Two O'Clock Ridge Hike: Limping up and just on time

Date completed: January 26, 2025
Climbing partners: Anna, Charis, & Isaac
Difficulty level: moderate, slippery because of the type of snow
Distance & elevation: 11.5km out and back; 1136m gained
Hours to complete: 6 (approximately)
Recommendation: A great hike you don't need all day to complete. Beautiful views & some special trees. I wish we had the time to make the peak, but the ridge false summit is totally worth it!

This was my first big hike of the season as I've been recovering from my lisfranc fracture. We wanted something that would keep us busy and enjoying the beauty in the middle of the day without needing an early start or late finish. This was the perfect hike for that!

I recommend walking straight through the campgrounds northeast until you come to trail intersections. Continue on past the intersection and cross over the creek to walk above a little cliff band. We got a little turned around and had to do a light scramble around the band to get back up to the proper trail.

There are many Douglas Firs along this route, but this was the largest we found. Absolutely massive. After measuring it around, we estimate it is between 200-300 years old! so cool! and so beautiful.

We made it up about halfway at 12:30 or so and had lunch on this little bench. At this point, I was really feeling fatigued and slow. It had been months of inactivity with my foot injury, and tack onto that my other digestive health problems and you get a really slow Alex. I was also in a massive calorie deficit at this point from adjusting to my new diet. With my pace being so slow, we decided that it would be best if we split - I'd hang out in the back on my own and chug on while the others would make a push for the false summit.

After slipping around in the treeline, I broke out into the alpine and the views were stunning. It feels like you are close to the ridge summit here, and you can go quick, but it is deceptively further than you think (especially in the snow). To make it easier on myself, I left my backpack here and walked up with just my trekking poles.

Even though we were a bit behind on our turnaround time, I was still able to make it to the ridge summit, even with my slower than normal pace! I was so thankful, considering this day was quite the test of my foot and fitness.

We started the walk down, and realized we were descending blazing fast - now the snow was less a hinderance than a boon! We were able to take it easy and take little moments to just enjoy the views.

We worried we wouldn't make it back to the Lodge for dinner, but it became apparent that we had plenty of time!

I also quite enjoyed the walk back to the car; the whole day we got the blessing of watching the light change the mountains. The golden sunset made it that much more beautiful.

Finally, we found an old derelict on our way out.
And we made it just in time for dinner!

I'm writing this months later, but it's so encouraging to remember all that God did that day. I got to spend time in the back, just praying and thinking with Him. This (massive) test of the healing of my foot was a ray of sunshine in my anxiety inducing process to determine diagnosis, prognosis, & treatment. My body holding up and being able to endure all the way to the top was an experience of God's blessing - the blessing of the power he's put into the body for healing, the blessing of companionship with friends, & the blessing of his beautiful creation which we have the opportunity to enjoy.

"Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!
Glory in his holy name; let the heart of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!
Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgements he uttered..."
1 Chronicles 16:9-12