Draft Horse was feeling eager and excited. But also anxious and
apprehensive. Mountain Goat was back in town (again), ardently awaiting an
Awesome Adventure on a Pointy Peak with her ponderous partner–in-crime. But neither
Mountain Goat nor Draft Horse was feeling exactly in the tippy toppest of
tiptop shape. Mountain Goat had been languishing in the lowlands of Tenny-see
and the anoxic alpine air of the Great Snowy Mountains made her huff and puff
and gasp and rasp. Draft Horse was recovering from an insulting injury to her favoured
foreleg. She was of the opinion that chocolate was requisite for a rapid recovery
and as she relished a rapid recovery, she had chomped and chewed that choccie
with diligent dedication from her soft and squishy sofa. The result was
regrettably not a rapid recovery, but a Draft Horse who was even draft-horsier
than usual (if you can imagine!).
And so it was, as they were standing in the shadows of the Pointy Peak, about to start strolling upwards Searing Sun made an appearance, Mountain Goat uttered “Let’s rock ‘n’ roll!” with the teensiest tinge of trepidation.
Draft Horse muttered, in a tone reminiscent of dear Eeyore,
“Let’s lurch and lumber!”
Mountain Goat and Draft Horse saw not a soul as they slowly ascended the tame but tiresome trail that led eventually to a JAGL (Just Another Gorgeous Lake). Or perhaps it was a YABL (Yet Another Beautiful Lake). In the far, far distance, loomed the ludricously lofty Pointy Peak. They stopped to snack while savoring the sight but were soon besieged by a squadron of marauding mosquitoes. “Let’s rock ‘n’ roll,” exclaimed Mountain Goat.
“Let’s lurch and lumber,” chorused Draft Horse.
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| The YABL or JAGL: Francis Lake from the Tamarack Lakes Trailhead at Rock Creek Lake. Mount Morgan South (13,775ft) is the high point in the distance. The route to the ridge is on the right. |
Above the JAGL (or YABL), their rocky route rose to a remote ridge that appeared to be a jumbled tumble of talus leading eventually to the Pointy Peak. They regarded the ridge with some alarm. It looked fearfully far. “I think perhaps I will aim to merely reach the ridge”, stated Draft Horse, feeling her foreleg throb, “The Pointy Peak appears ludicrously lofty. “ However, Mountain Goat confidently declared “I believe I can foot it further” and began bounding bouncily upwards. “Let’s rock ‘n’ roll!”
“Let’s lurch and lumber” mumbled Draft Horse, stumbling along in her wake.
So up up up they climbed, both of them rasping and gasping and huffing and puffing in the alpine air. Draft Horse waddled and toddled while Mountain Goat skipped
and tripped (albeit with a little less of her usual sashay and swagger and a
smidgen more of a shambling amble). There was noticeably less of the chitting
and chatting of the ways of the world than usual but Mountain Goat stopped for several
costume changes so THAT hadn’t changed in the least! Draft Horse added one
layer which made Mountain Goat declare the costume change count to be coequal. As
mathematics was not Mountain Goat’s domain and reaching the rocky ridge appeared
imminent, they quit quibbling and amicably agreed to disagree. “Let’s rock ‘n
roll”, suggested Mountain Goat.
“Let’s lurch and lumber,” agreed Draft Horse.
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| The ridge leading to the summit. |
Finally, with limp legs and lit lungs, they reached the remote rocky ridge. There a spectacular and sublime scene was revealed and they reveled in that stunning sight. Mountain Goat gasped and Draft Horse rasped, but this time their rasps and gasps were not due to the alpine air but to absolute astonishment. A necklace of lakes far below shimmered and shone, surrounded by the rocky ramparts of a semi-circle of magnificent mountains joined by jaggy ridges. They were enthralled and enchanted, engaged and engrossed. Draft Horse fully forgot her lagging and nagging foreleg. “Let’s rock ‘n’ roll,” she breathed, “I believe I’m able to amble along beyond!”
“Me too!” avowed Mountain Goat, in emphatic and unambiguous
assent.
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| Little Lakes Valley with Bear Creek Spire, and Mounts Dade, Abbot and Mills. |
Bewitched and beguiled, revitalized and refreshed, enthused and encouraged, they pranced and danced up that remote and rocky ridge, commenting on the exceptional quality of the talus, which was perfectly placed quite without malice. At times, Draft Horse even did a passable impression of Mountain Goat!
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| Some most excellent A+ "Dallas Talus" on the ridge. Dallas is doing her Wendy impression. |
The airy aerie was painted with purple Polly Moanium and her pals, who did not seem to be moaning at all but blooming and burgeoning in abundance.
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| Polemonium(Sky Pilot) in bloom at 13,000ft |
It was a splendid saunter to a superb summit. Like always, they lollygagged on that Pointy Peak while they lounged and lingered and lolled, their energy ebbing.
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| Wendy lounging at the summit of Mount Morgan South |
Eventually, Mountain Goat, reluctant but resigned, sighed, “Let’s rock ‘n’ roll.”
Draft Horse, whose lumpy legs had lost their liveliness, spluttered “Let’s lurch and lumber”.
The rocky ridge seemed to have stretched significantly on the descent. Draft Horse came to a precipitous pause. "My beleaguered and besieged brain is in pain! I have paralysis by analysis. Which way do we wander?" she wondered woefully. "This way. Or that way. Either one" Mountain Goat obligingly offered. On they went. As they wandered down from the remote rocky ridge, they sniffed the scent of smoke. Behind them, the air grew acrid as the wind whipped signs of a faraway ferocious fire towards them, obscuring the Pointy Peak in a somber shroud. The remote rocky ridge was now an eerie airy aerie. Draft Horse and Mountain Goat stepped up their steps.
They were thankful to now not be rasping and gasping and huffing and puffing in that smoke.
They were thankful to have seen the spectacular scene of the incredible canyon.
They were thankful to have perched on the Pointy Peak, lounging, lingering and lolling.
They were thankful to have adventured audaciously again in the Great Snowy Mountains.
But most of all, they were
thankful for lightheartedness and laughter, for exuberance and exhilaration,
for joy and jubilance, and last but DEFINITELY not least, for infallible and indefatigable friendship.
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| Showing off our new shiny jackets! |
