Cognizant of night fall at 8 P.M. we decided we had time to go up Windom. As we made our ascent we tried to calculate out if it were possible to get Sunlight as well. Finally we decided that if we were on top of Windom at 6:30 it was a go. We had our headlamps and so long as we were off the mountain proper we would have no problem reaching our camp in the dark.

Jonathan Cavner on Windom, Sep 3rd, 2000
Windom by the standard route calls for moving up to basin in between Sunlight and Windowm, them ascending the saddle between Windom and point 18, a 13,000+ subpeak. From there to Windom's summit is blocky bouldering, class 2+ stuff, irritating enough for a human, but most definitely not to Sam's liking. I was determined that he was going up this one though. When he retreated 200 feet below me I went down with the leash to encourage him along. In the meantime Jonathan had reached the summit at our agreed on time of 6:30 for a try at Sunlight. It was 6:45 though by the time I had pulled the reluctant Sam to the top, though and we prudently decided to leave Sunlight to the next day. I didn't want to be on any class 4 rock after the lights went out. The lights did go out after we passed Twin Lakes on our way back to the tent and it got really dark--no moon.
Reluctant Sam on Windom's summit
Jonathan Cavner on Sunlight, 14,001'
Next morning we were on the trail to Sunlight hiking by 5:50 A.M. It was dark until about 6:15, so we were most of the way up to Twin Lakes before we took off our headlamps. Strangely we didn't see any climbers at all until we were returning from Sunlight well below Twin Lakes and after 8 A.M. So much for an early start to avoid afternoon storms.

We chose the standard "south slopes" route for Sam the Wolfdog. To the alcove 30 feet below the summit was easy enough for him. Then we tried to coax him up a pretty tricky move to the east side of the summit block. Reluctantly he went for it, but that was all. He downclimbed rapidly and I decided to let him claim credit for going to the alcove. Jonathan and I continued on on the supposedly "class 3" ascent to the final class 4 move to the summit. Well, if that's class 3....I don't know what! Jonathan made his way with difficulty up to the final ledge. When he offered me a belay on my short static rope I keep for Sam I gratefully accepted. The final class 4 move to the summit was easy after that. Looking down from the summit I asked Jonathan how he had descended. When he said he jumped to a 2X2 foot square block with exposure all around I said "you are a brave man!". Then when I considered the alternatives I did it too. Exhilirating!

The descent was nonchalant. We were exhilirated and inclined to savor the moment--in no hurry. Vaguely we thought we might make the 12:20 train to Silverton, but if not, then not. We could backpack all the way out to Purgatory if need be. Leisurely breaking camp we started down the trail around 10:30, at first just ambling along with no sense of urgency.

Around 11:30 we came on a wide wagon road section of trail with a nice downhill slant. I started to run. It was easy. We continued to run the next forty-five minutes--fast--- and with backpacks (light though--we both scrimp on any extra weight), eventually arriving at the train stop with 4 minutes to spare before the last train to Silverton! As Jonathan flagged the train down I quickly retrieved my key and hydro pack for the run back to my truck. This time would take me half an hour longer than the run in...the final 800' elevation gain was killer.

I met Jonathan in Silverton around 4 P.M. and we made it back to the Springs at the reasonable hour of 10:00 that night. A satisfying and successful three-day weekend of 14 ascents. Jonathan has 52 of the 54 14ers now completed. I have 50 and Sam the Wolfdog has 48. He has to go back for Eolus!!

Steve climbing Sunlight, Sep 4th, 2000
Steve on Sunlight
Sunlight Spire in background; Sam the wolfdog in foreground
fourteeners