This is just a big thank you to all of you out there who helped me brainstorm ideas for training in the bay area. Obviously, it all helped because we summited at 9:30 AM last Friday morning!!! It was a dream that was a year and a half in the making and a fitting tribute to my Mom's memory. She had bought me my pair of Lowa's last year so that I could climb last summer, but her health deteriorated and she passed away last June.
The weather turned away a few people before us (apparently they ran into some hail just past Trail Crest) and we were getting sliced in the face by ice crystals as we climbed the switchbacks, but we made it!!!! (not to mention our tent and a pair of pants I had hung to dry in our tent vestibule almost getting vandalized by a very curious marmot. )
Again, a very gracious thank you to all of you who suggested hikes, it all helped very much and I would not have been able to do it without the brain power of this message board!!
