Pollock Mountain

Early in the week got a call from Kent, asking if I want to hike up Pollock Mountain with him Sunday. Talk about a friend in need, as I've been going nuts waiting for snow to fall. He will drive, I'll bring the snow shoes. It's a plan.

Funny little coincidence: I have long eye-balled the peaks around Meadows Valley and researched them online, scheming on climbing them. I was studying this one just a few days before Kent telephoned. Pollock is about 8100 feet, and the trail head elevation is about 5200 feet, and trail is about 4 miles.

Here's Kent and one of his border collies, Sky. Also in attendance was Abbie. We hit the trail about 9 AM. Kent hiked Pollock many times and estimated 5-6 hours up, 2-3 hours down. Plenty of time to avoid hiking in the dark, as long as nothing went wrong.

This is mostly what I saw of Kent: long legs and superior fitness. Kent volunteered to take photos of me, and Sky. I believe it's 3 miles to Pollock Mtn. Lookout from here.
Kent allowed himself to be photographed. Around 6800 feet, steep trail & 12" of snow. Kent far ahead. Jenni suggested I product test Atlas Back Country snow shoes, and the time had come. Strapped them on and flipped up the heel lift bars (visible behind my left heel). Instead of hiking the trail, which zig-zagged many switch-backs up the slope, I hiked straight up. The crampons provide incredible traction, and heel lift bars assist greatly on steep ascents. Caught up w/ Kent at Cold Springs. Replenished our water.
Cold Springs Saddle about 12:45 PM. Ate food, took pictures. Chilly wind.
Kent set off while I looked for my gloves.
Couldn't find my gloves. Off I go, catch up to Kent. Again.

More steep hiking and we reached a small saddle below the summit. About 1:30 PM.

Just behind that rocky top is the summit. Kent said he'd gone straight up the rocks before, but not with Abbie and Sky, so he took the trail.

Going steep and straight had worked for me this far, so I decided to try it. Snowshoed as far as I could, then strapped the snow shoes and poles to my pack and started climbing.

I scaled over two giant boulders and looked up. I decided it was too dangerous to pursue this route. Put the snow shoes on and headed back to the trail. Time wasted and I was really tired.

Half way around I met Kent coming back. He already reached summit and came back to check on me. About 2:15 PM. So close to summit, but Kent didn't want us hiking in the dark.

Kent was greatly relieved when I told him I brought a good headlamp and a powerful flashlight. To the top.

Picture time. Kent took most of these.

Coming around to give back the gloves Kent lent me.

Looking to the Southwest

South

The restroom is secured with cables so the wind won't blow it away.

I brought the phone, so we called our wives and told them we may be back long after dark.

Didn't take more photos, and it's a shame because we had a blast heading down. The combined stability and flexibility of the Atlas snow shoes enabled us to descend 1200 feet off-trail. As a result we made it back to the truck easily before dark. Thank you Kent.

P.S. - found my gloves on the trail down.