Close To Home Adventure 3/31/09

Took a short steep hike of 3 miles, from Buffalo Creek at 6600 feet, to the top of "Baldy Peak" at 7872 feet, a nice modrate verticle gain 1272 feet. This was the birthday adventure. Celebrating fifty with a little work out.
This hike and climb holds adventure classification. It was a cool and very windy day. I packed a medium pack with gear, lunch, a traditional hiking beer, and a special Macallan's 18 year old highland scotch, ($$$) to celebrate the sumit on my 50th birthday.
The day started awesome but a hair late at 2pm. Sun was shining and temps fair. I cris-crossed the Sandy Wash Trail on the way up so I could get some cross country time in, and maybe find some antler sheds or see some cool wild life. I did come accross a pair of owels....but that was it. They took flight before I could get a picture.
The last 1/4 mile was steep and rough off traik terrain. Then the final approach to sumit was probably a 5.4 scramble. I had to ditch my heavy pack and tie my lunch bag on a small rope and sling it. There was some snow and ice for this last pitch and I actually got good use from my ice axe.
WoooooHooooo!!!!!!! Up on top of "Baldy" were some amazing 360 degree views. And the wind was insane ! I found the sumit log and signed it. Then made my way to the geo-marker and the physical high point. SWEET!
I hunkered down in a crevas and ate lunch, sipped fine Scotch, had nice IPA Micro Brew, and did some journaling. I spent an hour up on Baldy and took lots of pic's and movies.
The decent back to Buffalo Creek was great. I soaked up the late day colors and sunset and had another IPA for the hike out. As usual......walked out in the dark to the Jeep.
I had planned on making that the Birthday hike for the past 6 months. Not a real exciting adventure......but Mother Nature threw in some curve balls with wind snow and ice, making a fairly simple day out a bit more challenging.
OK.....don't know what the next one will be....stay tuned.................JIM