Snow Covered Mountains & HMI Rock

Written by Cece & Nichola

On September 25th, after a three day orientation on the HMI campus, Fall Rock 2022 embarked on their first expedition in the Sawatch Mountains. We packed out heavy 100 liter packs with all the food and gear that we needed in the bus barn before being dropped off somewhere in the mountains. 

Our first few days went smoothly and were filled with ample silliness, joy, warm food, and love. On a layover day we went to Douglass City, a mining ghost town and bouldered together for the first time. Our collective excitement was palpable as we smashed our feet into our climbing shoes. Green and orange fall colors surrounded us as we climbed. The ghost city echoed with our cheers of encouragement and joy as we all reconnected with the rocks. 

A few days later we found ourselves at Heart Shaped Lake at the base of Mt. Massive. After a mountain ecology class with our instructor, Macy– we got cooking! It was fun … at first… midway through preparation it began to hail. In the distance we heard thunder creeping closer to our camp, then FLASH!!! The first lightning strike alerted our instructor team and sent us all into lightning position for 50 minutes straight. By this time it was snowing relentlessly. With sore ankles and cold bodies we trudged through the snow back to our kitchens. We ate lightning fast.. Get it?… and filled our Nalgenes with hot cocoa. Even though it was only 8 pm, we also went straight to our tarps, sagging with the weight of the snow to get warm. 

The morning came eventually, and with it snow-covered pines, a glittering lake, and Mt. Massive skirted with clouds. We packed up quickly so we could get on trail to try and dry out our wet clothes. Unfortunately, the snow followed us through the remaining days, so when the time came for us to head out of the mountains and across the valley to a dryer, warmer climate at Turtle Rock, we were really excited. 

With the mountains behind us, our finally dry bodies were stoked to go climbing at Bob’s Rock. We learned how to belay on ATC’s and began to top rope on some sharp granite rock. We were all so grateful to be done living in our packs and to share our passion of climbing with one another.

For our next trip we’ll head to Rifle, CO to start a more intense rock climbing curriculum. We can’t wait to get back into our climbing shoes and onto the rocks!