The Old Geezer goes anoxic

While I was at Calwood and conferences Murray set off in the rental car on his own adventures. I plan to write up some of the highlights. The first being what Murray tells everyone was the highlight of the trip or at least the High point - climbing Long's Peak. This involved Murray getting up at 2.30am and being on the track by 3.20am. ( Almost unbelievable - hard to imagine he was still in the going to bed phase of the day!) The first part of the trip, through the forest, required a headlight to be worn until dawn broke. By dawn he had reached the turn off to Chasm Lake and continue up the Upper Valley and on to the boulder field- (10-20 tonne variety) There was also near vertical granite cliffs with dozens of routes for the rock climbers. Passing through the "Keyhole " he came to the ledges - with a steep drop off. ( I would have been like many others who stop at this point I am sure) By this time the lack of oxygen was becoming apparent. After the narrows which are a sidle along more ledges around to the front of the peak, there was the final climb up slabs to the summit. The major challenge here is getting enough oxygen - climb a few metres, stop and gasp for a minute. The only food he felt like eating on the top was a NZ Braeburn apple - the lack of oxygen didn't encourage eating more. The view from the top made it all worth while - particularly the feeling of looking down on the peaks around. Then there was the journey down. Murray arrived back at the car park about 3 o'clock feeling tired from the lack of sleep. He drove a short distance to Roosevelt National Forest camped and although the road was too close and noisy he didn't care!