Medium-Core, Human-Powered: Rock Creek Canon & Bear Creek Spire

SD is more jazzed than any of us for the trip. He builds a sled and tells his daughter its hers. It's really for the boys' extra sleeping pads and igloo maker -- that's right, an igloo maker. Though designed with good intent, the sled becomes the bane of our existence. It drags us more than we drag it. Irony wins in the end, as we are too tired from pulling the damn thing to build our igloo after all. A crying shame.

On day four, the Sierra surprise storm catches us ill-prepared. Have we a warm igloo to snuggle in, we will not retreat from the 80 mph white-out winds whipping across the frozen lake. Have we an igloo to entertain ourselves, we bag Treasure Peak the next day. Instead, after three nights of snow camping, we (I mean SD and EP) drag the dead weight down Rock Creek Rd. With Superman speed, they arrive at the trailhead a good mile before Nate and me. All of us are ready for a cold beer and a hot tub, which, for record, we find in spades.

SD leaves the shredded sled at the hotel in Mammoth and hopes Shea will forget about it. Underneath, he knows she won't. I hope he prepares an adequate response.