So this weekend I intended to attempt my first hike to over 14,000 feet. I spent all week researching mountains to hike, made sure the forests were open, ate well, hydrated well, and then made the drive up on Friday morning to prepare for the big hike on Saturday. Friday I took things easy and just did some light rock scrambling around my campsite in Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, CA.
Off in the distance sat the mighty Sierras, clouded just a little bit in the haze of forest fire smoke. My greatest concern for this hike was of course the smoke. I could be prepared for the altitude and the challenge but my lungs burning from smoke inhalation would surely doom any summit attempt. But it really didnt look that bad up there so I figured it was still worth the old college try. So I ate my dinner while slowly mentally prepping myself for the day ahead and then got to bed real early, around 1945 with the intent to wake up at 0400. The night was SUPER windy and the nerves got to me so sleep wasnt the greatest. But I awoke ready to go like it was Christmas morning or something. The drive in the dark to the trailhead really was sombering to me, even without being able to see anything but my high beams in the dark desert. I felt the tingle of excitement and worry about the day ahead.
Screeching halt to that adventure though when I came across this rope about 1/4 mile into the trail. Remember, I was on the trail at 0530 with sunrise not occuring until 0700 so it was under headlamp and the assumption that I was going to actually do this trail. The above picture was from later on when the sun came up since my phone would have just revealed a black screen here otherwise lol. But anyways, I only first discovered the trail was closed after I packed all my things, got dressed for the day, and got past the mental worries to push on. So quite the upset to all of the preparation!
Now I said before that I researched this ahead of time and made sure that the trail was open. Well I was bamboozled by the internet and in my hastiness, I never quite read the fine print. Online, the only indication was “INYO NATIONAL FOREST IS OPEN AS OF 10/3/2020, WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS”. Well luck as it may be “some exceptions” meant 99% of hiking trails in the Eastern Sierras!!! After the fact I eventually found this map online but it wasnt immediately available on the forest website. I had assumed since the nearest active fire was over 100 miles away, it would be fine. But due to hot dry conditions, every wilderness area was kept closed out of an abundance of caution.
Well with the whole purpose of my trip trashed I guess my journey was ruined? Not so for me though! I may not have gotten in that high alpine hiking adventure I signed up for, but instead I enjoyed what I could and made the best of the day with some epic photos and some more rock scrambling.
Not the adventure that I intended but still an experience nonetheless. With the forest closure extending into December, that means my summit attempt is pushed off to next year. But at least now I have learned the valuable lesson of properly reading the fine print ahead of time. Plus figuring out the logistics and going through the preparation will only make this easier next time. Where I camped in the desert below at “only” 4000 feet is certainly not ideal compared to the campground I found right at the trailhead at 10000 feet. It worked out for how this particular trip went but next time, I will go the route of acclimation the night before even if it is quite colder up there:
Anyways, back to real life now at sea level where I can simply dream about the next trip up to the Sierras. Its likely to be for skiing next time at this point in the season but theres always next year for hiking and every year after that! Plus its not like I will be for any lack of hiking all winter right at home anyways:
