Capturing the Art of Nature
Farrer Peak
A lovely Day for a hike but too many were on the trail turning it to ice
Category
Serendipitous Discoveries
Summits on the Air
2019
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It was 4 years ago during the first week of March, just like today, that I last visited the summit. On that day the weather was mild and even a bit warm, the ground was dry and we had a great time hiking and operating from the summit. So it was with that expectation that I got my car ready for the drive and my gear organized for the hike. We left home at 9:30 and made quick time to the park entrance. It was there that we got our first indication of potential trouble.
Upon arriving at the park we noticed that snow was still covering the area and was several inches deep. The overflow parking area which is closer to the trail head was closed off due to snow and we had to drive to the main lot. There we saw lots of people milling around and getting ready for their walk through the trails. I noticed that many had spikes on their boots! An ominous sign. We got ready and started for the trail, the next sign warned us of icy conditions and to be careful. The main trail was snow covered and well packed so it seemed like travel would be ok for our hike.
We soon crossed the lake on the floating bridge and then started up the Diez Vistas trail. It was covered with packed snow and in places it was well iced over. It made walking a challenge as one needed to place their feet very carefully. A chap on the way down said he had been to the first summit but indicated that he had needed his spikes. So that was not encouraging news. Not much further in, Ralph slipped on some ice and had a small tumble but we carried on as the trail had many clear patches as well. We were making decent time up and before long came by a chap cutting through a large tree that was across the trail. He was using an axe which seemed less than ideal but he was making good time with it and felt that packing gas and all was more work.
A ways past the tree we came to a sloped icy section of trail and now it was my turn to slip and fall. Fortunately the backpack helped and I went down on a padded pack. Not much further and we were at the col between the two rises where the power line crosses. The next section up was quite nice but it soon turned back to snow and we were walking carefully the rest of the walk. Before long we came to the steepest section of the hike and here the ice was just too treacherous for us to safely continue. Coming down would be even worse. So we regrettably turned around and at a safe spot stopped to eat lunch before continuing.
Once we were back to the col we opted to use a second trail for rest of the way down. This was recommended to us by the tree cutter as being a bit less travelled, less steep and hence would have less ice. It proved to be true and though longer, we made good time back to the bottom trail along the lake. Soon we were crossing the bridge and on the final section of trail to the car.
Once back at the car we cleaned up and got ready for driving. First though, Ralph wanted to find a memorial bench that was placed in the dog park area for his nephew. We drove to the closer end of the parking lot and then we walked to the dog park, the bench was easy to spot and I grabbed a few photos of it with Ralph. The rest of the walk back to the car and the drive home went without issue.
So we failed to reach the summit and do any radio operating but safety is more important that a few points. So we plan to return in a few weeks and will bring some spikes in case the trail is still icy.