Why reach the top? Isn’t enough just to pass? Since I’ve quit climbing, I’ve decided that hiking up to the point where you can get to the climbs will be my new hobby. This level of underachievement will fit in with my new personal goals. I will be compiling a pass hiker’s compendium and comparative analysis of “pass” hikes. The first PR (pass report) is here! All passes will be compared to aasgard’s pass (the willis wall of hiking). Is there a pass that sucks worse than aasgard for a “day” hike?
All scoring now and in the future is subjective, somewhat random and the scale is sliding at my whim. It may change in future comparisons based on my mood, weather, PMS, lack of sleep, lack of sex, too much work, too much rain, not enough vacation days, the price of gas, ect.
Aasgard Pass – gateway to the enchantments, the willis wall of hiking
V.
JackAss Pass – portal to the cirque of the towers, scourge of climbers looking to camp
there.
1.total elevation gain -- aasgard (+)
no comment
2.avg slope of trail – again, its aasgard pass (++)
a paltry 1500’ in nearly 10 miles almost makes
this comparison laughable. Nahhh…it does make
it laughable. It’s a good thing its called Jackass pass
3.total mileage – jackass (-)
hands down. This is a long hike for little altitude
gain but hey nothing like meandering around in a
seemingly indirect manner to get someplace. Not like I
was in a hurry to climb anything.
4.scenic beauty – jackass pass
but this actually works in aasgard’s favor for this
contest (+)
5.trail Quality – jackass. (-)
This is mostly easily defined hiking trail with a few
things to step on/over if you’re going to have to hike
way too many miles for way too little elevation gain, it
might as well be straight forward. Much easier to hike
when you’re drunk if you don’t have to find the trail.
6.solitude – aasgard pass. (-)
Even the portion of the trail to Colchuck lake isn’t as
busy as the trail to Jackass pass. Nothing says peace
and relaxation, nor warms my heart more than hearing the
hopes and dreams of climbing parties heading up the
trail with 120# packs and no experience outside the gym
Gear Notes: poles, gators, seattle sombrero, zip off pants, lunch, a bottle of wine, and a parasol