Hike: Little Molas Saddle

Last year, Peg, my good friend (and partner in countless hiking/backpacking adventures) moved to Victoria, BC. It was the end of an era, as she was really the one to show me the ropes in backpacking and the San Juan mountains in general. I still remember spreading those maps out on the floor in Hesperus and salivating over them, planning our next wilderness foray. She was back in Durango last week for a visit and we took advantage of yesterday, her last day in town, for a nostalgic hike to familiar territory.

A bit of catching up over eggs Benedict and coffee at Carver's in Durango started our day. We then headed north of Durango to Little Molas Lake to hike up to a saddle that ends up at the base of Sultan and Grand Turk peaks, which we had attempted to climb twice, once successfully. (Judging from her reaction when I began reminiscing, I think Peg is still miffed that I dragged her up Sultan in gale-force winds.)

During the climb up, we had impressive views across the valley of the spiky Grenadier Range and the hulking Twilight and Snowdon Massifs, which never cease to get my heart pounding. There is something of a sobering feeling in viewing from afar these valleys and peaks that I have visited so often, perhaps like watching an old friend in a crowd who is distracted with conversation with someone else, acknowledging you with barely a glance. It takes little more than the pine-laden folds between their feet, the remembrance of rivers hiding there, mist rising from ponds in the dawn. The mountains there are like that for me: old friends with whom I've stayed up at night having intimate conversations; we know one another, but they are sometimes aloof.

After crossing the saddle, and having limited time and energy, we decided to find a close high point to take in the view and chat a bit about how life is playing out in our separate worlds. Some things are always the same, some things can never be. But the mountains did finally show up, that silent third party nodding in sympathy and agreement as we cast our fears and wishes for freedom into the wind.