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Drift Peak Attempt

Statistics

  • Date - 11/10/2006
  • Elevation - 12,850'
  • Route - Mayflower Gulch
  • Miles - 4.8
  • Elevation Gain - 2,000'
  • ACME Mapper - Link
  • CalTopo - Link
  • Partners - Not Applicable

Description

My late start caught up with me on this trip and I didn't have the time to summit.  I wasn't hiking from the Mayflower Gulch Trailhead until 9:00 because I couldn't get myself out of bed.  By the time I reached about 13,000' on Drift Peak's west ridge, I knew I wouldn't have enough time to summit and be back home by 4:00 to get my kids from school.  The snowshoe to the west ridge of Drift near Gold Hill was easy with little elevation gain.  Once I gained the ridge, I was surprised at how much snow it was holding and how difficult the climbing was.  I was expecting a fairly easy hike.  Anyway, I was slowed down significantly with trail breaking and post-holing.  The final steep 1,000' to the summit of Drift Peak didn't look like it was going to get easier than what I had already been through, so I threw in the towel and decided to return another day.

Photos

Mayflower GulchPacific PeakDrift PeakLooking down the west ridge of Drift Peak.Breaking TrailRidge HikingDrift Peak