I can't sleep and this has been on my mind, so I'm going to share.
June 12, 2006
It's early and Katie and I had just summited Mt Lindsey (14,042ft) the day before. That was our 7th 14er we climbed together and even though it was tougher than we expected, we endured and made it (it was also Katie's first experience with exposure and an ice axe).
Now it's early and we head off up the mountain, it's a little windy, but with a 7am start the day looks wonderful! Today are aiming for Challenger Point and Kit Carson Peak. We notice a truck in the parking lot and hoof our way up the Willow Lake Trail (which is still the prettiest trail I've been on in CO after 350+ miles of hiking). We take breaks and spend time at the lake, it's amazing and at 12k feet we are making good time. We pass a one man tent just below the lake where we also pass a dozen or so big horn sheep playing with their young ones in the mountain meadow.
Above the lake is where the real climb begins and after 6 miles and 4500 vert feet Katie isn't liking the exposure and loose rock. As we approach 13k feet, Katie decides she's had enough, it's not that she's tired, she's just not a fan of the steep loose rock and now the winds starting to pick up in the cloudless sky. I tell her to go down just above the lake and I'll meet her there, I have time and the weather is cooperating so we make a plan and I head on solo. I told her I'd be back in 2 hours, don't worry till 3 though.
On a burst on energy, I make my way up Challenger Point with little problem. Challenger Point (14,081ft) was dedicated to those who lost their lives on the Space Shuttle Challenger and there is a memorial plaque at the top marking the summit. From there I head down and around the Kit Carson Avenue, a 6ft wide path around the southern part of the peak with vertical cliffs 600ft above and almost 2000ft below. Other than he 50mph winds the avenue was a breeze (literally
). I check the time and it's going on 1.5 hours since I left Katie. I head up to the Kit Carson summit (14,165ft) and enjoy some of the best views CO 14ers offer, simply amazing (but windy). I sign my name after Doug Beach, who made the summit earlier that day (and a name I will never forget).
On the Kit Carson Ave (lower left) with the Prow (middle) and Crestone Peak (right).
Challenger Point from the Kit Carson Ave with the San Luis Valley 7000ft below.
Now that the joy was over I headed down to Katie. I underestimated how long it took and it was approaching 2.5hrs. I went back up to the summit of Challenger Point (an extra 900 vert feet) because it was the quickest way to get back to her, even though there was a nice couloir with a easy 1000ft decent on mushy corn snow for a quick way down to the lake.
I made it back to Katie at the 3 hour mark. She was sleeping right where I left her and she was happy to see me so we could head down. She said she had a great time taking in the views and I was glad to see her in good spirits. On the decent down I started to really feel the 3 14ers, 24 miles and over 13000 vertical feet and became exhausted. We made it back to the car right at dusk just in time to meet search and rescue coming up. Katie packed up some stuff and I talked to SAR and we headed back to town (I ran over a rock in HER Acura Integra
on the way back to town and drained all the oil out of the pan. We were stuck in Crestone, CO for another 24 hours, but that's another story....)
Come to find out, Douglas Beach, a Navy Seal, WY firefighter, Black Belt, Father and Husband died while we were up there. We passed his truck (with a very detailed list of his plans on the dashboard), we passed his tent, and I'm sure I passed him twice somewhere up there. He died descending the NW slope, the spot with snow that I thought I could easily glissade down if I didn't have to re-climb Challenger Point for the 2nd time to meet up with Katie. SAR found his body two days later on the 14th.
If he had a SPOT, maybe he would still be alive. I could have been in his shoes without even thinking twice, the route he took looked very innocent. And it makes me think, by being prepared, sometimes the life you save may not be your own. I still think about the what if's and if he was still alive while we passed him later that day.
That was the first time I've "passed" a dead body on a mountain, there was a 2nd time since then, and I'm sure it won't be the last. My point is, being prepared has never hurt anyone. I've watched people die while trying to save their life, and it has impacted mine beyond belief (as I'm sure it has with Rob). I've also fallen down a loose rocky slope 200 ft and I have scars to remind me it can happen to anyone and it happens in a blink of an eye. But I won't stop doing what I love and Katie has never once asked me to stay at home because it's to dangerous. Life is to short to live in fear.
But, don't be stupid out there people. I still enjoy climbing today - solo - on peaks that are much more dangerous than Kit Carson, but I know my limits and take as many safety precautions (SPOT) that I can, because in the end, the mountains don't care.
Douglas B. Beach 1971-2006
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