Mt Allan

Finally, Aug 16, made it out for my first hike of the year! Pretty sad actually that it's this late in the year.

So despite being the first hike, somehow ended up doing a 20+ km 1400m elevation hike, a bit over 8 hours. Took two cars so we could do the full traverse of Mount Allan. Tried to get started fairly early, but with the extra driving, it was close to 10 when we started hiking and already could feel that it was going to be a scorcher. Went a reasonable speed, and were often frustrated to look back and see the pair of litle asian ladies in their flowery floppy hats seemed to still be right behind us! We should have been leaving them in the dust! :) It was pretty steep, but we got to the weather station at "olympic peak" and had lunch. I was dismayed to see how much farther distance and elevation it was to the top of mount allan, but it ended up not feeling as long as it looked. Great feeling to be on top of the world like that, can't believe I could have left it so long. Temperature on the way up was hot but not crazy bad as there were clouds and a breeze. Got pretty hot on the way down at some points though. Was a nice variety of terrain, only a couple parts were a bit sketchy with steep gravelly scree, or exposure, but nothing too worrisome. Ended with a nice walk through forest paths, but as with many long day hikes, those last few kilometers you just want it to be done. My feet were really tired. I was actually impressed with myself though, I had expected to have been much slower and more tired and weak considering how little I've done for a long time. Always nice to discover you're fitter than you thought, even if it's still far below where you should be.

Oh the funniest part of the day was back at the car, someone had "crocs" style plasticky sandals, and having been such a crazy hot day, they had shrunk in the car! One must have been in sun while the other was in shade, so it had shriveled even further! It was hilarious! And her husband intends to take them back and ask for a refund.

With temple stuff next weekend and then leaving for work for a month, I really hope this wasn't my one and only hike of the year.