I expected someone would ask that - just not so quickly.
Tony wasn't at all keen on going back at first. The south ridge really is the mother of all bushwhacks. Not just the thickness of the bush, the sheer volume of it to fight through for hour after hour. He's come round a bit lately however. It probably won't be next summer but when we do go, it'll be via walking H-60D rather than the ridge above.
Memories of bushwacking always seem to fade with time(like pain!). You will probably be able to convince Tony and yourself to try again by next summer. ;-)
Good TR. Thanks
Bill
Great TR in all, but I really liked the closing, which is always the hardest part.
I also like that you're not afraid to document your "failures." It takes character to do that when there is so much pride invested in success.
Next summer, I may retry one of my own failures in Wyoming. The weather was bad and the rock was a nightmare, and we couldn't see more than 50 feet or so above us. I'm going to hope for good weather, guts, and a friendly line.
It's nice to have reports that include not reaching the summit - a list of trip reports on this site that only described "successful" trips would certainly not give an accurate picture of how this whole enterprise works.
I wonder how many appreciate the point. And who cares about a summit anyway. Just being in the mountains is surely enough. (I'm lying through my teeth of course - that 30 metres p***ed me off mightily).
I really enjoyed your trip report - I think you have to live on the west coast to truly understand the ugliness (and moral sucking) of the coastal bushwhack.
LOL. At my age memories of 2nd base etc are beginning to fade. Not so with bushwacks I'm afraid. I also wish that my peregrinations around the bases of my youth had lasted half as long as this particular bushwack did!
Very well done account and I thank you. I went into Tahsis briefly on my 2009 trip and looked longingly at Conuma, but there simply wasn't time. I did get the boat into the water and ran down Quatsino Sound. Wonderful country and I like it more every time I visit. Quatsino story at: http://gogittum.com/blog/?cat=95
Locally, I've done Cooke's Peak twice in the past year and am aiming at the Florida Peaks near Deming, NM next week.
Arthur Digbee - Dec 3, 2008 6:35 am - Voted 10/10
thanks!Your TRs are always a pleasure.
Are you going back?
vancouver islander - Dec 3, 2008 10:37 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: thanks!Thanks Arthur.
I expected someone would ask that - just not so quickly.
Tony wasn't at all keen on going back at first. The south ridge really is the mother of all bushwhacks. Not just the thickness of the bush, the sheer volume of it to fight through for hour after hour. He's come round a bit lately however. It probably won't be next summer but when we do go, it'll be via walking H-60D rather than the ridge above.
Cheers,
Martin
mvs - Dec 3, 2008 10:30 pm - Voted 10/10
You've gotta go backWe're all invested now, don't leave us here! :-).
vancouver islander - Dec 3, 2008 10:52 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: You've gotta go backOh God - do I have too? I suppose I do. (See reply to Arthur above).
Anytime all that apfelkuchli, kirschtorte, kaffe u kuchen usw get too much, PNW bush is still here waiting for you :)
Thanks for reading my story Michael.
Bill Kerr - Dec 4, 2008 9:26 pm - Voted 10/10
BushwackingMemories of bushwacking always seem to fade with time(like pain!). You will probably be able to convince Tony and yourself to try again by next summer. ;-)
Good TR. Thanks
Bill
vancouver islander - Dec 4, 2008 11:09 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: BushwackingMemories of the pain involved in this one haven't quite faded yet Bill. I'll have to see how the old body feels about it next summer.
Glad you enjoyed the story.
Bob Sihler - Dec 4, 2008 11:44 pm - Voted 10/10
Great closing linesGreat TR in all, but I really liked the closing, which is always the hardest part.
I also like that you're not afraid to document your "failures." It takes character to do that when there is so much pride invested in success.
Next summer, I may retry one of my own failures in Wyoming. The weather was bad and the rock was a nightmare, and we couldn't see more than 50 feet or so above us. I'm going to hope for good weather, guts, and a friendly line.
Cheers!
Bob Sihler - Dec 4, 2008 11:58 pm - Voted 10/10
By the way...It was this mountain I refer to as my failure and target for redemption. Actually, a good deal of this story sounds like yours!
vancouver islander - Dec 5, 2008 7:57 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: By the way...That's one I missed Bob. Glad you pointed it out since it's a great story.
Some remarkable similarities, even the Mike/Tony roles.
I'm glad you enjoyed my TR as, indeed, you always seem to. I'll endeavour to keep them coming provided you do the same :)
Cheers,
Martin
WoundedKnee - Jan 6, 2009 10:47 am - Voted 10/10
Enjoyed itIt's nice to have reports that include not reaching the summit - a list of trip reports on this site that only described "successful" trips would certainly not give an accurate picture of how this whole enterprise works.
vancouver islander - Jan 6, 2009 3:28 pm - Hasn't voted
Quite trueI wonder how many appreciate the point. And who cares about a summit anyway. Just being in the mountains is surely enough. (I'm lying through my teeth of course - that 30 metres p***ed me off mightily).
Thanks for reading.
Cheers, Martin
AJones - Mar 15, 2009 12:40 am - Voted 10/10
Great trip reportI really enjoyed your trip report - I think you have to live on the west coast to truly understand the ugliness (and moral sucking) of the coastal bushwhack.
vancouver islander - Mar 20, 2009 12:56 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Great trip reportThanks Alan. Good to see you back and active on SP again.
Cheers, Martin.
vancouver islander - Mar 26, 2009 2:23 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Grim Bushwacks...LOL. At my age memories of 2nd base etc are beginning to fade. Not so with bushwacks I'm afraid. I also wish that my peregrinations around the bases of my youth had lasted half as long as this particular bushwack did!
Cheers,
Martin
larrybourne - Jul 19, 2012 9:13 pm - Hasn't voted
Well DoneVery well done account and I thank you. I went into Tahsis briefly on my 2009 trip and looked longingly at Conuma, but there simply wasn't time. I did get the boat into the water and ran down Quatsino Sound. Wonderful country and I like it more every time I visit. Quatsino story at: http://gogittum.com/blog/?cat=95
Locally, I've done Cooke's Peak twice in the past year and am aiming at the Florida Peaks near Deming, NM next week.
Keep up the good work. Lar.