Despite High Wind Warning, Beth Earns her 20th Peak on Porphyry
High wind warnings didn't stop the Giggers from heading to Porphyry Peak so that Beth could get her last peak in the "Climb 20 Peaks in 2020" Challenge. And the weather wasn't that bad. We did get some snow flurries, some sun, but the wind wasn't that bad; temperatures in the 30s.
We left Great Falls at 8 am, meeting Kalah at Cougar Canyon in Monarch; then after a quick stop at Silver Crest, we got to the top of Kings HIll, parked and were on trail by 9:30. We were pleasantly surprised that the trail had been broken, so the going was fairly easy.
This was a fast group, making mast time without stops to the top of Porphyry Peak for a view from the lookout tower. We did notice that new signs warning of snowshoers have been put up at the dangerous curve where the back country trail joins the alpine runs. We have often had to scurry out of the way of snowboarders in particular. And since this was opening weekend for Showdown, there were quite a few skiers and boarders on the hill.
We arrived at the top but declined going into the Top Rock warming hut due to COVID. In fact, we were surprised it was even open. We often stop for lunch either at the picnic tables (too windy today) or at the hut, but we also were way ahead of lunch time, so opted to eat in our cars on the way home.
Then we tore down the mountain, probably setting a GiG record for climbing Porphyry Peak. We arrived back in town around 1:30.
A side note: Kalah may be headed to the Middle East for a few months next year and might rent her place. Anyone interested?
Who went: Beth, Amber, Beth, Brenda, Kalah
We left Great Falls at 8 am, meeting Kalah at Cougar Canyon in Monarch; then after a quick stop at Silver Crest, we got to the top of Kings HIll, parked and were on trail by 9:30. We were pleasantly surprised that the trail had been broken, so the going was fairly easy.
This was a fast group, making mast time without stops to the top of Porphyry Peak for a view from the lookout tower. We did notice that new signs warning of snowshoers have been put up at the dangerous curve where the back country trail joins the alpine runs. We have often had to scurry out of the way of snowboarders in particular. And since this was opening weekend for Showdown, there were quite a few skiers and boarders on the hill.
We arrived at the top but declined going into the Top Rock warming hut due to COVID. In fact, we were surprised it was even open. We often stop for lunch either at the picnic tables (too windy today) or at the hut, but we also were way ahead of lunch time, so opted to eat in our cars on the way home.
Then we tore down the mountain, probably setting a GiG record for climbing Porphyry Peak. We arrived back in town around 1:30.
A side note: Kalah may be headed to the Middle East for a few months next year and might rent her place. Anyone interested?
Who went: Beth, Amber, Beth, Brenda, Kalah
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