Mendenhall peak
Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2023 12:07 pm
I crossed another peak off my list. I couldn't remember why I hadn't bagged Mendenhall considering I've hiked a few others around the ridge. Anyways, after reading Tekewin's TR dated June 2015, I was inspired to do it.
I met my Wednesday group at Dillon Divide. We started at 7:30am and it was cool. But after the day's events, I wished we had started earlier. When we reached Highline saddle the weather started heating up.
We saw a rattlesnake and opted not to take the ridge ascent, opposite of what Tekewin did. Instead, we took the long, boring road around Mendenhall. On a positive note there were quite a few places to rest in the shade. We arrived at Mendenhall saddle and took a break.
Beyond this point the trail was overgrown but doable. It wasn't like the thick whitethorn that we battled through on Rose Peak. I forgot to put my gaiters on, and I got annoying sticky weeds all over my socks.
Along this route there were three washouts. Nothing too bad except for one gnarly section. It required us to carefully utilize a rock outcropping to boost ourselves up and over, to get back on the trail with a steep drop just below it. After walking a short distance, I found a use path just below an old foundation, and we followed it to the top.
On the peak we admired the views and checked out the abandoned structures. I didn't find a benchmark but someone placed a new register at the high point under some rocks.
There wasn't any trash by the water tank, as mentioned in Tekewin's report. So I'm glad someone cleaned it up.
It was at this moment, when I turned on my phone to see if I had a signal & call Sean, that I found out the devastating news about Colin. My heart sank and I said a prayer.
On the descent we took the steep firebreak which was very slippery and rocky. It started to get hotter but we had a cool breeze for part of the way.
Halfway into the descent one of my friends started having issues. After trying to help, I decided to call for medical attention.
We slowly made it back to Highline saddle and walked a short distance before help arrived. The paramedics attended to her and the rest of us walked back to the cars.
This has been an emotional past two weeks and today didn't make it any better.
Oh yeah, I found what looks like a benchmark descending the ridge route by the water tank.
I met my Wednesday group at Dillon Divide. We started at 7:30am and it was cool. But after the day's events, I wished we had started earlier. When we reached Highline saddle the weather started heating up.
We saw a rattlesnake and opted not to take the ridge ascent, opposite of what Tekewin did. Instead, we took the long, boring road around Mendenhall. On a positive note there were quite a few places to rest in the shade. We arrived at Mendenhall saddle and took a break.
Beyond this point the trail was overgrown but doable. It wasn't like the thick whitethorn that we battled through on Rose Peak. I forgot to put my gaiters on, and I got annoying sticky weeds all over my socks.
Along this route there were three washouts. Nothing too bad except for one gnarly section. It required us to carefully utilize a rock outcropping to boost ourselves up and over, to get back on the trail with a steep drop just below it. After walking a short distance, I found a use path just below an old foundation, and we followed it to the top.
On the peak we admired the views and checked out the abandoned structures. I didn't find a benchmark but someone placed a new register at the high point under some rocks.
There wasn't any trash by the water tank, as mentioned in Tekewin's report. So I'm glad someone cleaned it up.
It was at this moment, when I turned on my phone to see if I had a signal & call Sean, that I found out the devastating news about Colin. My heart sank and I said a prayer.
On the descent we took the steep firebreak which was very slippery and rocky. It started to get hotter but we had a cool breeze for part of the way.
Halfway into the descent one of my friends started having issues. After trying to help, I decided to call for medical attention.
We slowly made it back to Highline saddle and walked a short distance before help arrived. The paramedics attended to her and the rest of us walked back to the cars.
This has been an emotional past two weeks and today didn't make it any better.
Oh yeah, I found what looks like a benchmark descending the ridge route by the water tank.
