The col between Slide and Cornell is quite wide and flat, and we spend nearly a kilometre of distance crossing the gentle terrain, and passing several good campsites. When the terrain finally does start to rise up to Slide mountain, it winds through interesting open grassy ledges and rock steps. Then it gets steeper....
The climb up Slide is quite steep, in fact, with several more scrambly rock steps that require some skill. The thin bits of snow and ice add to the challenge. Fun!
Along with the very steep trail comes good altitude gain, and it isn't long before we're nearing the top of Slide. There's more-or-less continuous (but very light) snow cover, and one has to watch one's steps. We come to the long wooden ladder section and I know (from the guidebook) that we're minutes from the top.
Mud-hut like rock formation
The top of slide does have a clearing, but it's views are limited. Definitely the best summit today will have been Wittenburg's. Still, this is the highpoint we've come to conquer, and we stand on top and give each other a round of bergheils. From here on, it's all downhill!
Heading down from Slide starts off suprisingly well. The western side of the peak is much more gentle. Even better, the trail is very wide, flat, and un-rough, and we cruise along at a good clip. Luke says that his knees are overjoyed!
The excellent trail conditions continue on for some time, but alas, they don't last forever. The lower part of the trail degenerates into an old road that has quite rocky footing. The grade is still nice, but it becomes much more of a chore to hike. We decide, once again, to split up, giving Luke the chance to go easy on his knees while Jenn and I go ahead to get a head-start on fetching the cars (after all, its a one-hour ferry operation).
Arriving down at the car at 4pm, Jenn and I speed off to get the other car. We return an hour later to find that Luke and Sophie have walked 45 minutes up the road. It was too chilly to stand around and wait at the trailhead! well done, guys!
One down, and one to go. We head back to the hotel, eat a tasty dinner at a historic diner across the street, and retire to a game of Settlers of Catan.
Interactive Trackmap - Slide Mountain Traverse - Click map to Expand
Start Time:
8:49a.m.
End Time:
3:58p.m.
Duration:
7h8m
Distance:
14.77 km
(9.18 mi)
Average Speed:
2.1 km/hr
(1.3 mph)
Start Elevation:
1374ft
(419m)
*
Max Elevation:
4230ft
(1289m)
*
Min Elevation:
1355ft
(413m)
*
End Elevation:
2412ft
(735m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
3674ft
(1120m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
2624ft
(800m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Elevation Graph
Slide Mt, Elevation over Distance
Slide Mt, Elevation over Time
