the anatomy of a trip gone awry, aka spitting crow feathers

M

mtwarden

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Sep 27, 2009
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the "plan" was to drive close to the Indian Flats Cabin (rented out by the USFS), shoe in, spend the night, shoe around the area, drive out

I knew the road could get a little iffy up top, but as there are microwave/comm towers I thought the main road would be maintained (plowed) and the cabin is only 3/4 of a mile off the main road

because I thought this was going to be a short hike in, I got a late start

it soon became apparent that the snow levels were quite a bit more than town, it also became apparent that the road hadn't been plowed in a long time (ever??)

I was pushing a lot of snow and as it was also steep up, I came to screeching halt- took a little time but got backed down aways and finally turned around and pointed downhill.

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not be deterred, I loaded up the pulk with my loadout (minus my daypack which I'd be wearing) and headed out- a little after noon

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the going was slow, very slow, agonizingly slow- heavy deep powder, the load of the pulk and going uphill all combined for some really rough conditions

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at least there was some nice scenery to soak in

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I kept slugging along, took a few water/snack breaks (the deep snow and uphill grind was definitely starting to sap me)

I looked at my watch, it was 2:30 ~ two and half hours after I started, but I didn't really know how far I had come or more importantly how far I had to go- I thought about bringing a map, but what for- I'm following a road- no navigation needed

I trudged another 1/2 hour and the light snow started to become less light, I stopped and thought. I don't know if I have 3 miles to go or 6, I don't know how fast (or more correctly how slow) I'm going, the snow isn't getting any easier the higher I climb, I know when (if?) I get to the cabin I'll be spent, I also know I'll have to fall a tree or two, buck it up and then split it up to heat the cabin. I do know that I can make it back to the truck before dark and that would be the sensible decision. I'm telling you honestly that even though that's the sensible decision, it was not easy turning around. I know that twenty years earlier (heck ten years), no way in hell would I be turning around. No doubt I thoroughly screwed the pooch on this trip- too confident I'd be driving closing to the cabin, under estimating the depth of the snow, under estimating the effect of the pulk, not bringing a map because I'd be almost entirely on a road, getting a late start- poor, poor planning all around.

The one good decision I made that day was to turn around, no matter how much it bruised my ego.

headed down

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when I got home I quickly got a map out, I went ~ 3.5 miles before turning around- I had ~ 3.5 miles to go, at the rate I was going it would have been dark by the time I got to the cabin (headed downhill and in the tracks I made- I covered the 3.5 miles in a little over an hour and half)- so one good call :)
 
Ah, but you passed STEP 1 - you admitted you had a serious problem. Many don't pass. We read about them.
 
Well done!

The planning errors notwithstanding, your wisdom prevailed. You're in good physical shape and took adequate time to re-hydrate as well as take in some calories and that simple step likely helped you maintain cognitive ability to *rationally* consider your situation and make the right decision.

You self-rescued and as TL above commented, many don't/aren't able.

Thanks for posting up a valuable lesson. I think more highly of you due to your taking time to access your situation and knowing the right thing to do - regardless of any (very common!) planning short-falls.
 
Mt Warden has the skills and wisdom to feel when to bail

I thought about bringing a map, but what for- I'm following a road- no navigation needed
Click to expand...

This is the valuable lesson to point out to less skilled folk
If you are without a map, not knowing where you are and how far you have to go, then you do not know when you have outreached yourself and need to retreat and bail
A simple day walk can end in disaster
 
Nice call on turning around and heading back. It's always nice to see someone use some common sense.
 
Thank you for the great lessons of experience.

I've been lost twice in less severe conditions in places that I know very well. Both times, a compass would have sent me where I needed to be without frustration and without even having to think about it.
 
Good on you for making the smart call, and for sharing it here for others to read.

I know it's not always easy in the moment, when desires and drives are pulling us onward despite our better judgment (and I've been there many times), but I'd much rather make the conservative call and know that it means will I have more days in the mountains ahead of me, rather than this one possibly being my last. The Rockies in winter are no place to mess around, as I'm sure you know.

That said, it looks like it would be a cool 'shoe trip - I hope you can find the time to make it happen! :thumbup:
 
pee drinking averted - good call! :p good taste in vehicles too!
 
Thanks gents

There was definitely part of me not wanting to post this thread, but figured if I could learn something from it, maybe someone else could too :)
 
Yep, sometimes you gotta reel in the ego and chalk the day up as a defeat. :) Live to hike again. And all that stuff.
With a little more preparation, more planning, and a little better weather... Heck, sometimes it takes three or four tries to accomplish a hiking goal. Makes it more rewarding and meaningful, rather than just another weekly hike, now it's a challenge. :thumbup:
 
I see the trip as a recon.:D Now you know more than you did before and will make the next run a piece of Cake.:thumbup:
Nothing bad happened, so I see no failure.









See Sig line\/\/\/ ;)
 
I like this post. Thanks for sharing OP! Lessons aside... "a man's got to know his limitations" (Ol' Harry said that).
 
Having seen your cross-country jaunts for some time now, I would say that there was no real failing on your part that won't be corrected next time out. You are in good physical condition, were prepared clothing wise, and knew when to bail and retreat before becoming the subject of a SAR callout, or worse yet a statistic and news item. Full of win in my book. So tell us now, in hindsight, given the same set of circumstances (weather, snow depth etc.) what prep changes would you make to assure a completed trip? Besides getting an earlier start I mean. We are all learning here and thank you for that by the way. As an example, carry enough high BTU wood fuel on the pulk to negate the need to gather heating fuel on arrival?
 
Thanks for the report:thumbup: It's a great reminder to be safe. I'd say most, myself included, are not nearly as experienced or capable as you in those harsh winter conditions. I'm from Texas, it's 40 degrees and cloudy now so I don't want to go outside:D
 
jdk1 said:
Thanks for the report:thumbup: It's a great reminder to be safe. I'd say most, myself included, are not nearly as experienced or capable as you in those harsh winter conditions. I'm from Texas, it's 40 degrees and cloudy now so I don't want to go outside:D
Click to expand...
My two granddaughters (6 & 12) are outside playing in the yard right now. After an early morning low of minus 16, it has warmed up to 3 now with a windchill of minus 14. I am watching them from inside through a double pane picture window.
 
Codger_64 said:
My two granddaughters (6 & 12) are outside playing in the yard right now. After an early morning low of minus 16, it has warmed up to 3 now with a windchill of minus 14. I am watching them from inside through a double pane picture window.
Click to expand...

The greater San Antonio area would be in a state of emergency under those conditions:D. Now, I have hiked many a canyon in 110 degrees, though not for pleasure. And I'm unlikely to do anymore of that:)
 
Codger_64 said:
Having seen your cross-country jaunts for some time now, I would say that there was no real failing on your part that won't be corrected next time out. You are in good physical condition, were prepared clothing wise, and knew when to bail and retreat before becoming the subject of a SAR callout, or worse yet a statistic and news item. Full of win in my book. So tell us now, in hindsight, given the same set of circumstances (weather, snow depth etc.) what prep changes would you make to assure a completed trip? Besides getting an earlier start I mean. We are all learning here and thank you for that by the way. As an example, carry enough high BTU wood fuel on the pulk to negate the need to gather heating fuel on arrival?
Click to expand...

thanks, you hit on one- earlier start- I was much too confident I would be driving close to the cabin, obviously wrong

I should have anticipated deeper snow, I've spent enough time in the mountains to realize what happens in the valley is often not reflected in what happens in the mountains weather wise

I needed a map- my thought (or lack there of) was why bring a map- you'll be following a road-nothing to navigate; w/ a map I would have had the knowledge of how fast (slow) I was traveling and exactly how much farther I had to go which would have allowed me to make an educated decision much earlier wether the trek was doable- a map is useful even when not needed for navigation.

I underestimated my rate of travel having never used a pulk before, snowshoeing uphill in deep snow is a lot of work, pulling a pulk noticeably increases that workload-lesson learned :) Would have been wise trying the pulk out beforehand.

Having a small load of wood would have allowed me some extra cushion on getting to the cabin and I don't think it would have added too much extra effort w/ the pulk. I was anticipating difficulty starting a fire (snow soaked wood) and had a quart bag filled w/ fatwood and a smaller bag of PJCB's.
 
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