T.J. Burr's Blog: TJ Burr, Rocky Mountain Adventures & Insights

Hiking Recap for 2023 and Update

I didn’t blog as much as I wanted to in 2023 because I was lost in a sea of social media apps, and I had no idea which ones I should focus on. I tried to maintain a presence on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Spotify, rumble, YouTube, and I just created a TikTok account. After trying to keep several apps updated, I finally realized the futility of that and decided to mostly focus on Instagram. Now, I have 487 posts, 2,686 followers, and I’m following 3,997. I reach over 1,000 accounts per month, but haven’t earned anything. I’m eligible for gifts and branded content, but haven’t had any luck with those. I found it hard to gain followers on Instagram.

I have a great gallery of photos and videos to document my hiking and climbing activities, but I’m a writer, not a photographer. So, I’ve explored the jungle of social media and returned to my blog site to write.

In my personal life, I’ve struggled with a lot of stress and anxiety. Most of that is related to the PTSD I have from my combat experiences in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I’m also working fulltime as a civil engineer. I have a long backlog of projects that I’m drowning in. I enjoy the work that I do, but I’m tired of the daily grind of clocking in and out. Fortunately, I get to telework most of the time, but that has some drawbacks, such as the isolation. Being isolated from in-person social interaction is challenging at times. I’ve always been an introvert, but now I feel more isolated from society than ever. I’ve retreated deeper into my cave of consciousness.

The best mental health therapy I have is from hiking and climbing in the mountains. I try to get outside and hike at every opportunity. It is the only thing that I’ve found to reset my state of mind. I’m sure the antidepressants an anti-anxiety medicine helps some. Hiking is the topic I want to discuss with you.

After getting a Garmin Instinct watch as a Christmas gift, I’ve been using it to track my recreation activities. It provides so many statistics about me that it is somewhat overwhelming. I cling to it about the same amount I cling to my cell phone. They might as well be built into my body. My son is the same way with his Garmin, he doesn’t go anywhere without it.

Did you set any recreation-related goals in 2023? If so, please provide some details in the comments. In 2022, I set a goal of hiking 1,000 miles, which I exceeded. I made it to 1,157 miles. I sense that is a good distance, especially for a 59-year-old guy, a little overweight, and with neuropathy. I didn’t set a goal for 2023, but vowed to hike as much as possible for my mental and physical health. Hiking in the mountains also helps me spiritually. I’ve always viewed the mountains as my church, the place I feel closest to God. I had a number in mind that I wanted to reach, but I wouldn’t have been disappointed if I didn’t get there.

For me, keeping track of my adventure statistics is a means of motivation. I’m an engineer with a strong math and science background, so I’m an analytical type of person. I like to compare my progress from year-to-year. I’m sharing my information as an example. You should base your goals on your abilities, interests, and available time. This should be about tracking your hiking so you can see how you are doing compared to how far you want to hike. You can use your data to develop limits for easy, moderate, and difficult hiking distances. I discovered that 0–5-mile day hikes are in my easy range, 6-10 miles is in my moderate range, and 11+ mile hikes are in my difficult range.

You need to adjust your ambitions based on your fitness level, gender, and age. After an excellent year of hiking, I finished the year feeling good about my fitness level. I hiked as often as I could. I’m not a competitive hiker or trail runner.

For comparison, I’m sharing my data for 2020 – 2023, and for my lifetime (see the table below). Because of mandated travel restrictions in 2020, I didn’t have much hiking time in the mountains. So, I didn’t get much vertical gain that year. Most of my hiking in 2020 was in nearby open spaces. For 2021, I entered a Map My Walk App challenge to hike as many miles as possible. I challenged myself to get as much vertical climbing as I could. I finished in the top 9% of people in the challenge. That was a motivator for 2021, but not the most important one. My biggest motivator was a need to relieve stress and to decompress. In 2021, I used a Garmin Instinct watch and the Map My Walk App on my phone. That allowed me to compare the accuracies of each against each other. They were within 5% of each other.

In 2022, I switched to only using my Garmin because the Map My Walk App drains my phone battery too fast. I liked the app and used it for seven years. But I love the Garmin Instinct. On the topic of hiking apps, the free Colorado Trail Explorer (COTrex) application is a great map tool. It provides an accurate topographic map and is useful for navigating when hiking on or off trail. I use COTrex to check elevations, my location, and vertical gain. Over the past year, my Garmin Instinct has started inaccurately estimating my vertical gain. Sometimes it is off by 2,000 feet. When it is wrong, I edit the data so I have the correct statistics in my Garmin Connect account.

About my “lifetime” statistics, I’m still compiling the data. I did a lot of hiking, climbing, and backpacking before I cared about keeping statistics. When I have time, I look back through my handwritten diaries to see if I wrote anything about the distances I hiked or mountains I climbed.

After I retire, which isn’t far off, I’m going to get back to doing more climbing. There are thousands of mountains to climb in Colorado alone. In fact, my best tally to date is 5,647 mountains. That number is from a variety of sources, but I’m still researching more sources. I’ll probably focus on climbing the remaining of the 696 peaks above 13,000 feet elevation that I still want to climb.

I hope you have a wonderful year. Get out to enjoy outdoor recreation as often as you can. Nature, sunshine, and fresh air is good for your body and soul.

Torreys Peak (14,275 ft/4351 m) in the Colorado Rocky Mountains (Photo by TJ Burr, 2015).

Global Warming for Dummies. An objective and scientific view of climate change or climate alarmism.

Climate Change or Climate Alarmism? A Rational Discussion

Your gear will vary depending on what kind of hiking adventure you are preparing, however whether you’re backpacking the Appalachian Trail or preparing a day trek with your household, there are some pieces of hiking gear you ought to always remember.

Important Hiking Devices: Things You Required Before Hitting The Trail

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If you want to set hiking goals for the new year, you should develop a reliable way to log your hikes. A fitness app and GPS device will most likely record the data for you. You should download the data for your records, so you have them for future reference. If you don’t have a smart phone, you can log your hikes in a spreadsheet. There is nothing wrong with going minimalist and not recording anything if that is best for you. I’m an engineer with a strong math and science background, so I’m an analytical type of person. I like to compare my progress from year-to-year. I’m sharing my information as an example. You should base your goals on your abilities, interests, and available time. This should be about tracking your hiking so you can see how you are doing compared to how far you want to hike. You can use your data to develop limits for easy, moderate, and difficult hiking distances.

You need to adjust your ambitions based on your fitness level, gender, and age. After an excellent year of hiking, I finished the year feeling good about my fitness level. I hiked as often as I could. I’m a male. I was 56 for five months of the year and 57 for the rest of the year. I’m not a competitive hiker or trail runner. I have a full-time traditional job. I also have peripheral neuropathy in my feet, which causes significant pain. Peripheral neuropathy is a disease that damages the sensory nerves. It causes pain, numbness, tingling, and reduced circulation. I get some relief from medicine, compression socks, and good hiking boots.

I also count walking for exercise in my hiking miles, but not walking as a normal part of the day. If I’m on a trail, I log it as hiking. If I’m on a regular sidewalk, I call it walking. I don’t do a lot of jogging, but I also count jogging around a track or elsewhere since it is time dedicated to exercise.

For comparison, I included my data for 2020, 2021, and for my lifetime (see the table below). Because of mandated travel restrictions in 2020, I didn’t have much hiking time in the mountains. So, I didn’t get much vertical gain. Most of my hiking in 2020 was in nearby open spaces. For last year, I entered a Map My Walk App challenge to hike as many miles as possible. I challenged myself to get as much vertical climbing as I could. I finished in the top 9% of people in the challenge. That was one motivating factor for last year, but not the most important one. My biggest motivator was a need to relieve stress and to decompress. I used a Garmin Instinct watch and the Map My Walk App on my phone. That allowed me to compare the accuracies of each against each other. They were within 5% of each other. I’m planning to only use my Garmin in 2022 because the Map My Walk App drains my phone battery too fast. I liked the app and used it from 2014 to 2021. But I love the Garmin Instinct. On the topic of hiking apps, the free Colorado Trail Explorer (CO Trex) application is a great map tool. It provides an accurate topographic map and is useful for navigating when hiking on or off trail. One drawback is that it is only for Colorado.

About my “lifetime” statistics, I’m still compiling the data. I did a lot of hiking, climbing, and backpacking before having the conveniences of modern technology. For several years I kept track of my hiking information by writing it in a paper notebook. I wasn’t consistent about doing that. I’ve used Excel spreadsheets for a long time, but I didn’t always record my information in there either. No matter what system you use, it takes discipline to collect the data.

Now I have good baseline or benchmark statistics to compare this year with. I found that 10 miles is at my upper limits for a hiking distance, and that 5 to 7 miles is a comfortable hiking range for me. My average hike in 2021 was 5.0 miles. I hope you have a wonderful year. Get out to enjoy outdoor recreation as often as you can. Nature, sunshine, and fresh air is good for your body and soul.

From left to right: Mt. Meeker (13,868 ft), Longs Peak (14,259 ft), and Mt. Lady Washington (13,245 ft) in Rocky Mountain National Park (TJ Burr, 2017). Longs Peak is my favorite mountain in Colorado. __ATA.cmd.push(function() { __ATA.initDynamicSlot({ id: 'atatags-26942-626b92e8055a5', location: 120, formFactor: '001', label: { text: 'Advertisements', }, creative: { reportAd: { text: 'Report this ad', }, privacySettings: { text: 'Privacy', } } }); });

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If you want to set hiking goals for the new year, you should develop a reliable way to log your hikes. A fitness app and GPS device will most likely record the data for you. You should download the data for your records, so you have them for future reference. If you don’t have a smart phone, you can log your hikes in a spreadsheet. There is nothing wrong with going minimalist and not recording anything if that is best for you. I’m an engineer with a strong math and science background, so I’m an analytical type of person. I like to compare my progress from year-to-year. I’m sharing my information as an example. You should base your goals on your abilities, interests, and available time. This should be about tracking your hiking so you can see how you are doing compared to how far you want to hike. You can use your data to develop limits for easy, moderate, and difficult hiking distances.

You need to adjust your ambitions based on your fitness level, gender, and age. After an excellent year of hiking, I finished the year feeling good about my fitness level. I hiked as often as I could. I’m a male. I was 56 for five months of the year and 57 for the rest of the year. I’m not a competitive hiker or trail runner. I have a full-time traditional job. I also have peripheral neuropathy in my feet, which causes significant pain. Peripheral neuropathy is a disease that damages the sensory nerves. It causes pain, numbness, tingling, and reduced circulation. I get some relief from medicine, compression socks, and good hiking boots.

I also count walking for exercise in my hiking miles, but not walking as a normal part of the day. If I’m on a trail, I log it as hiking. If I’m on a regular sidewalk, I call it walking. I don’t do a lot of jogging, but I also count jogging around a track or elsewhere since it is time dedicated to exercise.

For comparison, I included my data for 2020, 2021, and for my lifetime (see the table below). Because of mandated travel restrictions in 2020, I didn’t have much hiking time in the mountains. So, I didn’t get much vertical gain. Most of my hiking in 2020 was in nearby open spaces. For last year, I entered a Map My Walk App challenge to hike as many miles as possible. I challenged myself to get as much vertical climbing as I could. I finished in the top 9% of people in the challenge. That was one motivating factor for last year, but not the most important one. My biggest motivator was a need to relieve stress and to decompress. I used a Garmin Instinct watch and the Map My Walk App on my phone. That allowed me to compare the accuracies of each against each other. They were within 5% of each other. I’m planning to only use my Garmin in 2022 because the Map My Walk App drains my phone battery too fast. I liked the app and used it from 2014 to 2021. But I love the Garmin Instinct. On the topic of hiking apps, the free Colorado Trail Explorer (CO Trex) application is a great map tool. It provides an accurate topographic map and is useful for navigating when hiking on or off trail. One drawback is that it is only for Colorado.

About my “lifetime” statistics, I’m still compiling the data. I did a lot of hiking, climbing, and backpacking before having the conveniences of modern technology. For several years I kept track of my hiking information by writing it in a paper notebook. I wasn’t consistent about doing that. I’ve used Excel spreadsheets for a long time, but I didn’t always record my information in there either. No matter what system you use, it takes discipline to collect the data.

Now I have good baseline or benchmark statistics to compare this year with. I found that 10 miles is at my upper limits for a hiking distance, and that 5 to 7 miles is a comfortable hiking range for me. My average hike in 2021 was 5.0 miles. I hope you have a wonderful year. Get out to enjoy outdoor recreation as often as you can. Nature, sunshine, and fresh air is good for your body and soul.

From left to right: Mt. Meeker (13,868 ft), Longs Peak (14,259 ft), and Mt. Lady Washington (13,245 ft) in Rocky Mountain National Park (TJ Burr, 2017). Longs Peak is my favorite mountain in Colorado. __ATA.cmd.push(function() { __ATA.initDynamicSlot({ id: 'atatags-26942-626b92e8055a5', location: 120, formFactor: '001', label: { text: 'Advertisements', }, creative: { reportAd: { text: 'Report this ad', }, privacySettings: { text: 'Privacy', } } }); });

Photo of the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area in Colorado (by TJ Burr)

The following is an excerpt from a book I wrote titled Rocky Mountain Adventure Collection. I will also provide this as a podcast if you would rather listen to it.

During my alpine adventures, I often push my courage to the edge and tell myself, “never again.” Then, a month later, the magnetic lure of high-country adventure draws me right back to the edge. Figuratively, the edge is the limit of my mountaineering ability. Literally, the edge could be the edge of a cliff, the boundary between safety and danger. The thin line between life and death.

This is a short story about an eternal moment. It is one of my experiences of being on the edge. The incident happened on a rock outcrop on a mountainside. We were above timberline in the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area in Colorado. I was with one of my best friends and trusted climbing partner, Craig. We started out on what we intended to be an easy climb up an unnamed mountain. As often happened, our easy-going climb turned into a hairy situation. We weren’t thrill-seeking but trying to find our limits.

Our experience on Dripping Water Rock on 14 July 1984 put us in the grip of death. That is third on the scale of nearness to death. The scale, from best to worst is near death, very near death, in the grip of death, and at God’s mercy. To put this into perspective, on our descent of Mt. Princeton’s Chalk Cliffs we were at God’s mercy. When mountaineers are at God’s mercy, they are beyond their limits in near death situations. On wrong move could be your last move. Free solo climbing is an example of being a God’s mercy.

Everyone who ventures into the mountains should know the limits of their abilities. We were young and still finding our limits. Sometimes you don’t recognize your limits until you are on the brink. Sometimes your adrenalin is flowing so high that it overtakes your fear instincts. That is what happened during our afternoon experience at Dripping Water Rock.

Our goal was to reach the top of an unnamed 11,000-foot peak. That put us on a grassy summit above timberline in the subalpine zone. It was an easy climb. The weather was spectacular. After a short rest we felt an extra boost of energy from the sunshine soaking into our skin. The peak was at the lower end of a ridge that forked off from the Continental Divide. Farther up the ridge, higher peaks called on us. I was almost always up for an extra challenge. So, we followed the ridge up toward the divide over several intermediate high points. Although the divide was a tempting target, it was too late in the afternoon to make a serious run for it. We decided to keep climbing until our instincts told us we should turn around to start back down.

Above 11,500 feet, the ridge grew narrow and jagged. It is a strip of the mountain between two valleys. Glaciers carved away rock from each side leaving a hard-rock spine between them. These glaciers still existed only 10,000 years ago. The tougher terrain slowed us down some. The sky grew ever darker with thunderclouds forming. Since thunderstorms could form with little notice, we took that as a warning to get to lower ground. Another warning came as a gust of wind. We knew that play time was over and we needed to get off the exposed ridge. I didn’t want any part of descending that ridge during a thunderstorm or even a rain shower. Your traction on wet terrain is about 30% of what it is on dry terrain.

The sides of the ridge were too exposed to make a safe descent, so we backtracked down the spine of the ridge. After several minutes of backtracking, the ridge sides became less steep. The U-shaped valley below looked beautiful. The valley was grassy and spotted with rocky knolls. Alpine streams with connecting pools meandered across the landscape. After a couple of hours on the barren, rocky ridge, the valley was appealing. To get down faster, I proposed a shortcut down the steep-sided ridge. Craig wasn’t keen about that idea but agreed to try it.

It wasn’t as steep as it was higher up, but it would still be a challenge to descend. It was a hard class-3 mountainside. Not too difficult, but not something you could do in your sleep. We maintained a three-point climbing technique while making the descent. That meant we only moved one limb at a time with the other three limbs gripping the mountain. We were careful to stay out of each other’s fall line since it was easy to dislodge rocks. The sound of falling rocks unnerves me. Sometimes a climber is falling with those rocks.

Then, midway down the mountainside, we came to a sheer edge on the ravine we were following. We were descending alongside a trickling stream in the bottom of the ravine. Unfortunately, the ravine ended with a cliff. From there the stream became a trickling waterfall. This is also known as being “cliffed off.” We didn’t feel like backtracking up the ravine, so we analyzed the terrain for other options. We saw one possible way to skirt around the edge of the cliff to get back on “safe” ground. We would have to traverse a slanted ledge that looked wet. Below the slanted ledge was a deadly vertical drop. Wet rock meant less friction. We suspected the ledge led to safety, but we couldn’t see past a large protruding rock mass. It was a situation on the borderline of requiring a rope belay for fall protection. But we hadn’t planned to do any technical climbing, so we didn’t have a rope with us. Our two choices were to take a risk crossing the ledge or to climb back up and around the obstacle.

Rather than back climbing, we decided to try traversing the ledge. We started across the ledge using a spread-eagle posture to maximize body contact with the rock. That would give us the most traction or friction force. We inched our bodies across the rock in an undulating motion. Our situation transformed into an ugly bear. Committed to the ledge, we traversed beneath an overhang, still on the sloping ledge. I could see a void of space off the edge of the ledge where gravity was tugging on me. Ahead there was a section with water trickling over the rock overhang onto the ledge. That meant we had to cross a section of slippery rock, slanted down toward the cliff with water dripping onto us. The drop off was a vertical rock face onto a steep mountainside.

We were in an uncomfortable position to say the least. I hugged the sloped granite slab and clung to fingertip holds.  Body friction kept me from slipping over the edge. I inched across trying to find the best handholds. Then I made it to the dripping, trickling water that landed on my head and back. There was no way around it, so I had to push on. In most accidents there is a chain of events that contribute to it. Such as, a decision to take an unknown shortcut route. Then, the trigger for the accident is a failure or distraction. To avoid being distracted by the water dripping onto me, I focused on holding onto the rock. Hence, I named this craggy rock and overhang Dripping Water Rock. I felt frazzled. The sky was darkening with thunderclouds that could burst into a downpour at any moment. Craig followed me. He also had a look of concern on his face. He froze to the rock, starting to inch himself out of his precarious predicament. I said, “Don’t slip.” I’m not sure why we say things like that. Nobody is going to slip on purpose.

Then I felt myself slide a few inches toward the precipice as the wet rock was harder to grip. I froze with fear as I considered my next move. I was safe right there if I didn’t move. I thought that any move could make me slip again. With the incessant water dripping on my head and back, I tried to keep my composure. I scanned the rock looking for any protrusion that I could get a good handhold on. There were no good handholds, but I found a small knob large enough to grasp with three fingers. I didn’t think that was enough for me to hold my weight. With the portending threat of rain and lightning, I couldn’t stay there. The only way out was to backtrack. What were the chances of someone happening by with a rope? Very slim, especially since we were far from any trails. I weighed my options. I could stay there until a rescue team arrived. Before help could get there the rain could wash me over the edge. If you’re stuck on a mountain in need of a rescue and it is after 3:00 pm, you should expect you’ll be there overnight. It takes time to organize a rescue party.

After a few minutes that seemed like hours, I stopped my thoughts from racing toward panic. I had to remain calm. I blanked out the dripping water from my mind and concentrated on getting back to a safer position on the rock. Moving like a caterpillar, I inched my way off the dangerous ledge. For the next few minutes my heart pounded and sweat dripped off my forehead.

We both made it to safety. We sat for a few minutes allowing our pulses to return to normal. After our experience, I saw things in a new light. I was ready to backtrack all the way up to the top of the ridge if necessary. At least I knew that route was safe. I concluded that taking this shortcut was a dumb decision. I was young and had a lot to learn.

We backtracked up the ravine and found a better way around Dripping Water Rock. This route didn’t require us to climb back up to the ridgetop. We still made it down into the beautiful valley with plenty of daylight left. We sat down on a rock in the most beautiful setting. There was a perfect mix of grass, rocks, and wildflowers. Melting snow fed an intricate network of small alpine streams. To the west there was a jagged wall of high peaks. To the east was a U-shaped valley with scattered finger lakes. It was the perfect setting for winding down after the scary experience we had. It was soothing to be able to look back up at Dripping Water Rock from the safety of the valley floor.

Our experience on that afternoon was the topic of several campfire conversations on subsequent backpacking trips. My memories of that day remain vivid. It was an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. There is a special folder in my mind labeled “Rocky Mountain Adventures.” Since then, I’ve added many more adventures to the collection. I will continue exploring the mountains for as long as I’m able to.

This adventure was about gaining experience and finding my limits. Every time mountaineers venture into the high country they learn something new about themselves and the mountains. All mountaineers, from beginner to advanced, learn something on every climb. Even the best mountaineer doesn’t know everything. The mountain environment is dynamic. Every route on every mountain offers unique challenges. Even taking the same route on different days will be a distinct experience. You never climb the same mountain twice.

To learn more about me or the books I’ve written, please visit my author website at https://www.amazon.com/TJ-Burr/e/B004H9E2QI. Happy trails, and best wishes on your adventures in life.

Listen on Spotify at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2nHjwwyRvFcIDQ5STCY9ya?si=XOJxgV0fTHSboAODwEyRag.

Photo of the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area in Colorado (by TJ Burr)

The following is an excerpt from a book I wrote titled Rocky Mountain Adventure Collection. I will also provide this as a podcast if you would rather listen to it.

During my alpine adventures, I often push my courage to the edge and tell myself, “never again.” Then, a month later, the magnetic lure of high-country adventure draws me right back to the edge. Figuratively, the edge is the limit of my mountaineering ability. Literally, the edge could be the edge of a cliff, the boundary between safety and danger. The thin line between life and death.

This is a short story about an eternal moment. It is one of my experiences of being on the edge. The incident happened on a rock outcrop on a mountainside. We were above timberline in the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area in Colorado. I was with one of my best friends and trusted climbing partner, Craig. We started out on what we intended to be an easy climb up an unnamed mountain. As often happened, our easy-going climb turned into a hairy situation. We weren’t thrill-seeking but trying to find our limits.

Our experience on Dripping Water Rock on 14 July 1984 put us in the grip of death. That is third on the scale of nearness to death. The scale, from best to worst is near death, very near death, in the grip of death, and at God’s mercy. To put this into perspective, on our descent of Mt. Princeton’s Chalk Cliffs we were at God’s mercy. When mountaineers are at God’s mercy, they are beyond their limits in near death situations. On wrong move could be your last move. Free solo climbing is an example of being a God’s mercy.

Everyone who ventures into the mountains should know the limits of their abilities. We were young and still finding our limits. Sometimes you don’t recognize your limits until you are on the brink. Sometimes your adrenalin is flowing so high that it overtakes your fear instincts. That is what happened during our afternoon experience at Dripping Water Rock.

Our goal was to reach the top of an unnamed 11,000-foot peak. That put us on a grassy summit above timberline in the subalpine zone. It was an easy climb. The weather was spectacular. After a short rest we felt an extra boost of energy from the sunshine soaking into our skin. The peak was at the lower end of a ridge that forked off from the Continental Divide. Farther up the ridge, higher peaks called on us. I was almost always up for an extra challenge. So, we followed the ridge up toward the divide over several intermediate high points. Although the divide was a tempting target, it was too late in the afternoon to make a serious run for it. We decided to keep climbing until our instincts told us we should turn around to start back down.

Above 11,500 feet, the ridge grew narrow and jagged. It is a strip of the mountain between two valleys. Glaciers carved away rock from each side leaving a hard-rock spine between them. These glaciers still existed only 10,000 years ago. The tougher terrain slowed us down some. The sky grew ever darker with thunderclouds forming. Since thunderstorms could form with little notice, we took that as a warning to get to lower ground. Another warning came as a gust of wind. We knew that play time was over and we needed to get off the exposed ridge. I didn’t want any part of descending that ridge during a thunderstorm or even a rain shower. Your traction on wet terrain is about 30% of what it is on dry terrain.

The sides of the ridge were too exposed to make a safe descent, so we backtracked down the spine of the ridge. After several minutes of backtracking, the ridge sides became less steep. The U-shaped valley below looked beautiful. The valley was grassy and spotted with rocky knolls. Alpine streams with connecting pools meandered across the landscape. After a couple of hours on the barren, rocky ridge, the valley was appealing. To get down faster, I proposed a shortcut down the steep-sided ridge. Craig wasn’t keen about that idea but agreed to try it.

It wasn’t as steep as it was higher up, but it would still be a challenge to descend. It was a hard class-3 mountainside. Not too difficult, but not something you could do in your sleep. We maintained a three-point climbing technique while making the descent. That meant we only moved one limb at a time with the other three limbs gripping the mountain. We were careful to stay out of each other’s fall line since it was easy to dislodge rocks. The sound of falling rocks unnerves me. Sometimes a climber is falling with those rocks.

Then, midway down the mountainside, we came to a sheer edge on the ravine we were following. We were descending alongside a trickling stream in the bottom of the ravine. Unfortunately, the ravine ended with a cliff. From there the stream became a trickling waterfall. This is also known as being “cliffed off.” We didn’t feel like backtracking up the ravine, so we analyzed the terrain for other options. We saw one possible way to skirt around the edge of the cliff to get back on “safe” ground. We would have to traverse a slanted ledge that looked wet. Below the slanted ledge was a deadly vertical drop. Wet rock meant less friction. We suspected the ledge led to safety, but we couldn’t see past a large protruding rock mass. It was a situation on the borderline of requiring a rope belay for fall protection. But we hadn’t planned to do any technical climbing, so we didn’t have a rope with us. Our two choices were to take a risk crossing the ledge or to climb back up and around the obstacle.

Rather than back climbing, we decided to try traversing the ledge. We started across the ledge using a spread-eagle posture to maximize body contact with the rock. That would give us the most traction or friction force. We inched our bodies across the rock in an undulating motion. Our situation transformed into an ugly bear. Committed to the ledge, we traversed beneath an overhang, still on the sloping ledge. I could see a void of space off the edge of the ledge where gravity was tugging on me. Ahead there was a section with water trickling over the rock overhang onto the ledge. That meant we had to cross a section of slippery rock, slanted down toward the cliff with water dripping onto us. The drop off was a vertical rock face onto a steep mountainside.

We were in an uncomfortable position to say the least. I hugged the sloped granite slab and clung to fingertip holds.  Body friction kept me from slipping over the edge. I inched across trying to find the best handholds. Then I made it to the dripping, trickling water that landed on my head and back. There was no way around it, so I had to push on. In most accidents there is a chain of events that contribute to it. Such as, a decision to take an unknown shortcut route. Then, the trigger for the accident is a failure or distraction. To avoid being distracted by the water dripping onto me, I focused on holding onto the rock. Hence, I named this craggy rock and overhang Dripping Water Rock. I felt frazzled. The sky was darkening with thunderclouds that could burst into a downpour at any moment. Craig followed me. He also had a look of concern on his face. He froze to the rock, starting to inch himself out of his precarious predicament. I said, “Don’t slip.” I’m not sure why we say things like that. Nobody is going to slip on purpose.

Then I felt myself slide a few inches toward the precipice as the wet rock was harder to grip. I froze with fear as I considered my next move. I was safe right there if I didn’t move. I thought that any move could make me slip again. With the incessant water dripping on my head and back, I tried to keep my composure. I scanned the rock looking for any protrusion that I could get a good handhold on. There were no good handholds, but I found a small knob large enough to grasp with three fingers. I didn’t think that was enough for me to hold my weight. With the portending threat of rain and lightning, I couldn’t stay there. The only way out was to backtrack. What were the chances of someone happening by with a rope? Very slim, especially since we were far from any trails. I weighed my options. I could stay there until a rescue team arrived. Before help could get there the rain could wash me over the edge. If you’re stuck on a mountain in need of a rescue and it is after 3:00 pm, you should expect you’ll be there overnight. It takes time to organize a rescue party.

After a few minutes that seemed like hours, I stopped my thoughts from racing toward panic. I had to remain calm. I blanked out the dripping water from my mind and concentrated on getting back to a safer position on the rock. Moving like a caterpillar, I inched my way off the dangerous ledge. For the next few minutes my heart pounded and sweat dripped off my forehead.

We both made it to safety. We sat for a few minutes allowing our pulses to return to normal. After our experience, I saw things in a new light. I was ready to backtrack all the way up to the top of the ridge if necessary. At least I knew that route was safe. I concluded that taking this shortcut was a dumb decision. I was young and had a lot to learn.

We backtracked up the ravine and found a better way around Dripping Water Rock. This route didn’t require us to climb back up to the ridgetop. We still made it down into the beautiful valley with plenty of daylight left. We sat down on a rock in the most beautiful setting. There was a perfect mix of grass, rocks, and wildflowers. Melting snow fed an intricate network of small alpine streams. To the west there was a jagged wall of high peaks. To the east was a U-shaped valley with scattered finger lakes. It was the perfect setting for winding down after the scary experience we had. It was soothing to be able to look back up at Dripping Water Rock from the safety of the valley floor.

Our experience on that afternoon was the topic of several campfire conversations on subsequent backpacking trips. My memories of that day remain vivid. It was an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. There is a special folder in my mind labeled “Rocky Mountain Adventures.” Since then, I’ve added many more adventures to the collection. I will continue exploring the mountains for as long as I’m able to.

This adventure was about gaining experience and finding my limits. Every time mountaineers venture into the high country they learn something new about themselves and the mountains. All mountaineers, from beginner to advanced, learn something on every climb. Even the best mountaineer doesn’t know everything. The mountain environment is dynamic. Every route on every mountain offers unique challenges. Even taking the same route on different days will be a distinct experience. You never climb the same mountain twice.

To learn more about me or the books I’ve written, please visit my author website at https://www.amazon.com/TJ-Burr/e/B004H9E2QI. Happy trails, and best wishes on your adventures in life.

Listen on Spotify at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2nHjwwyRvFcIDQ5STCY9ya?si=XOJxgV0fTHSboAODwEyRag.

I culled the following words of wisdom from my favorites in my notes on wisdom. I have kept a “living” list of wisdom for 39 years. I keep written lists and notes on every major topic that interests me so that I can keep the best information for each subject in one document. My notes on wisdom contain 334 pages and 126,882 words. These are words of wisdom that have been reinforced many times throughout my life. I recently merged my philosophy notes with my wisdom notes because they are closely related topics. Other notes that I keep are for financial information, science, physics, humor, legal, mountaineering, health, and self-defense. For work, I keep notes for each major topic that I use regularly, such as hydraulic engineering, hydrology, site layout, road design, and many others.

This wisdom comes from a variety of intelligent people over centuries.

I published Part 1 of Fifteen Quick Hits of Wisdom in 2017. This is a continuation.

The greatest battles of life are fought out daily in the silent chambers of the soul. (David McKay) Our minds never stop thinking of things. We wrangle with ourselves inside our minds every day.Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality. Everyone takes a unique path through life. We gain knowledge through the passage of time. If you know things that could help others, pass it on.A person is content if they can find happiness in simple pleasures. For me, hiking is a simple pleasure that gives me peace-of-mind.It is never too late to change your direction or attitude. Changing your attitude is easy. You simply redirect your mind, your thoughts. Your worst day may be someone else’s best day.It is better to stay silent, rather than say something you will regret. Once you release your words you cannot take them back. The same is true of text messages and posts on social media. It is best to think before you speak.Strive to be patient. Patience fosters peace and quiet. Patience is a virtue.There are no shortcuts to any place worth going to.Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.Focus on being a positive force in the world. Don’t squander your energy on negative emotions.The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it. (Henry David Thoreau)Nothing is worth more than today. (Johann Wolfgang van Goethe) Now is all we really have. The past is gone, and the future isn’t here yet.The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today’s work superbly well. (Sir William Osler)Warriors are not always the fastest or strongest. Warriors are those who stand between their enemy and all that they love or hold sacred. Books representing an accumulation of knowledge (Royalty Free, Pexels.com, 2021)

I culled the following words of wisdom from my favorites in my notes on wisdom. I have kept a “living” list of wisdom for 39 years. I keep written lists and notes on every major topic that interests me so that I can keep the best information for each subject in one document. My notes on wisdom contain 334 pages and 126,882 words. These are words of wisdom that have been reinforced many times throughout my life. I recently merged my philosophy notes with my wisdom notes because they are closely related topics. Other notes that I keep are for financial information, science, physics, humor, legal, mountaineering, health, and self-defense. For work, I keep notes for each major topic that I use regularly, such as hydraulic engineering, hydrology, site layout, road design, and many others.

This wisdom comes from a variety of intelligent people over centuries.

I published Part 1 of Fifteen Quick Hits of Wisdom in 2017. This is a continuation.

The greatest battles of life are fought out daily in the silent chambers of the soul. (David McKay) Our minds never stop thinking of things. We wrangle with ourselves inside our minds every day.Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality. Everyone takes a unique path through life. We gain knowledge through the passage of time. If you know things that could help others, pass it on.A person is content if they can find happiness in simple pleasures. For me, hiking is a simple pleasure that gives me peace-of-mind.It is never too late to change your direction or attitude. Changing your attitude is easy. You simply redirect your mind, your thoughts. Your worst day may be someone else’s best day.It is better to stay silent, rather than say something you will regret. Once you release your words you cannot take them back. The same is true of text messages and posts on social media. It is best to think before you speak.Strive to be patient. Patience fosters peace and quiet. Patience is a virtue.There are no shortcuts to any place worth going to.Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.Focus on being a positive force in the world. Don’t squander your energy on negative emotions.The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it. (Henry David Thoreau)Nothing is worth more than today. (Johann Wolfgang van Goethe) Now is all we really have. The past is gone, and the future isn’t here yet.The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today’s work superbly well. (Sir William Osler)Warriors are not always the fastest or strongest. Warriors are those who stand between their enemy and all that they love or hold sacred. Books representing an accumulation of knowledge (Royalty Free, Pexels.com, 2021)