Into Cold Air-February 2006

[Scott P]

February 11, 2006: A beautiful, but cold day.



I had wanted to make a winter ascent of Nipple Peak for a long time, especially since I have viewed the mountain from nearby peaks on many occasions.

When Judson (SteamboatClimber) and I met at 6:30 am at Highway 40 and the tunoff for Clark, I had -29F on my thermometer. We drove to the trailhead in Judson's truck, and it was even colder at the trailhead, but I didn't bring my thermometer, since I left it in my car.

We drove to the trailhead at Tribly Flats, bundled up, and started up the mountain. Judson broke trail and was moving faster since he was on skies and I was on snowshoes. It would be a long day. It was lightly snowing at first, but not real snow, just those tiny ice crystals that fall out of the sky when it