On Ocotober 17th, we once again hit the Cascades.  Our goal for the day?  The 8,300'  summit of ST Helen's

ST Helen's from Campers Bivouac,
October17th, 1999

In an impressive show of the skills they had built over the summer, Donovan & Shelby climbed this mountain with a  vigor that impressed most other climbers.

Shelby & Donovan on Monitor Ridge,        October 17th 1999

The climb on Monitor Ridge was most decidedly a long trek.  Through out the climb both these young climbers pushed them selves higher on the scale of achievement.  The weather on climb could not have been better.  We started our climb around 8am and gave ourselves a turnaround time of 2pm, the summit or bust>

At 1pm we had made the soft sandy plateau at 7,500, figuring the remainder 800 feet could easily be made in an hour given our climb rate to the plateau.  We started our final push for the summit.  In an impressive show of the skills they had built over the summer, Donovan & Shelby climbed this mountain with a  vigor that impressed most other climbers.

  Alas it was not to be, about five hundred feet from the summit several wind storms started rolling over the top of the mountain.  We pushed forward for another couple hundred feet but when the gust started blowing me over it was time to start our decent.  As it was the wind had slowed our pace and visibility to a climb rate that made reaching the summit by 2pm a long shot................ So close and yet so far.... That's life.

Climbing Monitor Ridge <6,800'>
October 17, 1999

What's Next?

In June of 2,000 the children and I will attempt assent of the 11,239' Summit of MT Hood.  With a guide of course.

Mt Hoods 11,239' Summit
October1st, 1999