Mount Blackmore

A #microadventure

By HONEST LINES

July 18^th, 2014

It had been too long.

Too many late nights in front of a desk instead of with the family. Too many early mornings—still in front of the desk, and completely missing the sunrise. The time was right. Family was safely spread out at camp and with cousins, work was light, and enough was enough.

I threw a few pieces of kit in a backpack, dug up a headlamp, and started up the canyon. It was already late when I hit the trailhead, but the weather was warm and the moon popped over the ridge just when I needed it. About four miles later, I stopped on the saddle between Blackmore and Elephant and set up my bedroom under the stars.

The alarm went off at 4:30. Packing up was quick and easy, and I started up the last bit of trail to be on the summit before sunrise. Having arrived in the dark, it was nice to be able to see the surrounding peaks and valleys in the early morning twilight. I couldn’t have felt any more grateful at that point to have this place in my backyard. I also couldn’t escape the painfully obvious question repeating through my brain:

Why don’t I do this more often?

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My only companions that morning where the few mountain goats hanging out on the northwest slope of the peak and a marmot who lived under the sign on the saddle. Comfortable in my human solitude, I pointed my feet downhill and hustled back down to the car. After a quick swim in the reservoir and a short drive home to clean up and change, I was at my desk at work, already planning the when and where of doing it all over again.