05/09/09 Mile High Peak ~9.75mi +4000’

            There’s nothing like lazy day-hikes. The sun sets late so I rise late. I made the drive to Mile Hi Ave. in Eagle River. I started the hike at 3:45pm with a headache, but it faded with the miles. I headed up through cottonwoods in the sun. I reached the saddle in no time and descended into Meadow Creek Valley. The plants were still dormant, so the alders were bare, and the grasses were yellow. As summer begins the travel will no doubt get more cumbersome. Devils Clubs, Cow Parsnips, Alders, and Willows line the creek.  I stayed on the bench above Meadow Creek trying to avoid the tussocks, but it didn’t work. Tussocks everywhere.

            I realized I was out of shape as I started hiking up Mile High Peak itself. My mind wanted to go faster than my body would. Only 6.5 miles to go and I’m getting tired. It’s amazing what happens after 3 months of little physical activity. Slowly but surely I snuck up on the summit. Tundra turned to scree that turned to views. A good first summit for the summer (Summer starts in Alaska when the snow melts out of the yard). I snapped some pictures before heading down a half an hour later.

            The snow helped speed up the descent to Meadow Creek; plunge-stepping and glissading for 1500 feet. By this time I was flailing back down thinking about how I need to condition myself in the next couple weeks. Gravity brought me downhill as I followed a game trail through grasses. After a few miles of following the creek I crossed it and contoured up towards Mile-Hi Pass. The going was easy, but slippery the final half mile. I made it back to the car at 11:15. 7.5 hrs rt.