Chinese Peak (Warm-up hike #1) – 3/9/13

(All pictures and screen shots can be clicked on to bring up a larger version)

While the wind was kicking up (2mph my butt!), the weather overall was great for the hike. Not too many clouds in the sky, and the temperature, a balmy 28.

The quarry of our hike, Chinese Peak (Pre-PC name of Chink’s Peak), is the tallest mountain in the center of the photo.

For the first half of the hike, the trail consisted of frozen gravel that was packed hard by snow cat track. The second half, it was snow packed hard by snow cat track. You would think that the hard packed snow would make it ideal to hike up, but you would be wrong. Every step you made, you would slide back because it was now like a sheet of ice. Not fun, but doable.

On the way up, the views of the surrounding area were rewarding. First picture below shows Kinport Peak (highest in that picture) and Wild Mountain, to the left. At the center of the second picture is Slate Mountain. Scout Mountain is in the center of the third picture. Behind her, out of view, is Old Tom Mountain. BTW, I’ve hiked all of these mountains (including Chinese Peak), but in the summer. The fourth picture is just a closer view of Scout Mountain, pardon the quality.

After finally reaching the summit, found it to be very windy and cold. Considering I was not wearing a winter coat, but just a hooded sweatshirt, I took some quick photos and headed back down.

Here are the Endomondo stats for both legs (Up and Down) of the hike, with respective stats.

Finally, I took some short video of the hike, which you will find below.

I’m not sure what my next hike will be. Was thinking of doing Chinese Peak again, just to condition myself more and use it as exercise. Will have to see.