Mount Baldy Hike

I have some Friends that are pretty hardcore exerciser-ers/adventurist-ers and decided it would be a good idea to go hike Mount Baldy with them. Being completely out of shape and not having hiked at all in the last year, I had no idea what I was getting into nor that a grueling, leg shattering, hip exploding, shoulder jarring, Ibuprofen consuming, and just all around rather uncomfortable 10 miles would beat me to a near bloody pulp nigh unto death. But some how in a blistering feat of disproportionate amazinger-ness, I managed to make the hike, well mostly anyway, and was able to get some good shots out of it too. In order to not succumb to non hiking-ness, I had to borrow my buddy Phil's treking poles and eventually had to relinquish my burden of packable goods over to my friend Bob. If it weren't for him carrying my pack for me (in addition to his) I would have only made it halfway, and would have been forced to camp the night where I was and promptly return home the next morning. In retrospect, that seems like a not so bad option compared to what I went through, but I must admit in hindsight, that triumphing over defeat was every bit as good as average to mediocre everydaying-ness, which does not involve letting your friends carrying your burden on their shoulders for a moment, in order to execute self preservation. So in a round about way, it could be said that you can pick your friends, and while you usually can't pick their nose, you can let them carry your heavy rucksack while you follow behind and pick your own nose. With that in mind, the highlights of the trip were enjoying the pleasant weather in good company with the lack of snow in the middle of January, spending a semi quasi comfortable night up on the mountain, and not getting eaten alive by a mountain lion. All in all, it was an experience to remember. Nate

     Starting the hike......I'm already Lagging Behind

Mingling with the Aspens

After a few miles of sheer vertical humiliation Bob "volunteered" to carry my pack so I could keep up!

Bob enters a near zen like state as he prepares to attempt the elite french swedish technique of double packing (AKA shwanger panging) 

A much happier and lighter me. You would never guess that I was on the verge of complete annihilation from out-of-shapedness. My Pseudo DJ skills offered little help here

Higher up the view turned splendid

Phil contemplates a mad sprint to the top of Mount Baldy with his 70 lb pack in record time, but then realizes that he must take it slow so that he will have his strength when we get to the top and all have to beat the hell out of Sasquatch who may live there

Getting close to the top..... no not really.

Sunset's in

Looking down on Utah Valley

Phil and Bob easily made it to the summit of Mount Baldy and camped. With less than 1/8th of a mile to go I had a panic attack from my extreme fear of heights and refused to go any further. I turned around and slid back down the icy slope to the saddle just below where I camped alone for the night.

The next morning's view

Almost all the way back down. Resting so I can make the last couple miles home