Page 119 - AGC Journal 2018
P. 119

2018
 GC JOURNAL
 A AGC JOURNAL 2018




 Sickness
                                                                                              Entrance to the
 In the morning, one of our team members was                                                  Grand Canyon
 unwell so we had to abandon our journey and                                                  National Park.
 leave the mountain the way we had come as it                                                 Jessica Denton
 would have been too dangerous to continue.                                                   is second from
 On the way back another team member fell ill.                                                left
 A short day for us all as we headed back to Lone
 Pine.
 Day Nine

 We planned to climb Mount Langley the next

 day, a different trek so we did not have to
 retrace our steps from the day before. We had
 a relaxing day as we sorted out some personal
 administration, caught up on some much
 needed sleep and more importantly allowed
 our bodies time to recover after some seriously
 arduous trekking.
 Mount Langley

 We got permits for Mount Langley and set off
 in the minibus for Cotton Wood Trail Head. We
 trekked along the Cottonwood lakes trail for
 eight miles through a lush forest and ended the
 day by camping at High Lake, a boulder strewn
 landscape with a stream pouring into a crystal
 clear lake. This camp site was in a good position
 for us to climb Mount Langley the next day.

 The Summit
 We woke at 2 a.m. and got ready to leave for
 the summit. We left the tents and our kit in
 the campsite and set off only with day sacks   The view from the

 carrying food and water. As we climbed, the   South Rim of the

 altitude started to make breathing difficult,   Grand Canyon

 but we continued steadily.  The ground was
 loose and gravely which caused us to lose our
 footing, but eventually we came to a boulder   The view                                        High Lake,

 field and we knew we were near the summit.    from the                                          California

 When we finally reached the top we looked out   top of
 on the amazing view and took Serpents with   Mount
 our team and celebrated. On the way back we   Langley
 collected our tents and kit and left the campsite
 and trekked all the way back the way we had
 come. The entire journey that day, from the
 campsite to the summit and all the way back
 again was 18 miles. We were all exhausted once
 we exited from the Trail Head.
 Las Vegas
 We left Lone Pine excited to get to Las Vegas
 to celebrate completing our journey and to   At the top of Mount
 relax. We drove back through Death Valley and   Langley looking                                 The Death
 through to Nevada. When we finally arrived at   out over the Sierra                              Valley Sign

 Las Vegas we checked in to the Luxor hotel for   Nevada Mountains
 two nights rest and relaxation, before returning
 home.
 Endnote

 This is the last time that Exercise Northern
 Integrated Serpent will take place. It has been
 an amazing experience. I have learned that I am
 much more capable than I originally thought   Watching the sun
 and I have grown stronger physically and   rise on the Mount
 mentally because of this trip.   Langley







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