![skedaddle mountains skedaddle mountains](https://www.skedaddle.com/uk/videos/about-us-2018.jpg)
As we crossed underneath the middle summit, I was surprised to find a patch of aspen trees shaking in the breeze.Īs we rounded the corner, the true summit finally came into view. We tried to minimized as much elevation change as possible. We planned to continue sidehilling around this intermediate point. This nipple looked like an interesting diversion for a cooler day without the baby, but for now we could only admire it from a distance.Īfter circumnavigating Hot Springs Benchmark, the middle summit came into view. To our north there was an unnamed peak with an interesting summit block. From here, we began sidehilling around the base of the bonus peak to the left. Hot Springs Benchmark stood above us to the east, but this was only a secondary objective to me.
![skedaddle mountains skedaddle mountains](https://www.skedaddle.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Customer.168434.39903-2-585x390.jpg)
These frequent breaks added a lot of time, but the hike was short enough such that we didn’t need to rush at all. We stopped at another rocky area for a diaper change and a feeding session.
#Skedaddle mountains full#
My senses would remain on full alert for the remainder of the hike.Īfter another hour of hiking, Leif began to cry again. It looks like I now had good reason to be paranoid. When she caught up with me, she told me that she heard a rattlesnake. I summed it up to paranoia, and didn’t bother to mention anything to Asaka.
![skedaddle mountains skedaddle mountains](https://besthiking.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/05-Skuta-Trail-The-path-keeps-ascending-over-a-scree-800x600.jpg)
Now our hiking was more gradual, but it was hard to lock onto a good pace because the terrain was very rocky.Īmong the shrubs I found a rare pronghorn antelope skull.Īs I hiked through the grasses, I thought I heard a rattle from underneath a nearby rock. After our break, we continued up the ridge. The good thing about hiking with a new born is you don’t need to bring him any food or water you just need to bring mom.
![skedaddle mountains skedaddle mountains](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/GXK67G/skiddaw-the-fourth-highest-mountain-in-england-lake-district-national-GXK67G.jpg)
We found several nice boulders where we stopped for 30 minutes to feed him. After about 900 ft of climbing and an hour of hiking, Leif started to cry which I interpreted as a request for milk. I covered him with a light blanket the whole time to shade him from the sun. If he’s quiet, does that mean he’s not breathing? If he’s making noises does that mean he’s uncomfortable? Every time I checked on him he seemed just fine. Carrying Leif on my front allowed me to get a sense of what it must have been like to hike pregnant, and I must say that Asaka is indeed a tough cookie.Īs a first time parent, I was worried about Leif. Having given birth less than two weeks ago, Asaka’s body was still in the recovery phase. The first part of the hike would be the steepest, so we methodically made our way.
#Skedaddle mountains free#
My guess is these were free range cows being grazed on BLM land, and they were tracked using a Trimble GPS device by a rancher who probably wasn’t even in the area. There were some cattle grazing here, and I found myself wondering where the ranchers were and how they watched over the cows. We left the road here and began climbing up the grassy and rocky western slopes of the Skedaddle Mountains. Up above us was Hot Springs Benchmark, and behind that out of sight was Hot Springs Peak. We passed through the gate, followed the road over a saddle and dropped into a shallow wash at the base of the mountain. I was motivated to make it to the top because this was a county prominent point, and Asaka and I were well on our way to completing this list. I put Leif in my carrier, recognizing this as our first “real” hike with the baby. We had nice views of Honey Lake from the start. I could have opened the gate and drive a little further, however that wouldn’t buy us much. We stopped at the barb-wire gate where we got ourselves in order. After somehow surviving the night, we drove to the start of the route on the west side of Hot Springs Bench Mark at a saddle. In addition to all the downsides of a hot hike, I was also concerned about rattlesnakes, which could easily lie just out of sight throughout what we expected to be a grassy and rocky hike. However, my main concern was the off trail nature of the hike and the heat. The hiking distance wasn’t all that bad something like 8 miles. I originally intended to hike Hot Springs Mountain the next day by myself and have Asaka stay in town with the baby, but after witnessing the other patrons staying at the establishment, I felt it would be safer to take 12 day old Leif and recovering Asaka with me instead. I chose this particular location due to its close proximity to a park. The motel we reserved was one of the worst motels I’ve ever stayed at. Upon arriving, I was disappointed to find a hot, run down city. Susanville was once the capital of the Nataqua, a short lived provisional territory in of the 1800s. I never cease to be amazed by the pleasantness of so many quaint mountain towns throughout the country. Surprisingly, I had never been before, but I had high expectations. I booked a motel for two nights Susanville.