Mount Torbreck, twice in one month

We climbed Mount Torbreck on the first of August and again on the thirtieth, four weeks apart. Same track, same summit, and the two of them treated it like two different mountains.

The first climb: snow

An early start, and the deep snow began well below the summit. Max ploughed through it like it was his job, Pepsi bounced from drift to drift, and I took far too many photos because everything was white and neither dog stopped moving.

Max: Snow. Deep snow. Best walk of the winter and nobody can tell me otherwise.

The second climb: four weeks later

Four weeks later we pointed the car the same way, this time with friends and their two dogs. The snow was gone. The dogs remembered the route and pulled ahead from the trailhead, which is where the photo of four dogs lined up at the orange sign comes from.

Photo: Pepsi & Max

The climb was easier the second time. Nobody stalled on the steep bits, and the dogs were waiting at the top instead of arriving with me. The sun was out on the rocks, so we stayed longer up there and let everyone lie around doing nothing at all.

Photo: Pepsi & Max

Pepsi: First time I was too busy in the snow. Second time I got the warm rocks. Second time wins.

The part that did not change

Both times, the walk down was all downhill on tired legs, and both times the dogs trotted it like they were just starting. If you want to feel your age, walk behind two dogs coming off a mountain.

Photo: Pepsi & Max

Going yourself? The Mount Torbreck Summit Walk page has the route and what to expect.