Capturing the Art of Nature
Mt Woodside with Rain
The rain made for a very wet and short stay on the summit
Category
Serendipitous Discoveries
Summits on the Air
2020
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It is funny how one’s plans can change so dramatically at the last moment. I had planed to hike Mt Agassiz on Saturday, but weather changed those plans once again. My story for hiking Agassiz really begins last year. Ralph and I had planned to hike the summit a year ago, we had watched the weather and felt the day was a bit risky but should be fine for the time we would be out there. So, we set off and arrived at the parking spot. After gearing up in an overcast day we set off into the trees. About a quarter way along the route we were hit with heavy hail and sleet. It just seemed to be getting heavier and the ground was soon deep in white stuff and as we were picking our way through mature forest, we both felt it was getting dangerous to continue. So, we aborted and returned to the truck now covered in an inch of hail! We decided we would try again a few weeks later but when we returned we found the road gated and we were unable to hike Agassiz last year.
Zoom forward to this week and I really wanted to get back there and try again if the gate was open. So, after watching the weather reports each day for a week all were saying it would be a pleasant day for the hike I was hopeful that the gate would be open and I could activate the summit. Now the night before the hike the weather forecast started to show poor weather and come Saturday morning rain was certain! But as we left the house the day was still only cloudy so off, we went. As we approached the logging road the rain started! Light at first but as we gained elevation it got heavier; it was now clear that we weren’t hiking Agassiz but I still wanted to check the gate. We soon gained the upper slope of Woodside which continues to Agassiz and we made good time. I was amazed at how quickly the pot holes were filling with water! We eventually reached the gate having just missed being plowed into by a small truck careening around a bend! He sure would have gotten a good scare!
Well the gate was open, the path free to use, but the weather once again sided with the mountain against us puny human hikers. So, we turned back and set off for the access road to the summit of Woodside. This road is getting quite overgrown and offers the driver a good selection of pinstriping for any vehicle that they choose to bring up here. By now the rain was getting quite heavy and the branches were dumping their heavy loads on us as we brushed past. Soon we had gained the upper clearing next to the abandoned microwave repeater. I pulled up beside the old building and parked. Now I had to get out and decide where to set up my radio. In the end I decided to work under a tarp with one end secured to the back of the truck and the other to poles which are part of a mast. Not an ideal set up for SOTA but even with this I was getting quite wet in the thick rain.
Soon the tarp was secure and Nick who was with me went back to the cab of the truck to wait out my foolish adventure. Soon I had the yagi and radio set up and I was ready for calling. It was about then that a loud thunderclap was heard, and it wasn’t far away. Now I was ponding my options because I was not in a smart place. Consider where I parked – next to an abandoned metal building that was used for a repeater. Next to it and still connected is a 100-foot metal tower. It all may be well grounded, but should I really be here?? Fortunately, it was the only clap and so I started making some calls in the rain while keeping an ear out for any more thunder. I managed 8 soggy contacts, they were all quite clear and so I felt that things actually worked out fairly well. I had originally planned to be here in the sun and have time to do some higher power HF work, but today in the rain changed those grandiose plans in a hurry. Once I had enough contacts logged I was ready to pack up, especially since I wasn’t sure that the lightning storm was over. Before I unplugged a few more responded to my requests and I ended with 8 logged contacts.
Even though it didn’t take long to close-up shop, the rain continued to fall and make what was still dry, wet. I really had had enough of this activation and was glad to be packed up and in the cab. I wasn’t overly cold but definitely quite damp. The drive back down the access road seemed like a different road than the one we ascended and hour earlier. The road was deep in water, in places that had been dry before! We finally got back to the mainline and started down to the highway. As we dropped down the rain lessened and by the time we reached the road it was barely falling. A third of the way home the skies were bright and clearing! So, I guess I can comfortably say that the summit was definitely being difficult again this year. But I will give it another try in a week or two – if the weather looks good!