Log Two: Takshanuk Ridge Hike
The middle - Jones Gap
From Shakuseyi the trail continues heading in the direction of Haines towards the second peak named Mt. Ripinski. After the first section of the day, steep switch backs and significant elevation gains, this part of the hike was a welcome break. The trail contours leisurely through alpine meadows and crunchy summer snow patches, offering endless views of the surrounding mountains and the Lynn Canal.
Crossing snow alone makes me a little nervous. More often than not my mind operates in very logical, reasonable thinking and I am very talented at manipulating myself in a mind over matter kind way. But something about crossing snow makes me irrationally nervous.
It’s one of the very few things that lets my mind run amuck imagining myself slipping, gaining extraordinary speed (even in the absence of any real incline) shooting off the side of the mountain like a cartoon (even in the absence of a cliff), and falling to my death.
The patches of snow along this hike were not intimidating in the least, they were almost completely level with zero incline. Still I was cautious and the snow was slick, but most of all, I was glad to get in a little practice. The mind is a funny thing and I was quite confident my mind was making summer snow out to be more intimidating that it actually is.
very into the layers of landscape in this photograph
Sure enough, summer snow is super fun.
With absolutely no risk, no incline, no possibility of slipping to my untimely death, I very much enjoyed playing in July snow, the satisfying crunch of each step, even the chill of melting snow down the back of my sneaker was a simple joy. Less enjoyable was stepping in a puddle of snow melt and soaking through my right foot. I considered balancing it out and dunking the left foot under as well, but couldn’t do it.
little snow melt pond
lOOKING BACH TOWARDS PEAK 3920
the elevation gain during the first section of this hike, from trail head to peak 3920
view down the lynn canal
Between the two peaks there is a place called Jones Gap, which I believe marks a geographical corridor between these two peaks. From Shakuseyi to Mt.Ripinski, you lose almost exactly 1000 ft of elevation but the trail is so beautiful you won't think twice about the loss, which you will have to climb again to reach the summit of Mt.Ripinski. All together, I believe the total elevation gain of this hike is close to 5000 ft, pretty solid for a day in the mountains.
As I closed in on the second summit of the day, the trail began to gently incline. Sections of the trail became little streams as snow from neighboring patches melted and flowed down hill. It was here that I began to feel a little tired, as if I too were being melted by the relentless sun. But feeling tried always makes me push towards the summit with a little more umpf so I might reach the end, sitting down with a snack, that much faster.