Solstice trip

[Kullaberg63]

Around the Solstice we spent three days finding a route in and out to a remote sandstone peak between the Henry Mountains and Glen Canyon. The simplest one-way path was 16 miles and 16 hours of pretty difficult travel.

In the end we had logged 40 miles of scrambling, wading (ice breaking!), dome wrangling and mesa cruising.

Another 'mile per hour' trip of the best kind: zero trail walking, no write-ups on the Net, and besides the 1952 USGS marker on the summit no sign that people ever travelled here.

And we brought new gear to test.

 

[LarryBoy]

Terrific! That sandstone scramble gives me the heebie-jeebies. How gnarly was it in real life?

 

[Kullaberg63]

The dog did it np. But, yeah, difficult hike.

 

[regehr]

looks like some pretty warm sleeping bags there -- what were nighttime temps like?

 

[Titans]

WOW....... Your dog is the best! Can we convince you to make us happy with some more photos, please? I'm sure @Rockskipper agrees.

What new gear did you bring and how did it it work out?

 

[Kullaberg63]

looks like some pretty warm sleeping bags there -- what were nighttime temps like?

It was cold, maybe low teens and blasting wind on the second night, the kind that filled ears and eyes with sand. Haha, we made all the bags/quilts - part of the gear test.

 

[hikeer]

The best kind of trip for sure. Looks like awesome country!

 

[Glasterpiece]

Thank you for sharing. I would love to see more pics.

 

[Kullaberg63]

Trying to find camp (and water) on day one. We found snow and a decent flat ledge high in the next set of fins.

Looking back at where we came from; early day two.

One of of us is way down there scouting for a route out of the central mass of fins we had to traverse. The peak is the shadowy thing on the right.

Regrouping before heading to the summit.

Nearing the summit of the peak. Probably blowing 30 knots there.

On top! Holmes and Ellsworth in the background.

Tons of this stuff in the remote Navajo fins.

When racing against cold and nightfall, again to find water, the strongest gets two packs! We came thru all the fins in the background clear to the horizon, with the peak out of sight. Tough going.

Wading and potential swimming in 20°F temps was waiting up this exit canyon on the last day. We only waded, thanks to some creative climb-arounds.

 

[slc_dan]

Oh boy!

I've walked the canyons you went through there. Def recognize the bypass you are doing above the water in the first set. @Nick and I tromped through the water.

The rest looks...too good. I had a plan to reach a summit on the other side of the Henries last winter break, but there was too much snow. This year I'm stuck in home-improvement hell. God I love the long shadows that the low winter sun casts. Looks like a hell of a route.

As Always thanks for sharing.

 

[Kullaberg63]

Yes Dan, winter is the best time around here.

 

[RyanP]

What an awesome-looking trip!

 

[regehr]

looks sketchy in the best possible way