Chapter 3 - Going Deep
The Twenty-Two Project
“You get used to it after a while. You just have to pack up and start walking. If you put one foot in front of the other, you will get there sooner or later. And 16 hours, maybe it sounds like a long time, but there are people working 16 hours a day, and that’s probably a lot harder than walking. I love the feeling of being on my own, the silence and the time to think.”
I’ve heard that most tourists never get more than one mile from their vehicles when visiting a National Park. Whether that is true or not, it seems similar to what I have observed of backcountry skiers. We like to pull up to a trailhead and immediately begin touring uphill. After climbing to the top of our chosen run, we can then ski all of the way back down to our vehicle. The beers then come out and we easily look up at our line, basking in our skiing prowess. Now that’s a day!
Sarah kicking steps into the sky while on the approach to Burwell (12,664’)…summit #11. The halfway point of the project!
My initial forays into the backcountry were experienced in the above manner. After a couple of seasons, I had ticked off most of the roadside classics in my backyard. As the years have gone by though, and the popularity of the sport has grown, I started viewing the mountains with a mindset of exploration. Seeking to leave behind the familiar for the unfamiliar. For most, this is not an easy mentality to adopt, because it means accepting the risk that one’s efforts for the day may lead to nothing. It also means that approaches are going to be longer and thus, take more time and commitment.
As the Twenty-Two project moved to its mid-point, the “easy pickings” were summited and skied. All that were left were the peaks located deep in the range. I must acknowledge a qualifier here…the term “deep” is relative as the summits of Cumberland, Snowstorm, Hesperus, etc. are nowhere near the remote distances of peaks that Henrik had to travel to during One Seven Eight. Additionally, with nearly all of the peaks in the La Plata’s having road access to their bases, the use of a snow machine can easily allow for single day ascents without requiring a night out. Remaining true to my project’s ethos of utilizing only human-powered means, the distances to get to my “deep” peaks would require increased energy output, exposure to risk and some overnights.
Our basecamp in Cumberland Basin to tackle the summits of Lewis (12,655’ - #12), Cumberland (12,388’ - #13) and Snowstorm (12,511’ - #14).
For those who dare to push beyond the well-trafficked and into the unfamiliar, solitude will be found along with some true adventure. As stated, humans like the easy and convenient. One only has to look at our current world, where the bulk of humanity exists in a world controlled by handheld computers and their apps that are touted to make our lives more productive, connected, and efficient. Why physically go shopping anymore, when with a few keystrokes or finger swipes, one can have their heart’s desires delivered to their doorstep?!
The journey into the uncharted typically requires a strong skill set, confidence in one’s abilities, and an explorer’s mindset which includes a positive attitude towards objectives not reached. Acquiring a particular skillset and confidence in those proficiencies is fairly easy to come by for any driven individual. Through my years as an outdoor educator and adventurer, I’ve encountered many talented and highly skilled people. These people are often way more proficient than me. The “explorer’s mindset” is the differentiator.
In my experience, it is rare to find the individual who is willing to put their skills to the test and plod deep into the unknown. I’m not quite sure why this is so. Some use fitness as an excuse, but the reality is that fitness is only a small part of the equation. Regardless of our perceived health, the human body is a highly capable machine. Others use time as an excuse, which can be viable when we let circumstance and others control our most precious resource. Most likely it all comes down to some switch in our brains that allows us to accept and grow comfortable with the unknown.
Nan dropping after successful summits of both Moss (13,192’ - #17) and Lavender (13,220’ - #18).
Regardless of the answer to the question pondered above, I am glad that so few are drawn to go further than a mile from the trailhead. In an ever-increasingly crowded world, I like having untouched snow all to myself, even if it means putting in a lot of work for poor ski conditions every once in a while. Just like Henrik, I enjoy the quiet exploration of the peaks and the depth of discovery that is found in solitude.