My oldest son wants to climb an 11,000 footer near our home. It is not one of the more noted peaks in our area, but that means it is one of the least climbed.
We lacked the time yesterday to make it to the top, so I agreed to take him most of the way up. There is a trail that goes to a ridge line that you follow up for the last mile. It is a short trail (less than 4 miles) but steep (a 4,000 ft elevation gain). We almost made it to the ridge but were turned back by snow 'chutes' that block the trail and were too dangerous to cross. If you slip on the chutes you have a 500 foot slide down a 45 degree slope of mixed boulders and snow. We prefer to remain in the land of the living.
Moose are a common sight in the drainage we were in, as are bears. Fortunately we saw neither at close range. There was plenty of tracks in the retreating snow and the mud though. Last year my youngest son and I saw two bull moose and closed within about 50 meters. That's as close as I dared.
We saw some people nearer the trailhead who had lost their dog. I assured them their dog wouldn't remain lost...... since the bears will find it. Last year a kid was killed by a bear about 5 miles from where we were. Still, I think they thought I was joking.
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