Yet Another Father/Son MR-MT Trip - 08/23/10 02:07 PM
During the Candlelight Peak group hike my son Mike secured an invite to do the MR-MT loop from RichardP. Richard emailed me and told me to pretty much pick any date and he would guide us. Mike had already done a MT trip as an overnight and one as a dayhike. We are working on hiking San Jacinto via every trail head possible so I think that got him thinking about trying the MR.
We set the date and as promised Richard met us at the Portal. Mike fished the pond all day Saturday while I hung out near the store. We set a 0400 start time and Mike and I slept in the bed of my truck behind the store.
Right on time we took off up the trail. Richard had Mike led most of the way and for the most part Mike did a decent job with only minor course corrections from Richard. Before the E ledges Richard took the lead, but there wasn't much to see via headlamp.
The rest of the morning was just UPHILL with generous breaks peppered in. The wind blew hard in our faces until the last water stop. Above Iceberg Lake I was feeling sluggish, but Mike and Richard were going strong. Once we got into a shaded section and I could see the Notch I felt better and was able to keep up. Richard gave Mike detailed instructions on the final 400 and led it. Mike did what he was told and I followed. I have a decent fear of heights and it didn't bother me at all. Mike says he was nervous, but didn't show it.
We hit the hut in a little over nine hours and there was some concern about getting burgers from the store. Mike set a quick pace down the MT (left us old folks a couple times) and Richard showed us three alternate routes that got us into the Portal with plenty of time to spare to place our order. We were hiking about 15 hours.
I am thankful for Richard's invite and very proud of my 13 year old boy...................................DUG
We set the date and as promised Richard met us at the Portal. Mike fished the pond all day Saturday while I hung out near the store. We set a 0400 start time and Mike and I slept in the bed of my truck behind the store.
Right on time we took off up the trail. Richard had Mike led most of the way and for the most part Mike did a decent job with only minor course corrections from Richard. Before the E ledges Richard took the lead, but there wasn't much to see via headlamp.
The rest of the morning was just UPHILL with generous breaks peppered in. The wind blew hard in our faces until the last water stop. Above Iceberg Lake I was feeling sluggish, but Mike and Richard were going strong. Once we got into a shaded section and I could see the Notch I felt better and was able to keep up. Richard gave Mike detailed instructions on the final 400 and led it. Mike did what he was told and I followed. I have a decent fear of heights and it didn't bother me at all. Mike says he was nervous, but didn't show it.
We hit the hut in a little over nine hours and there was some concern about getting burgers from the store. Mike set a quick pace down the MT (left us old folks a couple times) and Richard showed us three alternate routes that got us into the Portal with plenty of time to spare to place our order. We were hiking about 15 hours.
I am thankful for Richard's invite and very proud of my 13 year old boy...................................DUG