Notes
An eventful day. Started with a dead car battery that left me locked out of my car. Thankfully I had some running clothes on and running shoes (not my trail ones sadly). Pollux picked me up and met the group (us + Nealy, Rob, and his friend Eric). Then we still had a 45min drive up to 8600 feet.
Though it wasn't a "snow-covered" peak, the trail/4x4 road was covered with snow, thankfully packed down somehow despite being a closed road. We had about a 1/2 mile warm-up before the steep happened. The group broke up quickly as fitness and snow-slipping became a factor. We regrouped a few times before making the summit push. Pollux was clearly the top gun, with me working hard to stay close. Rob came next after a few falls. Then Erik (a D1 athlete who never does this type of thing) and Nealy. The view of Long's and the whole range was simply the best.
We took another road that was relatively flat to add miles, but here the snow was not packed. And though I led most of this section, I wasn't too thrilled with it and supported turning around. We had 1 last large incline, but thankfully it was sun-drenched and without snow.
The descents were hectic to say the least, steep and snow-covered. But no major injuries and Pollux and Nealy dared others to keep up and I refused to back down.
Overall, about 2200ft of elevation gain, making it my 3rd largest behind Grand Teton and Superior 25k.