TR and introducing myself
Hello Maggots!
I have been following the forums for a while now and have finally decided to jump in and post! Hope you all go easy..
My career brought me to europe and to be more precise, the Alps. Lucky me! I'll follow this brief introduction with accounts of two recent outings and hope to contribute more in the future!
Last week the forecast was a bit iffy so I decided on a tour that I could break off whenever I needed or wanted to, some mild glacier travel that I was comfortable with solo and moderate slopes.
The route follows the valley for a rather long, flat way, making for monotonous skinning. I like that feeling you get on climbs like this though, just focussing on the swish swish of the skins and working your body. Anyway, no great pictures here seeing as I was solo and the sky was grey.
A look ahead with dramatic lighting. I was aiming for the col left of the glacier but didn't make it due to deteriorating conditions.
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4231232.jpg
Broke out my whippet as it steepened.
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4231258.jpg
Self timer shot at my high point.
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4231237.jpg
Getting ready for the decent.
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4231224.jpg
I went for a "the point" shot here, belatedly realizing that it's not much point (pun intended) if you can't see where I'm pointing.
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4231221.jpg
Tried to get creative with the selftimer here, I wanted a shot with my tracks visible in front of the glacier.
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4231262.jpg
As is so often the case, the weather in the valley was still perfectly fine and very warm. I rewarded myself with a stop for a gelato and enjoyed the view of local women strolling the town square dressed for spring, sorry no pictures.
Still with some energy to spare I couldn't resist the temptation to impress the other punters in the café by drytooling to the goods ;)
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4231282.jpg
The waiter obliged me by taking this picture.
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4231277.jpg
This weekend we had clear nights and bluebird days, calling for an attempt at a summit I had been looking at for a while. The ascent is very technical and at first I wasn't sure about bringing along my a little less experienced friend Paul Panda but he did really well with some guidance and we are both still excited about our success. On to the pictures, I'm throwing together both of our shots. Pictures of me by PP and vice versa.
After an alpine start we hit the interesting part of the climb in bright morning light making for spectacular views on both sides of the narrow ridge.
Me leading the climb looking back at P. (Yes, that is a monoski he is carrying and yes, he is sponsored.)
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4251223.jpg
P.'s view:
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4251215.jpg
About three quarters of the way up the ridge, we had something of an "incident". Paul ventured a bit to far right over the corniced section and a substantial chunk of snow gave way under him, sending him into an almost crevasse like chasm between two sections of solid ground. I managed to dive in the opposite direction and eventually succeeded in setting up a dead man anchor so he could climb back up the rope. I can't believe we still took pictures in the middle of all that, funny how the mind works.
That rope was all that seperated us from desaster (I suppose my reflexes helped also.)
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4251236.jpg
Paul snapped this one once I assured him he was on solid belay.
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4251239.jpg
Still on shaky legs we started into the next stage of the ascent. The very aesthetic snow ridge leads to a slab of rock that rarely holds snow, particularly this late in the season. Rather than deal with mixed climbing on rotten snow and wet rock, we went for a more sun exposed crak that made for a good, steady climb.
P. looking up at me placing a friend.
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4251241.jpg
Once we reached the prominent crack you can see above me in the last picture, I decided we would make better time on a short rope. P. in the crack:
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4250888.jpg
He had some issues with his monoski hitting him in the back of the legs and hindering his climbing. This is an even greater problem when walking down hill, if anyone has suggestions on a pack with a better system to attach his ski, that would be very much appreicated.
He quickly got his camera out here while he was adjusting his pack.
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4250887.jpg
Finally the summit was in view. We met another party who were already descending, they had left their skis at the base of the rock section and were going to descend a mellower route. We exchanged numbers for possible future trips together and they later sent me this pictures of P and me.
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4250891.jpg
Self timer at the summit.
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4251228.jpg
And then we finally took our skis off out packs and clicked in. We had witnessed some considerable wet snow activity not far away and paused for pictures only quite far down, safely out of harms way...
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4251262.jpg
Trying to find a way around and old slid path while P waits above
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4230720.jpg
Joining P at a safe spot lower down
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4231260.jpg
P laying down tracks in the perfect corn on a mellow section almost in the valley
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4251258.jpg
Ah yes, harvest season.
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P4251260.jpg
No shots of the walk out back to the car, it was hot and sweaty. Great day with a great partner.
Hope you enjoyed the TR!
-GJ