20100308-09 Mill Creek

Post by **Taco** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 2:45 pm

Fritz and I were going after a longtime goal in the area, but my knee hurt like hell right out of the parking lot, so we had to alter plans. We hiked up to the base of the north face of Galena Peak, dug a snowcave, and hit the hay. Next day, left. Here are the pics.

Walls near the trail to San G

Down the road, so to speak

Fritz

Scenery

Fritz, lead postholer

Scenery

Fritz starting the snow cave

MALZEIT!

Newcastle

Manotsuru "Crane" Junmai Sake

Fritz cooking or something

My bowl, ever so tiny.

Morning light. Looking out of the tunnel.

Fritz in fun mode

Me in my snow tube room.

Scenery from outside our snowcave.

Packs and fud

My room in the cave

Fritz

Moving out

Fritz mit Joe and Michael.

Joe

Michael

Fritz in Extreme Mode

Me

This area kicks ass. Not in climbing condition for a while.

Sam Page · Post by **Sam Page** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 3:58 pm

What do you mean by "not in climbing condition for a while"?

Post by **Taco** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:12 pm

All that new snow hides any good hard snow or alpine ice. Instead of climbing, you'd be swimming uphill.

KathyW · Post by **KathyW** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:21 pm

The amount of snow is just amazing - thanks for sharing your adventure with us.

Post by **Taco** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:48 pm

It kept on falling. We have waaaaay more snow than it looks like, even in the pics. Fritz can contribute numbers, if he remembers the depths (I don't).

GigaMike · Post by **GigaMike** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 6:01 pm

Cool stuff, Taco. So what was your original goal? After looking at Sam's climb a few weeks ago and now your pictures, I think I need to get out there soon.

He219 · Post by **He219** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 6:38 pm

The goal is a bit of a secret and to my knowledge still unclimbed ..

Notes of caution:

1) Sleep above your C02
2) Vent the space with fresh air
3) Don't over excavate a huge cavern and entomb yourself through structural collapse.

Learned some important lessons in snow-cave construction:

1) Give yourself enough head-height to be able to sit-up and change clothes without smashing your noggen into the ceiling. (Illustration A)
2) Locate the vertical ventilation shaft away from your face.
3) Build a barrier to prevent fresh powder during snowstorm from falling into vent-shaft and piling onto unsuspecting sleeper below.

TacoDelRio wrote:It kept on falling. We have waaaaay more snow than it looks like, even in the pics. Fritz can contribute numbers, if he remembers the depths (I don't).

The probe measured a 7 foot snowpack where we camped.

We also heard distinctive the sound of a slide on our way back.
Lots of snow up there, it'll be around for a while.

EnFuego · Post by **EnFuego** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:09 pm

Nice pics. A couple pics show some nice routes (when in condition).

hvydrt · Post by **hvydrt** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:37 pm

Very Cool! Was it warm in your cave? Its been cold and windy the past few nights. Were you post holing a lot on the way up Mill Creek?

Post by **Taco** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:04 pm

GigaMike wrote:Cool stuff, Taco. So what was your original goal? After looking at Sam's climb a few weeks ago and now your pictures, I think I need to get out there soon.

What Fritz said.

Cheers, y'all.

RyanB · Post by **RyanB** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 6:33 am

That cave is sick!

Elwood · Post by **Elwood** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 6:59 am

That's a great report and pictures. I'm jealous.

He219 · Post by **He219** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 8:16 am

Thanks, guys!

hvydrt wrote:Very Cool! Was it warm in your cave? Its been cold and windy the past few nights. Were you post holing a lot on the way up Mill Creek?

While tunneling we got cold crawling on hands and knees.
After we changed clothes and settled in our sleeping bags we found it quite comfortable, even warm due to our body-heat in a well-insulated environment.
I never felt warmer while sleeping on ice. A tent would have buffeted in the howling winds but it was calm and quiet inside our shelter.

Condensation would normally trickle down from tent walls as water or ice crystals inside.
I've been 'snowed' on several times inside of my tent from condensation after bumping the tent walls.
In the snow cave condensation served to harden the shell of the interior and strengthen our shelter.

Post-holed a couple of times both up and down.
There is an established and compacted boot path hidden under all the new snow - if you can manage to stay on it.
You don't need crampons or snowshoes but can also sink waist deep at times.
The true danger are the soft spots along the edge of the drainage with caverns below from the rushing water of Mill Creek.

TracieB · Post by **TracieB** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 10:30 am

snow tunnels...v. impressive and...way over my skill level!!

tinaballina · Post by **tinaballina** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:29 pm

Taco, you better see a dr. soon, the ice will be coming..there is still a lot you must teach me especially if david is out of commission.

spotfin · Post by **spotfin** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:49 pm

Great trip, nice pics and the snow cave is very impressive.