Herman Creek to almost Tomlike MT. 1-16-21

[aaburles]

Haven't been on Herman Creek for over 5 years. Started Saturday 1-16 around 8am, was the 5th car at the "trailhead", and was hoping to get up to Tomlike Mt. Only saw one person on the way up. Quite a few downed trees but nothing too difficult to get around.








Hit the first snow patches around 3600ft and it became all snow at 3800ft.




Made it up 4150ft (according to my GPS) and had to turn around because of a sketchy 45 degree icy off cambered snow just before reaching the summit. I should of had crampons but only had Yak tracks and could not kick steps through the ice.

This is where I had to turn around.

On the way down only passed 12 people. It was a great day in the woods.

[Chip Down]

It looks so easy in the pictures, but I know how it is.
I've turned back on skull/crossbones routes, and the pictures couldn't even be posted here, because it looked so embarrassingly easy on the screen.

[aaburles]

If I would of had even my microspikes I think it would of been fine. For some reason I packed my Yak traks instead and they were not giving me much confidence on the icy slope.

Once I got home and looked at my gps path and realized I was so close from attaining the ridge I felt even worse.

[KDfishbiologist]

Great pictures!!

[retired jerry]

snow patches at 3600 feet, total cover at 3800 feet, funny how quick that is

I've not been up there either for several years, time for a trip

[TwoPaw]

If I would of had even my microspikes I think it would of been fine. For some reason I packed my Yak traks instead and they were not giving me much confidence on the icy slope.

Once I got home and looked at my gps path and realized I was so close from attaining the ridge I felt even worse.

I wouldn't sweat it - my two cents is you made the right decision - to stay safe. And often bad decisions are made because we're so close to the goal. That ridge isn't going anywhere.

[arieshiker]

Totally agree with TwoPaw. Much better to be home posting a TR about what you almost did, as opposed to having your obituary say "...if he'd only turned around." No matter how far you go on any hike, there's always farther for later. Judging from your photos, I'd say you got your money's worth that day from Herman Creek.

[Charley]

Once I got home and looked at my gps path and realized I was so close from attaining the ridge I felt even worse.

almost.png

You did the right thing!!! It's hard to feel good when turning around, but it's great decision making like this that makes for a long life full of adventure and fun.

[drm]

The right thing for whom? If you'd just gone for it, damn the consequences, the rest of us might soon be getting one of those fascinating rescue reports. Sure, I'm the kind who turns back on hard steep ice, but that doesn't mean you have to.

Do people get banned for these kinds of posts?

[Chip Down]

The problem, drm, is that news reports are rarely detailed enough to provide much entertainment value. It does give us opportunities to collectively speculate though, and that can be fun in its own way.