The Enchantments- Pictures
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canyons/message/57361
Getting a permit into the Enchantments is a long shot, but the large amount of
snow made many cancel out and Jenny, down a day early, secured the goods. In for
5 days. Aaron and I woke in Colorado and slept 5 miles up at treeline in
Washington that evening. What a world!!! First climb is the Serpentine Ridge on
Dragontail. A 16 pitch climb with one 5.9 pitch (Aaron on lead on the crack
series). Both Jenny and I fell following. How the boy can climb that hard with
20+ pounds on his back???? A handful of 5.7 pitches and much mid and low 5th
above and beyond. Getting off the steep snow and over the moat, just to get
started was an adventure. Jenny led that blind move up and over. I led the
traverse over to the climbable ledge, but not before breaking a bit of moat that
collapsed and fell 4 feet, burying the rope. Twenty minutes of digging later, I
continued ;-O. We had the summit to ourselves. A camera was placed on a pack,
while on top. Later the pack was picked up and a camera went airborne over the
edge of the 2,000 foot face. Oops. The person had to be told that the camera was
gone, as the flight was missed by the owner. Names have been changed to protect
the clumsy. On descent we came down a slope that we heard later had a cornice
break off and a resultant major slide, just 15 minutes before we came to it.
GULP!! Them spring avies and slough offs....... The snow was like cement. Lucky
duckies.
Then the goats. Lived with them for 2 days. They sure like our salt. The babies
were adorable. The adults, with their fainted warfare, reminded me of a certain
outdoor community ;-). Prussik Peak west ridge next. A 5.7 route of about 4
pitches, inch for inch one of the best anywhere. A ten mile hike out the next
day, past frozen lakes and river crossing about sieves. Chaaaaarming!! Love the
Cascade's, Even the trails can kill ya!!
After the 5 day overnight, we did the long drive around to Washington Pass area,
threw in a round of golf and the next day, an ascent of South Early Winter Spire
on a cold day. Pictures are a blend of both Aaron's and my collection.
http://picasaweb.google.com/aramv14/...mentsJuly2010#
