I messed up my back recently and had to take a few weeks off from hiking. I got back out on Monday and made it up Relay Pk. and Mt. Houghton, two easy nearby peaks.

On Friday, my back was much better, so I did the Mt. Rose, Church Pk., Mt. Houghton, and Relay Pk. “fourfer”. Again, all easy local peaks over 10,000 feet.

I wouldn't normally bother with a trip report, but Relay Pk. brought my lifetime total to 1,500 summits over 10,000 feet. My lifetime success rate is 98.88%. 657 consecutive successes since I got blown off of Mt. Shasta 11½ years ago. I usually hike and climb alone, so over 74% of those summits were solo. In fact, there has been only one time when I wasn't alone on Relay Pk. My partners that day were the Bulldog family. I think about you guys every time I'm up there.

Glad to read that the back is working itself out. Guys like you who spend an enormous amount of time in the mountains don't usually have a sit-down hobby -- like jewelry making(my favourite) as a fall back

You and Bob R can go neck-to-neck on those statistics; he has spread sheets documenting his decades of summits, buddies, etc.

In passing, it would be nice to know where, how, when (and why??) I have taken on summits....but...it would read like this:

"Today, we attempted Mt Lola for the 4th?? time, but once again, I became distracted by the meadow below, tracked the bears from a distance, had a picnic, took a nap, and wandered by to camp. Be back again"

Contrats, Bob! Glad the back is mending. Back trouble has shut me down in the past.

Bob, that is just an incredible number - 1500 10K-plus summits! Congratulations! We still talk about that day we were with you for the "7.0 summit", as well as the hospitality you showed us in your home and with your horses. Bri still asks me from time to time how Rooney is. That was a really fun trip for us, and in Bri's mind the horses more than made up for the XC descent we took on hike day that scared her half to death!

And I'm very relieved your consecutive summit streak is still going strong, especially after my being the one to nearly wreck it a few years ago on that climb of Cathedral. It not only speaks to your ability, but to your judgment on when to pull the trigger. You evaluate weather and conditions as carefully as anyone I've ever been in the mountains with, and that goes a long way in keeping a streak like that alive.

Sorry to hear about your back, but glad to know you're past it. Hope to catch up with you this coming year for a mountain or two.

Gary

You must've just beat the snow to get these done before winter.

Congratulations.

Gary: The horses are doing great. Roonie still spends most of his time annoying Hubble and making mischief. He is a total goofball! The streak of summits is more a reflection of persistence and determination than ability. It's only 40 minutes to the trailhead for Relay, Houghton, Rose, and Church, so I can go often, pick my conditions, and usually get home in time to ride. When I do harder stuff like Whitney in January or Thunder, I plan very carefully before I go. I waited several years for the right conditions for the MR in January, and I postponed my Thunder Mountain trip three times because of weather. If you can get away from Marriot this summer, we'll have to climb something together.

SierraNevada: Yes, I did barely beat the snow. I'm probably going back up there on Friday. I'll bring ski poles, gaiters, and Micro Spikes (which I'm pretty sure I won't need), and I may settle for two summits instead of four. Gotta take what the defense gives you.

Edit: I did the fourfer again on Friday. There was just enough snow to be a real nuisance. I didn’t need gaiters or spikes, but ski poles (which I didn’t take) would have been handy on the icy sections.