Walks with Moss: Mobs of idiots on Mount Rose

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Mobs of idiots on Mount Rose

Pipe smoking idiot camped on the summit, his clothes spread everywhere

My departure from the house was delayed due to financial issues. Others arrive at the trail head as I did. I decided to hike fast so I would not have to see them. But they slowly were catching up to me. About 1 mile into the hike I stopped to let them by, but they stopped too. Then another couple with dogs came by. Both dogs were leashed and they seemed like a nice couple. I let them by too. But then they started talking with the first couple and they all slowed down. They kept taking breaks and as soon as I would catch up to them they would leave. This was very frustrating for me. I don’t mind seeing others on the trail but I don’t want to have to listen to people for my entire hike. I hike to clear my head and sooth my PTSD, not to hear people chatter or be startled by their dogs.

This kept happenening for the next mile so I stopped for a full ten minutes to be rid of them even though I really wanted to climb fast today. After a ten minute break I figured they would be long gone, but nope, they took a ten minute break. I don’t know if it was conscious but they were trying to keep me in sight. Maybe the idea of being alone on the mountain frightened them. I thought about just bagging it... turning around going back to my car and getting away from the noise. But then I decided if I could just take the loop in a different direction I could be rid of them.

Before I reached the junction a couple with an unleashed dog came down. They did not control their dog and the dog forced me to stop and wait. Courtesy is to control your dog and yield to the hiker going uphill.

When I got to the junction they were all sitting there waiting for me to see what direction to turn. One of them was smoking a green pipe. I told them that I hate leapfrogging and I was going the long way 1.6 miles, they decided to go the short way 1.1 miles Ahhhh relief at last.. I had an extra ½ mile to hike so they should be done with their summit sit by the time I reached the summit. The 1.6 mile trail was foggy and felt primeval. I passed 4 people who were going down the trail. One had a standard poodle that was out of control and gave me a startle response. The owner never apologized for letting her out of control dog frighten me. Having my startle response set off undid all the relaxation I got on that section of the trail. I also ran into a woman who is older than me who made me promise that I would always hike and not feel guilty about leaving my kids at home.

Much to my horror, when I got to the summit the very annoying smoking couple was on the summit with their clothes and other belongings spread out all over it. It took some coaxing to get them to move enough of their stuff so I could sit down. The dog owners were polite and were just leaving. That’s how it works on a tiny summit like Rose. You don’t camp there; you take your ten minutes or so and then get off the rock so others can enjoy their work.

The man was still smoking and he was enjoying the top freedom that only males have. I wanted some top freedom. The woman was in just a sports bra. I sat for about ten seconds when two more people arrived on the summit. It was clear that they wanted the summit and the smoking couple was not going to move ever.

This was not Mount Rose to me, so I left and let the next folks onto the summit. My total time on the summit was about 1 minute. I headed down the short trail and ran into 3 other people on their way to the summit. The summit can hold three people, there were 7 people wanting to be on it.

I decided that since my goal of solitude and relaxation had been destroyed I needed a new goal. My new goal was to get the hell off the Mountain as quickly as possible. 3 hour up 1 hour down... 4 hours total. This was my fastest trip up and down Rose and the only bad trip I have ever had going up Rose.

I won’t hike Rose again until Ellinor is open. It’s idiots who normally hike on Ellinor and don’t really know anything about back country courtesy that ruined my experience today. There was toilet paper tucked into every nook and cranny. I’ve not seen that on Rose before. The trail is getting quite wide and trampled down with all the extra traffic.

I sure hope they re-open Mount Ellinor soon. I also wish they would put the closed sign out on 101 so folks can have the option of doing Lena lake, instead of being stuck in the Staircase area when they find out Ellinor is closed.

I'll also be glad when the snows come. Rose seems safe to snowshoe year round if one takes the right route and I get Rose all to myself when it is snow covered.

3,200 feet elevation gain 6.2 miles