Myself, Rick Kent, Kevin Trieu, Scott Swaney, Aysel, Darija, Eileen, Tyson, and Peter headed up the South Fork of Bairs Creek Saturday morning. After camping at 9600ft, and witnessing one of the most stellar sunrises I've ever gazed upon from my bivy, we headed for the summit of Mt. Williamson.
Conditions were variable, from brutal postholing (me, always) to nice firm pack, but Eileen and I turned around at 11.5K, just below the headwall, since I had to be at WORK on Monday. (Edging ever closer to dirtbag, trust me...)
The group turned at 13K due to high winds, and came out today (Monday). This will definitely be on my list of future projects. Arthur: if I have to drive to SD to drag you up here, you're on this trip.
That Vimeo thingy of yours is so cool! An apt soundtrack as well. If it makes you feel any better, we bailed at 8,000 feet on Big Willy's east ridge yesterday.
Were you wearing full-length snow shoes? Did everyone have snow shoes?
Hi Doug, Cayden and I are testing the combo golf cart roof/ racing boards from seasons past. New sled to be on the market soon, adding brakes and a steering system on the production model, did get a 1 1/2 mile non stop run on the third trial, Sunday was rough on the extended family some went into the desert , some went into the barb wire fence some stayed on,Cayden says they wanted to be in front! Ok so we then drive to Indy. check out the park and the old tractors at the muesum.
The spindrift off the ridges was GIANT, on Willy the winds were starting on the north side thousands of feet below the ridge blowing up and over creating Rainbows on the south side . Did you get any pictures of the east side? Thanks Doug
Laura Im working on excuses to get a few days off of work in feb .so far I got lasic surgery "dude i cant work if I cant see" How about herniated disc surgery.that should get me at least a week off. Huummmmmm The dirtbag climbers life sounds so good! Arthur
hypoxic zombie: I'm a middle school PE teacher and I should have started a book long ago with all the excuses why a student can't do something physical. Last week I had an excuse before our final run of 2009..."another student stepped on a mustard packet and it exploded and went into my eyes and I couldn't see and walked right into a bench and hurt my leg. I can't run the mile." True story, honest. Can you fit this one into your work situation and use it on your boss?
That Vimeo thingy of yours is so cool! An apt soundtrack as well. If it makes you feel any better, we bailed at 8,000 feet on Big Willy's east ridge yesterday.
Were you wearing full-length snow shoes? Did everyone have snow shoes?
Better luck next time.
Sam:
We saw tracks on the north side of the canyon but couldn't see them much higher than the Cl3 notch we climbed. But you said you were on the ridge? Yes, we all had snow shoes, various styles, mine are the MSR Denali EVOs. I have the tails, but my experience in the lighter snow pack is that I just end up lifting more snow up out of the posthole instead of actually floating. So, I left the tails at home.
As for luck, I got to spend the weekend in excellent company, high up where few tread, earning every step myself. Just being able to be there was lucky enough. The peak ain't goin' anywhere.
Doug: I'll be in LP tomorrow for patients. Let's have dinner and discuss the east faces...
Sam: We saw tracks on the north side of the canyon but couldn't see them much higher than the Cl3 notch we climbed. But you said you were on the ridge?
We parked at the mouth of the north fork and headed straight up the east ridge. Those tracks in the south fork were not ours.
Ah, Ok. Hope that approach to the ridge was better than what we saw from the south. Looks like a lot of technical ups and downs, gendarmes, gaps, etc. that would make for a tough trip.
Here I sit in my office in Tucson, look out the window and not a patch of snow on the mountains...and here you show me snow can't be a bad thing!!! Looked like a fun trip.
I really enjoyed watching this thanks for sharing.
Patty: snow is a wonderful thing! It makes everything so very different and amazing. The trade-off for me is that I just don't float on top of it. My friend Eileen was doubly bowled over when she saw how I just flailed away and kept working, and then when she realized that i outweigh her by 100 pounds. But the work is what makes it so special for me. (I know, interesting logic...)
But the work is what makes it so special for me. (I know, interesting logic...)
Laura, I have some mountain literature quotes to back you up on that...Here are quotes from two of my favorite mountain writers, Brits of course. Harvey
I had already come to terms with my load. It was no longer the loathsome taskmaster it had been, chaining me to a galley plank of unremitting toil. Load-carrying was never among my favourite pastimes, but like other forms of hard labour, there is some satisfaction to be derived from its mastery. Eric Shipton, Land of Tempest page 712
It had been absorbed into my subconscious many years before that physical discomfort was a valuable penance and I sometimes wondered whether our penances and frequent deprival of physical pleasure did indeed benefit our souls and make us better people. Joe Tasker, Savage Arena page 104
We were also thwarted by snow and weather, sadly. Went up towards Shepherd Pass intending to do Caltech Peak and bailed to Anvil Camp due to slow progress (and a resurfaced groin injury for me). It was my first time using an AT setup in the Sierra, though, and as I expected, snowshoeing sucks so much more than skiing! I was "postholing" about 2 inches compared with almost a foot for my buddies. Pictures.
Laura, thanks for sharing the video and pictures. It sure did look like a lot of fun. I hope to get out soon on snowshoes since we are finally getting some snow back east.
