Jerry Pilson
A website thoughtfully crafted with Sandvox
Site Navigation
[Skip]
Home
Madulce Peak photos
Audio clip: From 7 years age
Everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink
1st day’s path. We failed to make the peak; red arrow
I wanted to start before sun up; you can see we were 1 hour late
I packed way too much in my backpack…..
MOVIE: The trail Welcome signs. All freash and egar to go. Tomorrow’s video will be different.
The beginning is a great clear hiking trail
There were over 30 creek crossings, about 1/2 had water
I made it across all, but..
I took it slow and easy..
My balance is not great, and a 40 lbs backpack does not help
Some crossings the rocks was covered in grass
At 3 miles, a picnic table, and the end of the trail maintenance
From here on, the trail went from bad to worse to worser...
Still in the valley
MOVIE: The way ahead
Even the dry creek beds required going down & back up steep banks
In this picture, the start of Heartbreak hill looks flat, until you realize that is the midday sun
Finally the top of Heartbreak Hill
MOVIE: Never return ???
Madulce camp is the clear spot around that tree. Thats it, nothing else
There is water at Madulce, which we purified and used
The trail from here got worse. Dave is just ahead of me
These acorn bushes had grown over the trail
In a few places the trail was open
Sun going down, & we are a long way from the peak
We had to stop and camp in the middle of the trail
MOVIE: Stetting up camp in the dark by flashlight
Packing up the next morning
Next morning, we ran into this
MOVIE: Bigger than it looks
Audio Clip: No good alternatives
Here are some of the other trail obstacles we had to overcome on the way up & back
Crossing these with a 40 lbs backpack is not as easy as it may look
Trees like this you had to crawl under
Some low hanging bushes you also had to crawl under
Back overlooking Heartbreak Hill
MOVIE: Back to where I said I would never come
Audio Clip: 7 miles and over 30 damn creek crossings to go
Dave makes this look easy; - it is not easy
Unlike this one, many dry crossings were much wider & filled with rocks
The welcoming signs are now the end of the trail, and a very long day
Movie: The end is different than the beginning
The Buckhorn Saloon is 30 minutes away
A beer & burger helped; but not much
Failure today; but there is always next time, which I am already planning
Click here to return to the INDEX
© Jerry Pilson 2019
[Back To Top]
