1mlost: 3500: 4 Peaks in Winter Part 3
Every March, just before spring really springs, we get one last dump of snow to temper our expectations. 7 inches of powder fell on Saturday, and I’m planning to climb Balsam Mountain the following day. The snow means I can’t ride to the trailhead. It feels too easy taking the minivan, but the roads are in bad condition with several back roads completely closed. After 2 hours of detours I finally get to the parking lot on rider hollow rd.
The lot is full. Normally, on the bike, I feel very privileged to always find a spot. The minivan is large. I’m not about to turn back, so I make my own parking spot, shoveling out the corner of the lot using my snowshoe. After a sweaty half hour, I manage to pull the van in just enough to not piss anyone off to the point of shattering my windows, and I’m on my way.
This is my first time climbing up a mountain with snowshoes. It’s hard. This level of strenuous is approaching full on exercise, a thing I enthusiastically avoid. I start contemplating having a heart attack, in the end, deciding this is a good final resting point. At least the surroundings are beautiful. I do make it to the top after 2.5 hours of climbing. I’m spent. My muscles aren’t sore, I just have no more energy. It’s the same feeling after a day of sun and swimming.
Someone has placed a pointy stone to mark the summit. Around the stone are numerous sets of snowshoe tracks. The place has been filthied by “baggers.” I take my required photo and start my descent. All the agony of the climb is replaced with pure joy on the descent. The 8 inches of powder provide a soft cushion for my tired legs to happily bound down the mountain. I’m back to the mini-van in no time. The parking lot is nearly empty.
