Chicago Basin
A mountain trip with beautiful sunsets and inclement weather can be an exhilarating and memorable experience. Imagine embarking on a hiking trip with a special person, surrounded by towering peaks and breathtaking vistas.
As I climbed higher and higher, the air gets thinner, and the temperature drops and the snow capped peaks are in my view. I start to feel the wind whipping and hear the distant rumble of thunder echoing through the valleys knowing that I will be pushed away from our summits if we’re not quick enough.
As the sun begins to set, the sky turns into a palette of orange, pink, and purple hues. The mountains are bathed in a warm, golden light, and the view is simply awe-inspiring. I take a moment to soak in the beauty of nature and reflect on the journey so far and what I accomplished for the day.
When night falls on that first day the weather takes a turn for the worse. The wind picks up, and the snow starts coming down, and every piece of gear begins to freeze. I snuggled up in my sleeping bag, hoping the weather will allow us to summit another peak or two the following day.
Despite the challenging weather, the mountain scenery remains stunning. I watch as the snow slowly falls as the sunset begins to subside, and the clouds swirl around the peaks. It's an incredible reminder of the raw power of nature.
As morning dawns, the snow has stopped, and the clouds begin to clear. I stepped outside and breathe in the fresh, crisp air. The mountains are even more beautiful in the morning light with a light dusting, and I’m grateful to have witnessed such a spectacular display of nature's beauty and power.
We pushed onto the next summit with hopes of getting two that day. With bluebird skies and not a single cloud in the sky I was hopeful. We pushed forward only to be met with post-holing and thunder snow just a few hundred feet from the summit. I then realized that we are now forced by mother nature’s choosing and descend back to camp, but just above tree line we stop and enjoy the scenery again knowing I’ll be back to accomplish this goal I have set forth.
As we reach you camp we pack up our gear and begin the descent, feeling energized and inspired by the experience. I know that this mountain trip will stay with you for a lifetime, and I couldn’t wait to share the photos that came from such an experience. I’ll be back Chicago Basin.
Summit
