One of the easiest hikes to get above treeline and enjoy the tundra and a summit is to head to Mt Chapin. Although the trail is only a couple of miles, you know that you are in oxygen deficit from the first few steps because you are starting out at 11,000 feet.
After the first half mile, the trees start to disappear and the vistas open up. The trail heads up the grassy north side of the mountain. Rock fields are scattered along the way where pikas and marmots tend to pop out, greet you, and then scurry away.
If you are ambitious, you can continue further on the Mummy Range to Chiquita and Ypsilon. The grassy slopes allow you to make good time when the weather is good, but the rocks can get pretty slippery when it rains. Have I mentioned before that the Mummy Range appears to be a magnet for the thunderstorms that pass through the area?
No comments:
Post a Comment