Wasn't a battery problem as it showed a full charge. It seemed the CCD was just not waking up. I had had this happen before and it had righted itself later so I didn't resign myself to a picture less day just yet.
A short while later, as the sky began to lighten, I decided to try again. This time the preview screen did wake up. I have tentatively concluded that, in certain circumstances, unless the CCD is getting enough light it just won't turn on.
The first mile or so of the trail follows the path of an old logging railroad and is a nice easy grade. There was little snow on the ground and Rambler and I made good progress as we chatted and tramped. Turning off the railroad grade onto the Osseo trail we made our way into the woods. Still an easy grade for quite a while and I was doing fairly well, I figured I might last the day out after all.
After the trail turned to follow the side of the valley up to the ridge the grade increased. It was still far from steep, but my body was not liking it and I was getting out of breath too quickly. We picked up some animal tracks on the trail and followed them for quite a distance. The small prints, about an inch across, showed four toes with extended claw points and a central pad. We mused on what the maker was, maybe a fox?
On one of my, by now, frequent rest and sip stops I noticed it was 8am. I wrote in the snow the time and our names so the following groups would know we were ahead and by how far. Not ten minutes later Farmer Bob and ? catch up to us. We stop again for a chat, sip and a nibble. Then, just as we are about to start off again another bigger group catches up. More introductions, chat, sipping and munching ensue. I suggest it's an opportunity for a group picture but we decide to wait until later. I should have insisted as it's the last I'll see these of these guys for the day and probably the time most people were in one spot.
I tell Rambler he doesn't have to stay with me and that I'll wait for Sherpa and a couple others to catch up to me. Perhaps their pace will one I can keep up with. The group heads off and I have not ambled far when Sherpa's crew catches up. Another stop and chat and then off again. I tell them I'm suffering more than usual and to not wait for me but they do a couple of times anyway. I just can't keep going and have to make frequent stops. I tell them I often hike alone and I don't want to hold anyone back so they should just keep going.
As I head up the trail into the switchbacks I catch voices on the wind from above. I'm struggling but I'd rather be out in the woods than sniffling in front of the TV! I make the most of the stops and take in the views, the trees, the sounds, the solitude. The sun comes and goes and it is quite a pleasant day considering the earlier forecasts.
My pace slows further as I reach the ladders. They are pretty snowed over and iced up but with plenty of folk having gone before me I have well defined boot holds to follow and I forgo the crampons that I would have donned otherwise. Above the ladders I find a message in the snow. "Hi Bob! 10:30" I check the time and it's 11am so I have fallen behind by around 30 minutes - less than I had expected.
The gradient above the ladders eases but I'm still huffing and puffing. Not too far off the summit I hear noise behind and turn to find Chris (clg898) and his friend Alan catching up to me. Chris says he is undecided as to whether to return by way of the Osseo or to push on to Liberty and do the traverse, hoping to get a ride back to Lincoln Woods. They push on to Flume and are soon lost to sight.
I finally scale a short icy rock scramble to have a view of the side of Flume summit and the wind revealed to me. The narrow, icy path that leads to the summit sits between the stunted scrubby trees and the cliff edge. I decide now is a good time for crampons. As I am fitting them on I spy Chris and Alan returning. They say the wind is fierce on top and there are clouds rolling through. They have decided to return the way they came, partly because of the uncertainty of a ride at the other end. I wish them good luck, thinking the ladders will be particularly nasty to descend. Crampons on I push on.
Having gone only a short way I turn and see another lone hiker at the first ledge. We shout to each other over the wind until my voice is hoarse. It is BoB (not Bob) who has just conquered the Flume Slide. No mean feat in the best of conditions. I wait while he catches up to me and we push on together to the summit of Flume which is only a short ways off.
BoB dons an outer shell while I am still comfortable in my Marmot Dryclime jacket. I am a hot hiker and this jacket, with just a wicking undershirt and lightweight fleece, has me toasty in pretty cold conditions. The jacket is windproof but breathable enough not to sweat up a storm.
BoB also has yet to decide between descending via the Osseo or completing the loop via the Liberty Springs trail. I tell him that the ladders on the Osseo are a tad iffy and that distance wise Liberty Springs is a little shorter and probably an easier descent. I also tell him that from a personal perspective knowing I'll have a ride when I finally get off the mountain would be a big comfort! BoB is swayed and as he re-layers I head off at a good clip to try and get some distance before he catches up and I slow him down.
The col between Flume and Liberty is over 500 feet and I groan a little at every step I take down knowing I'll have to retake each one up the other side. I have no breathing problems on the down and make good time off of Flume and at the start of the upside. BoB doesn't catch up to me until I get into my 50 steps or less and take a breather mode. He sticks with me until near the summit when he gets a little ahead.
Feels good to reach Liberty Summit knowing it's mostly downhill from here on out. I take some pictures, including the obligatory self portrait and then start down. I had taken my crampons off after leaving Flume summit but just off Liberty summit I find myself at the top of a short but very icy rock ledge. I dither, but err on the side of safety and struggle to get my crampons back on. My inflexible spine and the awkward spot I choose to tackle this task makes for hard work. With crampons and poles I edge my way down the rocks without incident.
It's very windy on the exposed summit so BoB had gone on and was waiting for me at the junction with the Liberty Springs trail. I keep my crampons on for the descent while Bob Bare boots it. With BoB having to be more cautious, and my ability to keep going on the downs, I have no trouble keeping up and we make good time.
We stop at the campsite junction for a sip. The Canadian Jays peep at us from the branches but go unfed for once. My right foot is pushing forward in my boot and I retighten the lacing before going on but I still get pressure on my little toe and feel a blister coming on.
I tell BoB he doesn't have to wait for me even though I am making better time. I expect someone from the earlier crew will either be waiting or popping back to see that I get off the mountain and a ride to my car and ask BoB to let them know I'm not far behind.
With my toe getting more uncomfortable, but not wanting to stop to try and remedy matters, I push on but at a slower pace. I meet a hiker heading up and he stops to chat. I think he is a little optimistic in his plan to summit Liberty starting this late in the day but say nothing. We talk a while and BoB gets quite a way ahead.
A little further down I reach a part of the trail tat resembles a stream bed with most of the snow washed out. I decide to remove my crampons, I should have waited a while. The trail gets icy again and I slow even further being more cautious. A little way after the Flume Slide trail junction I slip on an icy root and fall hard on my left arm. Better that than my back, but I wonder for a few moments whether it broke. Thankfully not and I get to my feet again. The trail is fairly level now so I don't put crampons back on, but the fall has made me even more cautious and I slow further. I hope BoB is patient and waits for me!
I finally reach the bike path and know it's not far to go, but that last 8 tenths of a mile are awful long. The trail leaves the level path and heads off into the woods doing many a small up and down squeezing the last vestiges of energy from my body. Just when I'm wondering if I'll ever reach the parking lot I see signs and vehicles through the trees.
BoB is there to greet me and his truck is running and toasty warm. I make it to the parking lot at around 4:15 - no headlamp required! Bob says Jaytrek57 had swung by to check for me. A big thank you for looking out for me guys. BoB runs me back to Lincoln Woods and waits long enough to be sure my car starts OK.
I head back to the motel grab a pathetic, but welcome, shower and change of clothes. I flop on the bed for 'a few minutes' but this turns into more than a few minutes and I don't make it down to the Woodstock Inn until a little after 6:30. I check every nook and cranny but it seems everyone has been and gone. Too slow again! Not wanting to beer and dine alone I head back to the motel. On the way I grab a frozen lasagna at a gas station and nuke this for dinner. When I finally crash I sleep for ten hours straight!
The end of another great day in the mountains. Yes, I suffered a little more than usual but that made the sense of achievement that little bit sweeter.
