Waking to an incredibly gorgeous bluebird Saturday
the crew could not resist the temptation to get some fresh
turns on the nearby locale. Sourdough Hill stood at
an elevation around 7000 feet, and beckoned to be
conquered and ridden. Also nearby was Lost Corner
Mountain, a feature to our west that rose to over 8000
feet of elevation. Ironically, it was at the base of
this aptly named rampart where only twelve hours
before we huddled together pondering our predicament.
backcountry trips are something that is not for
everyone. Only the hardy brave the elements to "earn
their turns". I feel very fortunate to have this new
experience, a weekend trip that ranks high in my
selective memory for true soul escapades. Each time
that I look back on this time in my life, there will
no doubt be meditation on the awe inspiring forces
that come with adventure in the outside world.
Outside the box, outside the lines and the concrete
and the street lights.




Lessons about myself come flying at me in these
moments of introspection. Everything seems to be
functioning at a higher level of fate and circumstance
than is perceptible by human modes of thinking. If
only we could think like the forest, self-contained
ecosystems that are withering away in a mere
half-century of "progress". I must constantly ask
myself: 'progress towards what?' Is science really an
accurate reflection of millions upon millions of years
of organic matter mulling about in apparently random
modes of creation? Snapping back from my morning
musing in the afternoon sunshine at Ludlow Hut, I laugh
heartily with the friends that were special enough to unplug
from their lives, jobs, families and society to join with me for
a powwow in the "pow pow". The seven-hour trek into
our warming hut was reversed in sunny conditions in a
mere two hours and change. Amazing what a little blue
sky can do for trail burning. Crossing the Rubicon
drainage on several occasions I bare witness to
ancient waters, recycled in a primitive and yet far
more advanced method than our vast aqueducts and
waterways. Life is water. Water is life. And I
drink from my water bottle the melted snow that
drifted through skies and wind and trees to pile
crystal upon crystal outside our cabin door at the
Ludlow Hut.




My fears were realized. But also conquered. I could
not have done it alone. And there were many factors
that allowed this trip to be a success for all the
participants. First and foremost was the desire to be
in nature and challenge her powers head on. That is the
essence of outdoor sports, and more specifically
backcountry expeditions -- one has to want the release,
thrive off the adrenaline, accept the consequences and
be ready to face a power much greater than oneself.

Final thoughts and tips: Always carry adequate warm
gear and makeshift shelter when entering a wilderness
area, especially during a season when serious weather
can drop upon you like the hand of God. Start early;
don't bog down with meaningless tidbits, i.e. get your
ducks in a row. Communication. Make sure someone in
your group is in charge and come up with a specific
plan of attack. Radios are good. A GPS device, topo map
and compass can save your life, or at least make a
miserable night into a comfortable one. Check your
equipment. Recheck your equipment. We almost lost
one of our crew at the trailhead because the rental
store did not provide him with the correct T bolts to
fasten his split board. We were very lucky to
encounter seven of the eight bolts necessary to
complete the task at a local store in Truckee, and one
of the crew just happened to have another in some
random bag of old parts. The seven plus one equals
eight rule. Duck tape wrapped around your poles can
come in very handy too!

Next mission: Avalanche Alley, Mt. Shasta. Unless, of
course, there is snow on the Doppler radar.

For more information about Ludlow Hut and making reservations for backcountry expeditions check these websites or contact the Sierra Club:

http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/lodges/huts/ludlow.asp

http://www.tahoecountry.com/outnabout/huts.html

ER Harris