randomdreams: riding up mini slickrock (Default)
randomdreams ([personal profile] randomdreams) wrote2018-08-19 01:38 pm

(no subject)

Yesterday I got up at suicide-o-clock and met up with some coworkers, whereupon we all piled into one big SUV and drove up to Alma, Colorado, who are in a fight with Leadville over which of them is the highest incorporated city in the US.
We drove up above Alma to Kite Lake and piled right back out of the car, with a lot of yawning.
Here's the trailhead at 6 AM.
Mount Cameron at 6 AM
The trail's a fairly short, 30% climb up to a saddle, where we got our last good look at the local scenery.
Clinton Peak and Bartlett Mountain
The intent was to go one direction from the saddle up to the top of Mount Democrat, come back down, go up the other direction, and climb the three big mountains over there in a tight loop, then descend back to the car. But just after we got to the saddle the clouds rolled right over us.

Mount Democrat, 3400 meters, in a cloud
Here some of us are at the top.
Summit of Democrat
It was too cold and windy to hang out there, so we ran back down to the saddle point and hid in the rock wall that used to shelter a house for some poor people who were living at 3100 meters elevation trying to mine gold.
Now the only thing that lives there is a very social pika.
Better pika picture

The clouds were solidly in around us at that point, so we couldn't see if there were thunderheads, and it was snowing somewhat, and we decided to head back to the car rather than doing the other three.
Drat, but on the other hand, just before we got to the car the rain came in heavily and it got worse as we drove away.

I came home and fell asleep, then got a text from [personal profile] threemeninaboat that the Spitfire had stranded her. She got it towed home. The hydraulic clutch line has started leaking, so I have to replace the master cylinder to keep it shifting.
corvi: (Default)

[personal profile] corvi 2018-08-19 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
That is the best pika.
basefinder: (Default)

[personal profile] basefinder 2018-08-20 01:06 am (UTC)(link)
Nice!
rhiannonstone: (Default)

[personal profile] rhiannonstone 2018-08-20 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
Pika!

I'm impressed you were upright and ambulatory today.
ivy: Two strands of ivy against a red wall (Default)

[personal profile] ivy 2018-08-20 10:50 am (UTC)(link)
Way to go! (And I'm glad you could forewarn your coworkers about the likely weather conditions in time for them to prepare. I bet they're even gladder, haha.)
amaebi: black fox (Default)

[personal profile] amaebi 2018-08-20 11:46 am (UTC)(link)
Fo you all squeak to it?
amaebi: black fox (Default)

[personal profile] amaebi 2018-08-20 11:46 am (UTC)(link)
+1000
elainegrey: Inspired by Grypping/gripping beast styles from Nordic cultures (Default)

Late comments sound all "me, too"

[personal profile] elainegrey 2018-08-20 01:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Delightful pika, glorious morning, and hurrah for sensible weather preparation. Condolences on the spitfire.
elusis: (Default)

[personal profile] elusis 2018-08-20 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Sensible choices? J, do you need to have that old head injury checked? ;)
ranunculus: (Default)

[personal profile] ranunculus 2018-08-21 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
Great pics.
Never seen a pica quite so tame. Usually all I see/hear is the alarm call.
malterre: derpy bear (Default)

[personal profile] malterre 2018-08-21 02:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Love the pics! And the pika :)