Longs Peak Prep - Gear List

From the Top of Longs Peak

Here is a list of recommended gear to include on your person for the hike.  If there is anything that I missed let me know.

Gear List:

Sustenance

Longs Peak Narrows from Near

• lots of water - 4 liters to be safe, no flowing water on the trail, its good to have a little extra, we might be able to stash water on the trail for the way down
• food - at least 4,000 calories worth, its good to have a little extra; food that stores well: energy bars, candy, sandwhich, etc.

Clothing/Body Protection

• jacket/extra clothing - wear layers as the temp changes drastically and the wind most likely will be chilling (recommend three layers: jacket long sleeve shirt, t-shirt)
• extra pair of socks (or two) the snow melt will mean that the trail could be muddy (having dry socks is a huge bonus)
• gloves
• hat 
• sunglasses
• rain gear

Longs Peak Narrows from Far

Accessories

• backpack to carry extra water, food, clothing, accessories
• sunscreen
• headlamp or flashlight, i have three head lamps, I can loan out two
• TP - very important, i will have enough for everybody
• basic first aid kit
• crampons are recommended to have in your pack, I will call Ranger Station prior to hiking to see if this is necessary
• map (i will have)
• whistle
• phone (there is service at the top)
• camera
• hiking sticks (takes weight off your knees and ankles)
• aspirin
• can of Mountain Dew
  
  

  
  

  
  

Longs Peak Preparation

From our cabin to Longs Peak Trail-head is a 30 minute drive.  The lot fills up very early.  What day should we hike?  I like Tuesday.  The hike up is 7.5 miles.  We need to be back below the tree line before afternoon storms meaning we should be at the peak by noon or turn back.  If we wake at 2:00 AM and get to the trail-head by 3:00 AM (after a big breakfast) we will be good.  That gives us nine hours, but I am sure that we can make it to the peak within 7 hours at the least.  I recently hiked a longer, steeper hike with several people who were not optimally conditioned and we peaked in five hours.  The big difference being oxygen, but if we bag a few hours on an acclimatizing hike between 12,000 and 13,000 feet plus several days at our cabin we will be better for it.  For information about Longs Peak call (970-586-1206).  Weather information.  Web cam of current conditions.  At the time I am writing this (13:45), I am seeing some pretty rough looking clouds up there.

If you have anything to add please comment or send an email.  I can incorporate into this post.  If you need to find this blog, search: "review hikes books" in Google and this blog will be first on the list. 

Also see:

Beware: Altitude Sickness
Prep: Gear List

Book Review: The Fountainhead

Title: The Fountainhead
Author: Ayn Rand
Publisher:  Plume; CENTENNIAL EDITION edition (November 1, 1994)

Genre: Philosophical fiction

The Fountainhead (Cliffs Notes)

Front Cover: The Fountainhead

 The Fountainhead is the philosophy of Objectivism argued in the form of a fiction novel. It is the doctrine that reality exists separate from consciousness. Reality is that which we can sense. We can sense our creation of an object, but we cannot sense the idea of creation. It is not real until it is created and when created, it is. The philosophy is a strong proponent of capitalism, private property and minimal outward influence from regulations and rules. Man can only truly live life through the means of action and the fruition of his interests and skills.  Selfishness is the noblest of virtues and altruism is slavery.

The Story: A great architect of genius  is unwelcome in his school, his profession, and in society.  The newspapers and men of influence despise and ridicule him.  Despite the movement by the majority to subvert the world to mediocrity by destroying this man and his progressive style, he creates for the sake of knowing that he created.  Money, fame, the desire to be accepted mean nothing to him.  He lives to create his ideas.  Some recognize the greatness of the structures designed and buck the outrage of the influential and powerful mediocrity.  Without verbal argument, the great architect continues to build and allow his work to speak.  Some make it their prime goal to destroy this man and his ideals.

If man is free to do as he pleases, there are many men who lose control of their power.  "They (rulers of men) exist entirely through the persons of others. Their goal is in their subjects, in the activity of enslaving. They are as dependent as the beggar, the social worker and the bandit. The form of dependence does not matter."  Strong regulations and powerful governments create little progress and few things that propel the world forward.

Ayn Rand and objectivism have truth in some areas, but are gravely lacking in others.     Humans are reputable for their inequalities.  Many cannot stand on their own merits.  Do we leave them to suffer?  There is very little hope in man.  Where did man receive the ability to reason and create?  Where is God?  If, as objectivisim states, man is god, we are all doomed.

Some have compared the fictional architect in this book to the real life Frank Lloyd Wright.

Other Ayn Rand Book Reviews:  Atlas Shrugged

Hunger Games

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic Press

Genre: Young Adult Novel

The Appalachian Mountains have been home to a free spirited people; a people defying the societies that have attempted to govern them.  The trappers, the pioneers, the bootleggers, the rebels, hillbillies, mountain men, and bluegrass have all called her home.  It is only appropriate that the under estimated heroine of this popular novel lives her young life as a huntress hidden among the green slopes of the dense Blue Ridge Mountains.

At some point in the future and after several unspecified world disasters, twelve districts are ruled by  the Capitol at District One set in the Rocky Mountains.  As an annual authoritative reminder a game is conducted.  The districts each unwillingly provide tribute of one girl and one boy between the age of 12 and 18 to the Capital as a participant in the ‘Hunger Games.’  The children are released into a climate controlled arena.  A winner is declared when only one still lives.  This is the story of one particular game.

Short, fast, simple, entertaining.  The book reads quick.  A collection of many different themes, the story could be symbolic of an array of ideas, eras, governments, or even an opinion of what is yet to be.

Book Review: 1421 The Year China Discovered America

Title: 1421 The Year China Discovered America
Author: Gavin Menzies
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Genre: World History

Chinese Junk compared to the Santa Maria

After 30 long years of war, Chinese forces succeeded in ousting the Mongol Empire in 1387 leading into the Ming Dynasty.  The early Ming Dynasty was a period of growth, expansion, and prosperity. Coupled with the Chinese knowledge of navigation, astronomy, shipbuilding, and written language, the Chinese built the greatest, wealthiest, most advanced Kingdom on earth. With this wealth and abundance came the ability to build and support a exploratory seafaring fleet.

The ships were built of teak.  In order to provide the wood, teak forests were decimated for hundreds of miles in each direction from Beijing. There were nearly 2,000 ships in all. The greatest of these ships could hold 3 months worth of food and travel 4,500 miles without stopping. The larger ships were built with compartments in the bowels. These compartments could be filled with water where trained dolphins provided the men with fresh fish. With a rich, peaceful, powerful Kingdom supporting it, this fleet divided into four expeditions, setting sail in early 1421.

These four fleets set out for four different parts of the world.  Captain Hong Bao, set sail for and explored the continent of Africa and the Atlantic side of South America, sailing thru what is now known as the Strait of Magellan. Captain Zhou Man explored Australia and the Pacific side of North and South America. Captain Zhou Wen explored the North Pole, Greenland, and the Atlantic coast of North America. And Captain Yang Qing traveled India, the Indian Ocean side of Africa, and the Middle East. During their epic expedition, China fell into a destructive civil war.

In May of 1421, disaster struck in the form of lightening.  Much of Beijing burned.  Believing it was divine disapproval of imperialist expansion and decimation of the forests, China's Ruler Zhu Di took his own life. Following was a dark and war ridden period of struggle. The explorers and their fleets returned to a land that was unrecognizable to them. Their voyage was not celebrated and documented.

The thesis of this book seems far stretched. Gavin cites a lot of evidence: Chinese DNA among Native Americans and Africans, Asiatic animals and fauna spread across the continents, unidentified wreckage strewn across the globe, mysterious rock memorials along coasts of each great land mass, and even documentation of European explorers. However, all evidence cited is not always evidence proven. There is a lot of dissent directed at the evidence provided. The possibility of such an undertaking is not impossible.

Book Review: Convenant and Election

Title: Covenant and Election in the Reformed Tradition
Author: David Englesma
Publisher: Reformed Free Publishing Association
Genre: Religious

Among other things, it appears that this book is written in response to an issue that is rearing itself within the modern church world. "The federal vision is the avowed development of the covenant doctrine that teaches that the covenant is graciously made by God in Christ with all the physical offspring of believers alike, but is dependent for its continuance with a child and for its fulfillment in the salvation of a child upon the works of the child." (page 2)

Covenant and election are doctrines that have their roots in the Bible. The covenant being the promise that God has made with his elect. And election being God's actions of having "chosen us in him [our Lord Jesus Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him." (Ephesians 1:4) This unconditional covenant is governed by election. These truths are defined and upheld in the Baptism Form of the Dutch Reformed churches and the Canons of Dordt; both of which are upheld by Scripture.

Many theologians have distorted the scriptural teachings of covenant and election. This book wades thru the teachings of others and picks apart their errors. It also defends the stance of John Calvin.

For the importance and depth of the doctrine discussed, the book is a surprisingly easy and quick read. It gives the reader a sharp understanding of God's promise to His elect and uses Scripture and the teachings of wise and godly men. In this book Englesma justly criticizes erroneous stances, but it seems, in at least one case, that the criticized beliefs are not properly defined making the denunciation easier to point out.

Hike Review: Sheep Hole Mountain

Location: Twentynine Palms, CA
Distance: 4 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation change: 2200 feet
Time of year best to hike: Fall to Spring
Recommended maps: Dale Lake, CA USGS Topo Map
Video: Summit Attempt

Trail-Head: From Twentynine Palms, the trail-head is about 25 miles east on Amboy Road. As Amboy road turns north between Sheep Hole Mountain and the Bullion Mountains, there will be several dirt roads leaving the paved road to the east. The trail-head that used in this case was the dirt road at the top of this pass that leads to an easy to identify Microwave tower. The short dirt road that leads east from the paved road that leads to the microwave tower is passable to all vehicles. This tower is the trail-head. See the video linked at bottom of the summary for a view of the tower.

Summary: From the trail-head, set out directly east up the gradual desert floor. A fairly deep wash interrupts this trek at the base of the mountain. Follow the draw to the mouth of the rocky canyon from which the wash and the ascent begins. The trail quickly vanishes and scrambling begins. It is a grueling 1.5 miles of class two rock climbing to the top.

From what I have been told the view from the top is amazing. The desert air is very clear. The colors are vibrant. The contrast between desert and sky is stark. Unfortunately, I did not finish the hike. My dogs accompanied me on this hike. We got a mile into the scrambles and as we climbed, the rocks were getting bigger, more jagged, and the grade was becoming too steep for the dogs. They wanted to push on, but the best way to avoid disaster is good judgement. It is difficult for me to say this, but...I did not complete this summit. A video of my attempt is posted here: Sheep Hole Mountain Summit Attempt.