Forum Index > Trip Reports > Granite Mountain attempt, 1.24.2010
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Opus
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Joined: 04 Mar 2006
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Location: The big rock candy mountain
Opus
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PostSun Jan 24, 2010 7:51 pm 
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
Snow-free trail
The snowline
The snowline
Old avalanche debris
Old avalanche debris
Climbing
Climbing
See the tiny climbers?
See the tiny climbers?
Incoming weather
Incoming weather
Increasing wind
Increasing wind
Glissading down
Glissading down
Glissade
Glissade

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TrailPair
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PostSun Jan 24, 2010 8:00 pm 
We want to see a picture of the rain wrap!!! suuure.gif

This thing called work is interfering with my play
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Cerveza
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Location: Seattle
Cerveza
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PostSun Jan 24, 2010 8:16 pm 
Nice Views
Nice Views
we did have views at first
we did have views at first
steep & icy
steep & icy
Deciding whether to turn back or not
Deciding whether to turn back or not
storm moving in
storm moving in
from 100% to about 15% in 30 minutes
from 100% to about 15% in 30 minutes
David's rain wrap
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
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Sadie's Driver
Sadie's Driver



Joined: 24 Apr 2006
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Location: Welcome Pass
Sadie's Driver
Sadie's Driver
PostSun Jan 24, 2010 8:35 pm 
Dork Personified!
ScarlotteDorian wrote:
David's rain wrap
David's rain wrap
The infamous rain wrap.
eek.gif gag.gif stun.gif stun.gif rotf.gif ykm.gif OMG David! Please leave it at home on our next hike!!! lol.gif agree.gif winksmile.gif s.d.

Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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TrailPair
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TrailPair
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PostSun Jan 24, 2010 8:47 pm 
Re: Dork Personified!
Sadie's Driver wrote:
ScarlotteDorian wrote:
David's rain wrap
David's rain wrap
The infamous rain wrap.
eek.gif gag.gif stun.gif stun.gif rotf.gif ykm.gif OMG David! Please leave it at home on our next hike!!! lol.gif agree.gif winksmile.gif s.d.
But it is a great idea! agree.gif We both wish we had rain wraps today on Mt. Washington. Where is the best place to buy them? confused.gif It's not a skirt....it's a kilt!!! hockeygrin.gif

This thing called work is interfering with my play
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Sadie's Driver
Sadie's Driver



Joined: 24 Apr 2006
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Location: Welcome Pass
Sadie's Driver
Sadie's Driver
PostSun Jan 24, 2010 8:51 pm 
Re: Dork Personified!
TrailPair wrote:
But it is a great idea! agree.gif We both wish we had rain wraps today on Mt. Washington. Where is the best place to buy them? confused.gif
No, No, No! Don't do it! lol.gif winksmile.gif

Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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Cerveza
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Cerveza
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PostSun Jan 24, 2010 9:10 pm 
lol.gif i love the pure loathing for the rain wrap. yeah, it looks a bit ridiculous but seems pretty functional. I can imagine it would keep you cool while you are hiking in the rain. seems pretty ideal for hiking 2200 miles in primarily rainy conditions on the AT. Not to mention, for girls or men who like the utility kilt look, restroom breaks on days where you are trying to cover mileage would be quick and easy. now wearing this around town....i wouldn't necessarily suggest that. whaambulance.gif I told David that he'd have to be careful when the wind blows so that he doesn't pull a Marilyn Monroe. wink.gif

Beth a.k.a Cerveza a.k.a. Man Hands
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome



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Magellan
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PostSun Jan 24, 2010 9:53 pm 
I wear mine while working out at home with the blinds wide open on the picture window... clown.gif

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Opus
Wannabe



Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Posts: 3700 | TRs | Pics
Location: The big rock candy mountain
Opus
Wannabe
PostSun Jan 24, 2010 10:16 pm 
Here's where you can all buy your own rain wraps and become the subject of strange looks and jokes everywhere you go! lol.gif moon.gif Ultralight Adventure Equipment Looks like no color choices, the one on the website is blue too.

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whitebark
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PostSun Jan 24, 2010 11:15 pm 
The rain wrap would really go great with a "parcho": http://mysite.verizon.net/bgurwell1/parcho.htm this would be the ultimate storm defying combination....

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TrailPair
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PostMon Jan 25, 2010 8:48 am 
whitebark wrote:
The rain wrap would really go great with a "parcho": http://mysite.verizon.net/bgurwell1/parcho.htm
They sold something similar in Nepal. We still regret not buying a couple.

This thing called work is interfering with my play
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Opus
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Joined: 04 Mar 2006
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Location: The big rock candy mountain
Opus
Wannabe
PostMon Jan 25, 2010 8:54 am 
Or a Packa.

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Cerveza
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Cerveza
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PostMon Jan 25, 2010 9:13 am 
^whoa! $115 w/ shipping! dang.

Beth a.k.a Cerveza a.k.a. Man Hands
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Arete
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Arete
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PostMon Jan 25, 2010 11:08 am 
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
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BPLlama
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PostMon Jan 25, 2010 12:36 pm 
Yay, Utilikilters now you can hike in your garb without getting your skirt..err kilt wet!!! up.gif

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