#2 ARIZONA – Humphrey’s Peak (12,633 ft)

 

Summit Team:  Shaun Zinck & Andrew Patterson

 

Support Team:  Lara Patterson, Leslie Patterson & Sarah

Date:  November 2001

 

 

Summit Notes

Around 11am Leslie, Lara, Shaun, Sarah (my dog) and I (Andy) began our climb to summit Humphrey’s Peak, the high point of Arizona.  The previous day we had hiked the Grand Canyon so we were all pretty tired.  The day was cold but we were protected from the wind by the vast forest of cedar trees.  About a mile up the mountain, my sister Leslie could no longer put up with the pain in her left leg.  The day before at the Grand Canyon, she favored that leg to take each step up the canyon.  Today it gave out.  My wife Lara was pretty worn out as well, so she stayed behind to keep Leslie company.  Shaun, Sarah, and I continued on and kept talking to Lara and Leslie by radio.

 

As we continued to climb, the cedar forest turned into dense pine.  The hike was not to strenuous at this point but it grew frustrating that we were not yet above the tree line.  I would occasionally stop to rest and eat some Fig Newtons.  I really wasn’t in the best shape for this trip but I new I could make it.  Shaun however was in such good shape he would go off exploring the mountain while I rested.  He also carried with him his entire backpack with ropes, while I only carried my day pack.  He just wanted to see if he could do it.  At this point, he could.  My dog Sarah led the way enthusiastically.

 

After about three hours we came out of the forest and enjoyed the view while continuing our climb above the tree line.  At this point, the climb was much more difficult because the terrain was so rocky that at points, you had to crawl on hands and knees just to take the next step up.  Going on was extremely difficult because I really was out of shape.  Sarah began to whimper and I could tell she would not be able to go on much more.  She was having to jump up every point we had to crawl up and was really having use all her strength to go on.  I picked her up for a few more big climbs hoping that this steep climb would ease up but it continued on.  We ended up having to leave her tied to a large rock with plenty of water and food.  Afterall, she was only an indoor dog. 

 

Four hours into the trip we were passed by a husband and wife team coming down.  They had passed us before on the way up.  That was discouraging.  It didn’t help that we were from the lowlands of Texas, not used to the high altitude.  Again, I was really out of shape.  At this point, we were above all the hard climbing but the altitude was such a big change for us that we had to continually take breaks.  It seemed each step was a huge challenge.  I began to doubt if I could make it.  Even Shaun began to show signs of fatigue.  On top of the high ridge, just below the summit, we lost contact with our team below because our FRS radios could only work at a distance of about two miles.  We were alone and the afternoon sun began to drop. 

 

After digging deep inside ourselves, and after about four false summits, we reached the summit.  It had taken us close to five hours.  We triumphantly stood on top of the highest mountain in Arizona at 12, 633 feet.  I took some video and pictures while Shaun celebrated with a victory smoke.  We began our descent shortly after.

 

On the trip down, Shaun began to show signs of altitude sickness.  He wobbled when he walked and was very dizzy.  He was sick to his stomach and vomited multiple times as we made our way down.  I began to understand what mountain climbers mean when they say that making it to the top is only half way.  I was worried about my friend because we were a long way from being down and the sun continued to drop.  I guess he shouldn’t have smoked that cigar…or carried a full load…or used up all his energy exploring…oh, well.  That’s Shaun.

 

As we came down off the high ridge we found Sarah happily wagging her tail.  She seemed to have recovered and looked rested.  Shaun on the other hand continued to vomit.  We needed to get down quickly.  We hurried down the mountain and stopped only for short breaks and to let Shaun puke.  With about two miles left, Leslie and Lara met us and helped carry Shaun’s load.    By this time, the sun had gone down and the only way we found our way out of the forest was to follow Sarah.  She seemed to smell the trail and ran ahead of us.  After a total of eight hours, we made it back to the CR-V and we all felt a lot better.  The mountain had beaten us, but in the end…VICTORY.

 

Overall, it was a beautiful trip.  The journey was worth it.  We all learned about the unforgiving nature of mountains, but this time she let us go.  Next time we will be better prepared and better in shape.  TWO DOWN.  FORTY EIGHT TO GO.