin a nice morning on the trails. I just have to remember I said that when I wake up tomorrow morning...
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