North Twin Cone | Scouting

After last week's cold and miserable failure to hike the North Twin Cone I waited for an optimal day to make a quick jaunt up to the top its grassy and humble 12,000 foot peak.  At the first forecast of today's weather I knew that this would be the day.  After missing my 4:30 AM alarm I jolted awake at first light in our basement (5:30 AM) and at 5:34 AM I was dressed and in my dad's truck.  At 7:17 AM I left the truck to hike the "North Cone" and at 8:36 AM I nestled between two rocks on the summit to snap some photos and study my map.  Since I was essentially scouting I made all of the pertinent observations on my map, noting future campsites, sources of water, and moderately inaccessible areas (to get away from people) and then dropped about 40 feet off of the east side of the summit to escape the freezing winds of 50 MPH and get a drink.  I lingered over the readings of a noted Libertarian on my new Sony eReader for a few minutes and then jaunted right back down.  I was home before noon.  Lovely views.  This area should afford a hearty and intermediate reintroduction to backpacking at altitude after a seven year break in Iowa.  Welcome back me :-)

Of course, I'm never one to shy away from recording myself in an area for the sake of profile photos.  One of my favorite philosophy professors calls this narcissism.  I disagree.  It's rather like making a public note of oneself at the top of any summit (which is a common practice.)