Hiking Cathedral Rock

The vortex pulled us back to Cathedral Rock.  It was cold and there was still snow on the ground, but Dave was game, and as long as my knees will allow, I'm always ready to hike.  

The ladies were going to drop us off and go elsewhere.  They felt the pull of a shopping vortex, no doubt.

We passed by this on our way to the trailhead.
It was literally in the back yard of a house we drove by.
"Honey, I'm going to have my coffee in the shadow of the monolith."
Note the asteroid careening toward the residence.  Poor bastards.

What an amazing site for a house.
The one on the cliff, you ninny.
Appropriate color selections, don't you think?

We followed this extremely slow-moving vehicle
down the dirt road to the trailhead the shop keeper had let us know about.

Never listen to a non-hiking shop keeper.
It was a trailhead, but not the one we wanted.
It would have been a lovely trek, but time was limited, so we turned around.

On the road again...
Is that Georgia red clay?

Past the cliff house once again.

We drove past the Chapel of the Holy Cross.
Next time, I'll have to see if it is directed at
the high point of the sun on the winter solstice. 

Fortunately, the road to the correct trailhead was not flooded.
Iced over, perhaps.

There's a trail up there?

Yes, there is a trail, according to the map.

Dave is not intimidated by the snow.

A bit dicey, but the trail is identifiable by the rock cairns.
The biggest issue with the hike was that the trail ascended the north side.
Normally, being in the shadow of the hot sun would be a blessing.
However, shielded by the towers above, the persistent snow and ice 
made footing treacherous.

The view from the low plateau near the beginning of the trail.

I wonder what the houses on the ridge cost.
And the mansion atop the more distant ridge.
My guess is that they're all in the class of,
"If you have to ask, you can't afford it."

Tourists pose before the vista.

Intrepid Dave, posing on the sun-cleared plateau
against the western backdrop.

And the trail is...???

Right there!

Onward, upward, wayward.

The descending young woman is not enthralled with her choices.

Dave, on the other hand, is happy to ascend
with reckless abandon.

But not this way.

Really?
Or has someone played a trick and moved the sign?

Options being considered.

Yes, this icy notch is the trail.
Note the two young and foolish individuals, far above.

Not looking like fun.

We decided the degree of difficulty was high enough,
and that we had climbed far enough,
and the view downward was good enough,
so we turned around, having had enough.

Dave demonstrates proper butt-sliding-through-the-snow technique.
Mountain climbers must have a Swiss or French name for this.
De-ass-scendation?

We walked around out of the shadows to plant our backsides on dry ground.
Below, the Templeton trail winds around the high ground.
Where does it go?

A panoramic representation of the scenery
from our wet butt on dry ground viewpoint.

Defeated by the ice on the higher elevations,
we slid down the dry rocks to kinder, gentler terrain.
"Easybreezy Trail" sounded about right.

The twisted juniper bears testimony to the nearby vortex.

A hint of a stream flows over the red rock.

Dave picks his way along the stream.
The occasional patch of ice makes this part dangerous
for the inattentive.

"Know your personal limit and stop when it is reached."
Did we actually follow directions?
Has maturity reared its wrinkled head?

I think the termination of our climb had less to do with wisdom than the with the probability that the vortex has other plans for us.   Now we must return to reach the "saddle with spectacular views to the east and west."  Who knows what will happen then?

We'll have to wait 'til next time to find out.