Mount Teneriffe — Friday, Jun. 21, 2024

Third Times a Charm, or so they say. An absolute brutal hike. A behemoth of a mountain. A true testament of your mental fortitude and Mind Over Matter approach. 

My first go at this Monster was in May of 2020. I only made it to the Mount Si Connector trail and turned around. From that point on, it's a 2.3 mile hike. Although, plenty of ups and downs and switchbacks to aid your climb, it's still puts on an impressive show to test your endurance and your limits. 

Today I can claim victory and say I bagged the summit of this monstrosity. 

I got started at 0725hrs to a near-empty parking lot. Myself and two other people were gearing up to take a shot at victory. Well, to be honest, I'm unsure of where the other two hikers went because I never saw them again. 

Some memorable moments: watching several trail runners descending down the trail and wondering how any of them didn't roll an ankle, trip or stumble over the rocky trail. They must've all had past knee replacements and now have iron knees. Or they eat a lot of Collagen. 

I made it to the Mount Si Connector trail in 2hrs. And with sweat streaming off the brim of my hat, I still felt very strong. So I continued on and passed the point in which I turned around back in February. With a snow-free trail all the way to the summit, I pressed on. The trail shows no mercy. Once I could see blue skies through the tops of the trees, I knew I was close to the summit. 

But the trail continued on like it had no end. Switchbacks up the side of the mountain and then up onto the ridge where it was a straight shot to the summit. That's where I encountered another hiker coming down. He gave me a vote of confidence, nodded at me and told me I was close. He could probably see the pain in my eyes as sweat poured down the sides of my face. 

As I caught a glimpse of the summit block, I pushed away all the tired feelings, ignored the pain throbbing in my feet and wiped the sweat off my brow. One final push. Let's get it!

The summit block starred down at me from 30 feet up as if taunting me and asking me if I had a little extra in the tank to tag the summit. I hadn't come all this way just to turn around 30 feet from the summit. I followed a little social trail up the side digging my trekking poles into whatever they could get a grip in. Finally. I was on the summit of Teneriffe. I dropped my pack, and sat down on a rock and was instantly swarmed by black flies, (not the biting kind). It was like a little congratulatory ceremony with the flies and with a Pika in the distance chipping and chirping, I felt like accomplished. 

The climb down was relatively uneventful. Except for the part where I didn't bring any food, I failed to top off my water bladder and I was absolutely depleted of energy when I got back to the trailhead. I think eating trail berries on the way out may have saved me. My hands were shaking and I immediately chugged a gatorade and ate two apples that I had left in my truck when I got back to the parking lot. I kicked off my hiking boots and slipped into my comfy trail runners and sat in my truck allowing the air conditioned air to blow ice cold air on me. It felt good knowing I'd never have to climb this mountain ever again. 

3:30hrs from Th to Summit.

3:00hrs from Summit to TH. 

Parking lot was nearly empty when I returned.