Timp Summit #70. I started about 8 p.m. in the evening. It was really nice to have the trail mostly to myself. As I entered the basin, I could see some lights on the saddle. I caught up to them as we arrived at the summit. The gushed about my pace. They were going to sleep in the summit hut. They asked how many summits that was for me so I told them. The way down was pleasant, but half way the leg started to hurt so I slowed down. But then the crowds started to arrive, all the hikers who start around midnight. These groups are about a clueless about hiking as the families are around dawn. I would come at a group with my light blazing and calling out greetings, etc. Still so many looked up to my and did the "deer in the headlights" thing. They would just freeze or not make any move to move over. It was pretty funny but also annoying because I had to come to complete stops at time in order not to plow into somebody. Truly, deer in the headlights. They had no idea what to do with someone coming down the trail toward them. The number of people was amazing. When I passed some groups with plenty of room, I had fun going full speed and heard some "wows" as I pranced through the rocks at great speed in the dark. It was nice to really do some full speed downhill for the first time. During the last mile, I opened it up a little, but this is always an area that I fall, Sure enough, I didn't see a hole near the side of the trail and went down after just passing a couple. It was a true face plant because I hit my chin on the trail. I skinned up my knees, and was covered in dirt, but otherwise OK.
When I reached the parking lot before 1 a.m., I was shocked to see that the lot was totally full with people inventing parking spaces, including one guy who nearly blocked me in with his truck. I did totally block in three cars next to me. They will be thrilled when they returned. I made a comment to them, but they took no action and left to go up the trail. I saw a friend there who asked how many trips I was doing. I had hoped to maybe do a double, but I told him I was just doing one. However, as I sat in my car watching all the crazy people trying to invent parking places, I decided to do another trip. I got all ready and went to the faucet to fill up, but it was turned off because of the construction. I didn't have enough fluid with me. I could have gone down to the campground, but I would have lost my parking, so I just decided to head home. Some guys had to help guide my car out of the lot so they could take my spot. At 1:30 a.m. people were already parking far below the campground. Amazing! I've never seen this many, even on Labor Day. I'm sure the nearly full moon had something to do with it. Probably a good thing I didn't do another trip. The face plant beat me up pretty good and the leg was a little sore.
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