I’m pretty satisfied with what was accomplished in 2022. I wanted to do a lot, but only did a little. Yet the little that I did, was significant from the list of things I want to do. Here’s a summary of what I was able to get done.
STATE HIGHPOINTS
As the year started out, my plans were intent on getting the rest of the west done in 2022. However, I have two daughters that chose wedding dates in August and September. That made it so I was only able to knock out one new state highpoint this year… but it was an epic one!
With that shift in focus for me this summer, I was happy to have gotten Wyoming in July and Utah for a third time in early August.
A recent invitation to do Denali in May also caused me to pause and consider the reality of that state being next in line. More on that in “Mountaineering” below.
SIX-PACK OF PEAKS
I also participated in the second annual Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge for Utah. This year’s selection changed only 3 of the 6 peaks, adding Lookout, Deseret and Nebo to the six-pack for 2022:
- Grandeur Peak – elevation 8,299′
- Lookout Peak – elevation 8,931′
- Gobbler’s Knob – elevation 10,242′
- Deseret Peak – elevation 11,031′
- Mount Timpanogos – elevation 11,749′
- Mount Nebo – elevation 11,929′
Like last year, I have done all but one of these peaks already more than once. So to make it more interesting again, I chose to be more creative in how I approached each peak. The challenge kicked off for me with a Timp summit from Everest Ridge in April followed by my favorite route to Deseret Peak in May. As we got into June, I did Lookout Peak for the first time and scaled the Dragon’s Tail to Grandeur with relative ease. With four down and two to go, a small group of us tackled the Nebo Traverse on July 2nd and then I bushwhacked the North Ridge of Gobbler’s Knob with my brother-in-law on July 8th.
The finishers list shows the date I submitted my entry for the last peak, not the date I actually finished that final peak… which I think is a design flaw. Either way, there were only three finishers again like last year… kinda lame if you ask me.
MOUNTAINEERING
Mountaineering took a back seat for me as well in 2022. Besides those already mentioned (Everest Ridge, Deseret Peak and Gannett), I didn’t get any other ice axe or crampon action this year. I did, however, recently get invited to climb Denali next May (2023). I was very excited for the opportunity at first, but now find myself struggling to commit. As much as I want to join this very capable group for such an adventure, it feels like I am jumping the gun on my technical experience and readiness.
The timing of this opportunity and my personal progression of skills and experiences is what I’m wrestling with the most. More specifically, my mountaineering experience with no formal training has been nothing more than at a beginner’s level thus far (Cold Fusion, Everest Ridge, Deseret Peak couloirs, even Gannett isn’t advanced imo). Doing Denali next feels like I am skipping a valuable intermediate level (Hood, Shasta, Baker, Rainier) and jumping straight to advanced. That order of things makes me uneasy.
Could I do it? Sure, especially since no one has questioned or challenged my gap.
Should I do it? Probably not yet, as I feel about a year or more behind everyone else in this particular expedition group.
OTHER EPIC ADVENTURES
Hiking across the Grand Canyon is always an epic adventure. I chose a Double Rim to Rim on Memorial Day weekend for my fourth and fifth time doing this.
As July came around, a small group of us tackled the full Nebo Traverse and, a few days later, the infamous Beatout. I also chipped away at my list of Wasatch 11ers with a loop at Alta for Sugarloaf Peak and Mount Baldy. My annual trip to Denver in September also allowed me to take care of some unfinished business on Torrey’s Peak (14,267′) and then Grays (14,278′) for the second time.
I have not one single complaint for what was accomplished this year.
