Angel’s Way

October 18, 2002

A week ago I had scheduled a Minion outing to do Angel’s Way, but I got sick and missed it. Myke Komarnitsky missed it as well and went to do it with a friend. Fortunately for me, they climbed the wrong ridge! They did the Mohling Arete instead. Hence, when Myke suggested doing this, I jumped at the chance. We met Friday at 3:30 p.m. but with a tight time schedule. Myke needed to be back by 5:30.

We started at Chautauqua Park and ran the Mesa Trail to Skunk Canyon. Myke was setting the pace here and had me falling off the back. Once we hit Skunk, I took the lead and we switched to hiking. Myke showed me a cool alternative approach that goes straight up a cave via some 5^th class moves and emerges above two house-sized boulders.

We his the ridge of rock and immediately started above. It was my turn to put Myke into some difficulty and I sped ahead, but stopped frequently for Myke to close the gap. I used my old ploy of asking him short questions with long answers. He didn’t fall for it, though, and just said he didn’t have the breath to answer. We slowed to a more conversational pace and enjoyed the outstanding climbing, rock, and position. This climb is as good as I remembered it and is truly a joy to scramble up. It is a neglected classic.

We got a bit confused at the top as to the best way to get off the rock, but managed. We continued, hiking now, all the way to the East Summit of Green Mountain. We then traversed over and hit the Greenman Trail and ran it hard (Myke wouldn’t drop off, dammit!) to the summit of Green Mountain. We descended the West Ridge, Ranger, Gregory Canyon, Baseline Trail back to Chautauqua.

After about an hour and fifty minutes, I was quite content to jog it on in with a time comfortably under two hours. Myke wasn’t so easily satisfied and felt if he pushed he could break 1h55m. He has such youthful enthusiasm. As most anyone will tell you, I’m not interested in such races against the clock and let him go…at least for a thirty seconds. Then I couldn’t stand it any longer and gave chase. Myke was too fast for me, though. He got to Chautauqua Park in under 1h55m, but then ran up the paved section back to the trashcan start, in order to complete the loop. Such ethics! He got there at 1h55m15s. I finished in 1h55m42s.