A pair of sandhill cranes and their offspring animated our climbs today–all photos by Pam Laker except where noted otherwise
Cranes looking at Dermot–photo by Dermot Cole
Years ago, Bill Husby issued a challenge for the SCUM to do 4 FWW alpine hill ascents before the 4th of July. Today in the morning sunshine, there was some debate whether the 4 ascents had to be done in one day, or if they could be done over a period of time with breaks in between.
Jeff smiled during his 4 ascents today
Jeff Conn and Pam Laker ski walked 4 ascents today, unfazed by the heat and mosquitoes. Pam, who had been sick this week, was just happy to be out and breathing:
Pam and Jeff did 4 ascents today with smiles
The rest of us did 2 or 3 ascents with crane watching and stone structure building as necessary distractions.
Dan and Bill select rocks for their flat rock sculpture
Mom fading on third ascent in the heat while Dermot hauls rock uphill
Robert leading a group of SCUM
TIMBER! (Tall Timber, Robert Hannon posing on the FWW alpine hill)
A dozen SCUM showed up today (with Patricia Baer not shown)–photo by Joanna Fox
Today was Dan Johnson’s and Carl Hemming’s first SCUM workout of the dryland season. Dan has been out because of a back injury while Carl had been in Reno getting altitude training after the Sonot Kkaazoot. Patricia Baer also joined us for the first time.
SCUM heading towards the trails (Patricia is in the red with backpack)
Everyone’s goal today was different, but both Patricia and Carl did three ascents of the FWW chairlift trail on their first SCUM workout. Patricia was out in front of everyone while Carl was behind everyone who bailed at less than 3 ascents.
Where is Carl?–photo by Bill Husby
We waited for Carl and called him on his cell phone. When we got no answer, we decided he was enjoying his tech free time on the FWW alpine hill. After lunch, I checked in with Carl and he had indeed finished his third ascent successfully.
Friday’s sunshine brought out equal gender representation among the SCUM
Today’s sunshine brought out two SCUM who had been MIA because of 1) side effects of cancer treatment and 2) a persistent heel injury. Although both were still suffering from their ailments, they joined us today with the understanding that they could turn back at any time. However, after ascending the Tower Direct trail and Beacon Road to the FWW alpine hill, everyone except Joanna decided to get away from the dusty road and play among the lupines on the FWW alpine hill.
Robert and Bill descend the FWW alpine hill while Sarah plays on remnant manmade snow
We took the more gradual and scenic route to the bottom of the chair lift where the mounds of remnant manmade snow was down to just two. The iron oxides from the local groundwater had been concentrated as the snow melted leaving a rusty surface for Sarah to tuck on. Once we got to the bottom of the ski hill, everyone opted to ski walk up the chairlift trail and everyone made it to the top.
Robert, Bernardo, Bill, and Jeff head up the chairlift trail for their first ascent
The “no Y” SCUM decided to do a second ascent at a leisurely pace (set by the elderly Mom) so we got a chance to encourage our male counterparts as they were well on their way to conquering their first (or second) ascent of the season.
The “no Y” SCUM on Beacon Road after their FWW workout
The sun and breeze kept the mosquitoes away from us on the FWW alpine hill but they found us once we returned to our cars in the south Birch Hill lot. However, it had been a fantastic morning and workout with friends.
Sonot Kkaazoot 