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Opus Wannabe
Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 3700 | TRs | Pics Location: The big rock candy mountain |
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Opus
Wannabe
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 7:51 pm
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Not content with finding no-views on Sasse yesterday, I recruited Beth for Granite Mountain today in search of new and exciting no-views! I was expecting snow and rain, all but sure we'd divert to something at the top of the pass, but surprisingly we found high clouds and a dry trail. At least at the start.
We had bare ground almost all the way to the wilderness boundary, well beyond the Granite trail turn-off. Beyond this it was only a dusting. At the first avalanche chute it was only a foot or two at most. Several climbers passed us and took the direct winter route upwards. The summer trail was well packed and avalanche danger was low so we continued on, switchbacking in the trees beyond the chute and gaining elevation faster than the climbers. We crossed the next chute and decided to head upwards here, hoping to catch the east ridge and follow this up to the top. We saw another climber ahead of us taking this same route.
The snow at first was good for step kicking but then became really variable. In some places it was easy and supportive, then the next ten feet would be a thick wind crust or scoured down to ice. Footing was still alright but not ideal so we kept going. After crossing a particularly hard stretch we took a break behind a large snag and reassessed our goal. We were at nearly 5000 ft with the ridge top in sight so it was tempting to go on, but the snow wasn't great. In the end the weather decided to make the decision for us. As we ate lunch the wind came roaring in and the ridge above disappeared from view. The temperature seemed to be dropping and the snow began to fall steadily. Our views were gone.
We turned around and alternated between some nice glissades and plunge stepping to reach the trail. One climber continued beyond our turn around but dropped back himself soon after us. We worked our way back on the snowier trail and back into the trees. About this point the climber we spotted high on the ridge caught us. He'd made the summit but had to wait out some white-out conditions to see which way to descend.
Back into the woods we found the snowline had dropped several hundred feet and a dusting of fresh stuff made for some slippery conditions. I also got to test out my new ULA rain wrap. Works much better than rain pants, but certainly doesn't win any fashion awards. Once again no summit but still a fun trip!
Snow-free trail The snowline Old avalanche debris Climbing See the tiny climbers? Incoming weather Increasing wind Glissading down Glissade
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TrailPair Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1699 | TRs | Pics
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We want to see a picture of the rain wrap!!!
This thing called work is interfering with my play
This thing called work is interfering with my play
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Cerveza Member
Joined: 02 Apr 2009 Posts: 79 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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Cerveza
Member
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:16 pm
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Nice Views we did have views at first steep & icy Deciding whether to turn back or not storm moving in from 100% to about 15% in 30 minutes David's rain wrap
^the infamous rain wrap. Pretty handy i think. I may pick one up for my AT hike this year as well.
Beth a.k.a Cerveza a.k.a. Man Hands
Beth a.k.a Cerveza a.k.a. Man Hands
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Sadie's Driver Sadie's Driver
Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics Location: Welcome Pass |
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Sadie's Driver
Sadie's Driver
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:35 pm
Dork Personified!
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Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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TrailPair Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1699 | TRs | Pics
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TrailPair
Member
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:47 pm
Re: Dork Personified!
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This thing called work is interfering with my play
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Sadie's Driver Sadie's Driver
Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics Location: Welcome Pass |
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Sadie's Driver
Sadie's Driver
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:51 pm
Re: Dork Personified!
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Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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Cerveza Member
Joined: 02 Apr 2009 Posts: 79 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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Cerveza
Member
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 9:10 pm
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Beth a.k.a Cerveza a.k.a. Man Hands
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Magellan Brutally Handsome
Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 13116 | TRs | Pics Location: Inexorable descent |
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 9:53 pm
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I wear mine while working out at home with the blinds wide open on the picture window...
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Opus Wannabe
Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 3700 | TRs | Pics Location: The big rock candy mountain |
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Opus
Wannabe
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Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:16 pm
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Here's where you can all buy your own rain wraps and become the subject of strange looks and jokes everywhere you go!
Ultralight Adventure Equipment
Looks like no color choices, the one on the website is blue too.
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whitebark Member
Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 1864 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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TrailPair Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1699 | TRs | Pics
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They sold something similar in Nepal. We still regret not buying a couple.
This thing called work is interfering with my play
This thing called work is interfering with my play
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Opus Wannabe
Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 3700 | TRs | Pics Location: The big rock candy mountain |
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Opus
Wannabe
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Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:54 am
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Cerveza Member
Joined: 02 Apr 2009 Posts: 79 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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Cerveza
Member
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Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:13 am
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^whoa! $115 w/ shipping! dang.
Beth a.k.a Cerveza a.k.a. Man Hands
Beth a.k.a Cerveza a.k.a. Man Hands
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Arete Member
Joined: 29 Oct 2006 Posts: 137 | TRs | Pics Location: Bothell, WA |
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Arete
Member
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Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:08 am
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Thanks for thre report. I'm glad to see you made it down okay. We were next door on Pratt, watching the clouds swirl around on the upper slopes of Granite, grateful we had not chosen that hike and wondering what sort of adventures were playing out up there!
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BPLlama Member
Joined: 07 Sep 2006 Posts: 69 | TRs | Pics Location: シアトル |
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BPLlama
Member
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Mon Jan 25, 2010 12:36 pm
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Yay, Utilikilters now you can hike in your garb without getting your skirt..err kilt wet!!!
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