Not So Sasse 4.11.14

I had a stressful week highlighted by having to fix a car in the rain. Not having a garage sometimes is a problem. I didn't have a choice since  the windows kept rolling themselves down randomly. Not wanting to have a wet interior and a car that seem possessed fix it I did. Since the weather was clear and crisp I thought I would head out and enjoy the sunshine. I went out to warm up the car and found some very Gusty East winds. After getting the kids together and heading out the door we were greeted with some very substantial limbs down in direct path to the car. It really shows that life can change in  a matter of moments. I was so thankful that the events timed out the way they did it didn't even bother me when I found one of the branches had made direct contact with my hood leaving a sizeable dent. I dropped the kids at school and headed East.




     The plan was to do Howson Peak above the Salmon La Sac Road. I have been up the trail that starts right across the first snowmobile parking area. The trail stats as an old road until reaching the creek crossing where it turns into a most pleasant trail. The trail switchbacks up the steepish grade. I hoped to continue on the ridge trail until going over Howson and then to continue West to meet with the NW tending ridge that leads back to the trail below closing the loop. I had been up the NW ridge on a previous trip so I new it would be an easy descent. After around 2000' of climb my Plantar fasciitis started flaring giving me some trepidation about going too much further. Soon I was nearly under Not So Sasse. from this vantage I could see how long the ridge traverse was going to be.   Not wanting to but too much mileage on my gimpy foot I changed plans and started up to NSS summit. I had been there once before and I remembered the stunning views of Lemah/Chimney Rock along with many of the peaks to the North.  The going is open and pleasant as I made my way up to the ridge above me. Once reaching the ridge I easily followed it East to the Summit where some views of Mt Stuart loomed over the rest of the area peaks. The wind started to get quite gusty taking a bite out of the suns warming rays. I feared the descent to be painful but for the most part it was manageable. Soon I found myself back at the car.

Approx 6 miles 3400' of climb 4 hours car to car