Taj’s Day Off

Posted byDillon SarnelliPosted in13er, Colorado, Hiking, San Juan RangeTags:, , , , , , ,

Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

Peaks: Spencer Peak (13,087′), Grand Turk (13,160′), Sultan Mountain (13,373′)
Date: October 24, 2015
Trailhead: Little Molas Lake
Distance: ~ 9 miles
Elevation Gain: ~ 4,000 ft.
Participants: Taj, Dillon Sarnelli

Route Overview (click to enlarge).
A winter Wemi wonderland. Grand Turk (L) and Spencer Peak (R) in the foreground from the summit of Sultan Mountain. Background – Wemipalooza.

Hey, Taj. You realize if we played by the rules right now we’d be in gym?

A little background. Taj’s parents are Jason & Becky Blyth. They went to Boston. Taj had the day off. We hit the San Juans.

The question isn’t “what are we going to do,” the question is “what aren’t we going to do?”

Trench building by Taj. Spencer Peak in the background as we hit the wide saddle between West Turkshead (12,849′) and Point 12,899.
Snowballs or taking in the views of the Grenadiers?

Taj, you’re my hero.

Foreground: West Turkshead (12,849′). Background: The Trinities, Vestal, and Arrow (L to R).
Summit of Spencer Peak (13,087′) – October 24, 2015.

The city looks so peaceful from up here.

A close up of our view to the southeast into Ruby Basin & Co.
A look back at our track off Spencer as we ascend Grand Turk.
The view to our northwest into Ice Lake Basin (R).
Summit of Grand Turk (13,160′) – October 24, 2015. Sultan Mountain to the north in the background.

Oh, Taj’s very popular. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads – they all adore him. They think he’s a righteous dude.

Summit of Grand Turk (13,160′) – October 24, 2015.
Wemi and more Wemi.
Spencer (L) and Point 12,899 (R) from Sultan.
Grand Turk as we ascend Sultan.
Taj is toasted.

All this hiking has made me kinda light headed.

Summit of Sutan Mountain (13,373′) – October 24, 2015.
Summit of Sultan Mountain (13,373′) – October 24, 2015.

We descended Sultan into the drainage to the west rather than come back the way we came, eventually hitting the Colorado Trail. Other than his appreciation for rabbits, snowballs, and trenchbuilding, Taj also takes his bushwacking very seriously.

Roll the credits – A few other highlights from Taj’s Day Off:

The Narrow Gauge Railroad.

No train, Taj, forget it. You’re just gonna have to think of somethin’ else. I’m puttin’ my foot down!

Here’s where Taj goes berserk. Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!

He’s licking the glass and making obscene gestures with his hands.

Chimney Rock.
Taj approves of the top secret cabin.
Pagosa Brewing Co.

Four thousand restaurants in the downtown area, I pick the one my father goes to.

Perfect.
THE END

You’re still here? It’s over!

Special thanks to Jason, Becky, and Taj for being awesome.

17 thoughts on “Taj’s Day Off”

    1. Thanks Brando! Next return trip goes through your neck of the woods. Either way though, the weekend recap texters with the post outing beer in hand are always entertaining buddy. Haha. Nice job on the Carter classic! Glad Kristine’s parents were able to give you kids a day out. Between you and me, Kristine really stepped it up when she took your last name 🙂

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    1. Dana, not bad for a sheep eh? I think they named Sheepshead after my sheep. FaceTime from Molas Pass was pretty awesome too. Hope y’all had fun at the game boss. 2016 – start planning. Bring your buddy Tom.

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