ram
Member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2013
- Messages
- 116
Snowfield? Ohhhh boy is that ever the impressive name for a mountain!!!.....NOT!!! Aw well! It does have its challenges nevertheless. It was over 9 hours full packing to our camp. From there it is up a glacier to a pass, down steep snow and onto a pretty massive glacier, then an exposed ridge to the summit...and back again. We would take 12 hours camp to camp. So while not intimidating in name, it is one remote place to get to. Oh and while I mentioned steep snow and exposure, did I mention the dozens of crevasses that had to be dodged or stepped over all the way there and again on the way back? No? Jenny counted them. Well all but two were pretty easy and sorta safe. Those two? Gets your attention. By now, those "gapers" are a lot wider. Our timing was good. The decision to put on the crampons on the way up was also wise, as we hit hard snow.
So with sketchy weather supposedly coming in, our education of Jean progressing well, we went for the big day. The trip to our "far point." The pass, part way there, reveals a whole new world to our eyes and it was intimidating. I see it in the expressions of Jean and Harvey. Jenny is there to encourage with great effectiveness, while offering ego-free avenues to back out. I remind Harvey that his friend Steve Allen says and I quote. "You must go and touch the wall." His way of saying probe and come face to face with what you will not do, before retreating. What holds true for rock, holds true for steep snow and crevasses....or so we advocate. We rope up, head down with the casual comment.."lets take a look." Didn't really ask permission, just kinda swept our friends along with us. I can ask for forgiveness later, I figure. I would not need to about the snow. The rock later? Well that is a different part of the story.
We finally cross the expansive Neve Glacier and head up the ridge. Soon it is steep. loose and not so great climbing in boots. Jean's body language says "fear." Harvey is mad at me again for asking so much of Jean. Dang it! We are canyoneers We KNOW HOW to downclimb. We KNOW HOW to facilitate and teach. After 20 minutes on the summit, we dispense with the rock descent easier than we did going up. He is not mad at me anymore. Its a long way home, but we know the way. Time is spent at the pass, just beyond the half way home point, the crew is already sharing heart felt thanks.The centerpiece of our 5 days up in the Colonial Basin is nearly in the books.
We arrive at camp, beautiful high clouds filling the sky and the wind blows....again. It blows in thunderstorms at 4 AM. A "shake the tent apart" wind and rain, BOOM all around and followed by sun beams in the early AM. Harvey and Jean will rest and enjoy the day in and near camp. Jenny and I join them.....until that restless spirit takes hold again.
Ready to go
nearing the pass
Snowfield Peak (left), Neve Glacier from the pass
Dodging crevasses
Weaving in and out
close up view
3 Summit pictures
The view from on top
The peak on the way back
Storm coming
Happy Jenny
back in camp
Slideshow
[picasa]https://picasaweb.google.com/108034287150978265447/SnowfieldPeak#[/picasa]
Featured image for home page:
So with sketchy weather supposedly coming in, our education of Jean progressing well, we went for the big day. The trip to our "far point." The pass, part way there, reveals a whole new world to our eyes and it was intimidating. I see it in the expressions of Jean and Harvey. Jenny is there to encourage with great effectiveness, while offering ego-free avenues to back out. I remind Harvey that his friend Steve Allen says and I quote. "You must go and touch the wall." His way of saying probe and come face to face with what you will not do, before retreating. What holds true for rock, holds true for steep snow and crevasses....or so we advocate. We rope up, head down with the casual comment.."lets take a look." Didn't really ask permission, just kinda swept our friends along with us. I can ask for forgiveness later, I figure. I would not need to about the snow. The rock later? Well that is a different part of the story.
We finally cross the expansive Neve Glacier and head up the ridge. Soon it is steep. loose and not so great climbing in boots. Jean's body language says "fear." Harvey is mad at me again for asking so much of Jean. Dang it! We are canyoneers We KNOW HOW to downclimb. We KNOW HOW to facilitate and teach. After 20 minutes on the summit, we dispense with the rock descent easier than we did going up. He is not mad at me anymore. Its a long way home, but we know the way. Time is spent at the pass, just beyond the half way home point, the crew is already sharing heart felt thanks.The centerpiece of our 5 days up in the Colonial Basin is nearly in the books.
We arrive at camp, beautiful high clouds filling the sky and the wind blows....again. It blows in thunderstorms at 4 AM. A "shake the tent apart" wind and rain, BOOM all around and followed by sun beams in the early AM. Harvey and Jean will rest and enjoy the day in and near camp. Jenny and I join them.....until that restless spirit takes hold again.
Ready to go
nearing the pass
Snowfield Peak (left), Neve Glacier from the pass
Dodging crevasses
Weaving in and out
close up view
3 Summit pictures
The view from on top
The peak on the way back
Storm coming
Happy Jenny
back in camp
Slideshow
[picasa]https://picasaweb.google.com/108034287150978265447/SnowfieldPeak#[/picasa]
Featured image for home page:
