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Sadleback 12-28-06
Saddleback was a very very cold hike. I started at the base at 7:30 with 18 degrees for a temp. At the kiosk at mile 1.8 a thermometer read 15. I can’t say for sure what the temps were above the tree line but I am estimating single digits. Everything was going smoothly on this hike until I got above the tree line around 3600 – 3700 feet. After that things changed very quickly! The wind picked up and the temps dropped. Any exposed skin that was facing the wind numbed up with great speed. I really had to bundle up from this point on. Winds were constant at 15+ sometimes sneaking up into the upper 30s lower 40s. I will not forget how cold it was up there that’s for sure. I determined that I could make it to Saddleback summit safely but my secondary summit (The Horn, another 4000 footer) was just not going to happen. As I approached the saddleback summit (after numerous false summits) fog rolled in. I took my pictures, enjoyed the 100% white view for a little while and then took off following my tracks back below the tree line. Although disappointed that I couldn’t make it to the Horn I strongly believe it was the right decision! I spent nearly an hour in fully exposed windy cold deteriorating conditions, better than 2.5 hours! I got out of the situation no worse for the wear, quite an experience!
Besides that interesting situation the rest of the hike was great. Interesting terrain, nice snow capped spruces, 3 ponds, a maze of caves and a giant overhanging rock (piazza rock) are what will greet any hikers attempting this out and back. I look forward to redoing this bad-ass hike and getting The Horn sometime when it’s a little less cloudy and a lot less cold & windy!
I did have to break a trail in places, in the higher (3000+) altitudes snow was 6+ inches deep. Also the ice just at the tree line transition point was terribly brutal. Even my stabilicers had a lot of trouble in this spot.
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