tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post2622991368655621098..comments2024-03-28T18:44:08.125-07:00Comments on The Forty-Five: 2022 Mt. Whitney Day 4A: Colby Lake to Junction Meadow - Colby PassToirdhealbheach Beucailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-38723138528851101612022-09-30T18:49:17.858-07:002022-09-30T18:49:17.858-07:00Partially, yes - even if it just makes me more con...Partially, yes - even if it just makes me more conscious of them.Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-40686831590374476332022-09-29T20:17:30.106-07:002022-09-29T20:17:30.106-07:00Aaahhh... is this a glimpse into some of the insig...Aaahhh... is this a glimpse into some of the insights you had on this hike?Beckihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16940604077427078249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-36563321219460674172022-09-23T05:44:03.591-07:002022-09-23T05:44:03.591-07:00Becki, I have always come to worry about the desce...Becki, I have always come to worry about the descents - I am far more likely to injure myself going down than going up.<br /><br />Passes make for beautiful photos, partially because you can see both ways at almost the same time. It does make me wonder what the passes of actual life are.Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-34468756393559650852022-09-22T21:39:24.362-07:002022-09-22T21:39:24.362-07:00Now I'm starting to worry about the descent. ...Now I'm starting to worry about the descent. Rugged terrain. And yes, a beautiful last picture, TB.Beckihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16940604077427078249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-67447117869288281692022-08-31T06:21:21.604-07:002022-08-31T06:21:21.604-07:00Thanks John. The vistas really make themselves - ...Thanks John. The vistas really make themselves - I just point the phone and click.Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-40880043397232412702022-08-30T20:24:15.961-07:002022-08-30T20:24:15.961-07:00Excellent view on that last shot.Excellent view on that last shot.John Wilderhttps://wilderwealthywise.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-90957927561802253902022-08-30T16:46:42.525-07:002022-08-30T16:46:42.525-07:00Linda, it does indeed sometimes feel like the trai...Linda, it does indeed sometimes feel like the trail builders thought of getting there first, physical risk second.Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-27834886146547144302022-08-30T16:46:06.106-07:002022-08-30T16:46:06.106-07:00Ed, pitch had a lot to do with it. I ended up hav...Ed, pitch had a lot to do with it. I ended up having blisters on the pad of my right foot (really the ball) and the outer heel of my left foot. This was, in retrospect, 100% due to how I walked on the trails. Especially with the smaller more rounded trails, I could definitely feel myself building a blister on the left heel.<br /><br />I did catch my little toes in time; and minimized damage on the right foot. The left one literally appeared one day without warning.Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-45985007209387129172022-08-30T16:44:02.602-07:002022-08-30T16:44:02.602-07:00Thanks John. I am looking for ways to improve phy...Thanks John. I am looking for ways to improve physical conditioning for next year, which is likely a harder hike.<br /><br />Moleskin comes highly recommended by every guide I have had.Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-9963166710015425642022-08-30T10:24:03.898-07:002022-08-30T10:24:03.898-07:00I had well broken in boots too. I think it is just...I had well broken in boots too. I think it is just the pitch causing your foot to slide forward all the time that heats things up causing the blisters. (When going uphill, the pitch pushes your foot back into the heal support and prevents sliding.) I have since learned to stop whenever I feel things heating up and alleviate the problem before it gets worse. Lacing up the boots extra tight before starting downhill helps as well.Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13214319366049620074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-53232740424700745682022-08-30T08:26:21.323-07:002022-08-30T08:26:21.323-07:00Well done. Your physical and mental preparations h...Well done. Your physical and mental preparations helped make it a success and it speaks well also for your mental toughness. <br /><br />I've not yet used it, but our hiking first aid kit contains some sticky moleskin for blisters. <br />John in Phillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16196033252818387245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-69998947289798722332022-08-30T07:04:22.924-07:002022-08-30T07:04:22.924-07:00Gorgeous pictures of God's creation, TB. But a...Gorgeous pictures of God's creation, TB. But all I saw were a lot of ways to fall or twist an ankle, so kudos to you on your achievement!<br />You all be safe and God bless. LindaGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12203719919661519350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-323945195080927552022-08-30T06:30:26.531-07:002022-08-30T06:30:26.531-07:00Ed, I did the same thing two or three times headin...Ed, I did the same thing two or three times heading up. I had the same issue during the final ascent of Tanner Trail at the Grand Canyon. I finally simply stopped looking and did not get interested until I saw the tree line. Then I knew I was close.<br /><br />I ended up with two blisters, which was a bit surprising as I had "broken" these shoes in. Not enough, apparently.Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-41920070100015304632022-08-30T06:28:56.278-07:002022-08-30T06:28:56.278-07:00STxAR, well done you! One thing I have honestly f...STxAR, well done you! One thing I have honestly found is that if I just go into something without fully researching how hard it is, I am likely to do better than if I studied and realized how truly difficult it might be.<br /><br />Switchbacks seem largely dependent on who build them and when they were built. Apparently newer trails are being built with slightly more forgiving grades.Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-29636679868113122182022-08-30T06:26:54.243-07:002022-08-30T06:26:54.243-07:00Nylon12, thank you. That pass picture is only sli...Nylon12, thank you. That pass picture is only slightly exaggerated by the angle I used to take it.Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-11638811335551196752022-08-30T06:26:33.662-07:002022-08-30T06:26:33.662-07:00I am reminded of a hike many years ago when I was ...I am reminded of a hike many years ago when I was climbing up to I think a place called Windy Gap, much like Colby Pass. The big difference is that about four or five times I would look up and see the "top" only to get to that point and realize that it was just the skyline and before me was a lot more uphill. Eventually like you I conquered Windy Gap and thought I had achieved it all... until on the way down the backside when I got the blister of all blisters that haunted me for the rest of that trip.Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13214319366049620074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-63419439816425392802022-08-30T06:03:21.044-07:002022-08-30T06:03:21.044-07:00Those are tough but rewarding. That is something ...Those are tough but rewarding. That is something that will make you or break you. Had to reach deep to make that I'll bet. And found there was more to you than even you knew? Excellent.<br /><br />I climbed a mountain to get to a repeater shack. It took hours to go straight up via the switchback method. Loose shale. Very tough sledding for a coastal flatlander. I was in decent shape. I'd just hiked well over six miles in one day with the the boy scout troop. I was encourage to rent a helicopter to make the ascent, but I hoofed it. I though my heart would explode. Oxygen at altitude isn't a thick as at 200 feet ASL. <br /><br />I made it. The way down took 15 minutes. I passed the truck, and had to do switchbacks to get back to it. Another 15 minutes. I rented helicopters after that. <br /><br />I realized I wasn't as weak minded as I thought. If I could get my head around it, I could usually get it done.STxARhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04588850178293194825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-22725939853923107092022-08-30T05:18:16.207-07:002022-08-30T05:18:16.207-07:00Got tired just looking at those photos TB, kudos t...Got tired just looking at those photos TB, kudos to climbing Colby Pass. That last photo.....whew!Nylon12noreply@blogger.com