More pix: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21042415@N ... 025143423/
Split Mtn Attempt 5-22/24-10
Armed with the excellent beta provided by hvydrt (thanks, Mark!), Norma R and I headed to the Sierra to take a whack at Split Mtn (14,058'). The dismal weather forecast almost caused us to divert to Death Valley, but ultimately, after a detour to climb Owens Peak, we were bound for the Red Lake TH. The wind blew hard all night and it wasn't looking good, but sunrise brought relatively calm skies, so we set out for Red Lake, camping near the pond below (~10,200'). It snowed most of the night, but cleared a bit in the morning, so we decided to take a shot at the summit, knowing that our chances for success were limited. We got to around 12,700' and the visibility dropped dramatically as the winds increased and our tracks began to fill in with fresh snow. Considering the possibility of descending in whiteout conditions, along with the danger of climbing the 3rd class sections in high winds, we decided to bail and return to camp. We walked out Monday under blue skies.
More pix: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21042415@N ... 025143423/
More pix: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21042415@N ... 025143423/
the conditions ranged from warm to cold, to colder, to warm. wild and wacky May weather this year. how beautiful to wake up Sunday morning to see everything covered in a dusting of snow. we were always warm enough but loosing visibility was the motivating factor to turn-around. seeing how our tracks were disappearing so quickly made us realize we made the right decision. but i tell you, being the only ones in that arena that weekend was more inspiring than intimidating. we had a 14'er all to oursleves.
yes, thank you hvydrt for your beta! we saw old tracks that could have been yours near Red Lake. thank you Dave for using your GPS to keep us on-route. in the sagebrush down below it is all too easy to loose the trail. looks like we'll be going back to give Split a shot when the snow has melted her slopes, to expose the scree and talus. no matter what, it will be a sweet victory to gain her summit.
From the high desert to the Sierra high country we will go.
And you thought May brought flowers. Last night it brought snow!
Plus wind to blow the snow
The summit was not ours today, but our highpoint of 12,700 afforded us some nice views. A massive cornice.
Mount Prater
Back in the flats, the locals seemed nonplussed when we told them what we had been up to.
rest of my pix are here: http://picasaweb.google.com/ryan.norma8 ... mptMay2010#
yes, thank you hvydrt for your beta! we saw old tracks that could have been yours near Red Lake. thank you Dave for using your GPS to keep us on-route. in the sagebrush down below it is all too easy to loose the trail. looks like we'll be going back to give Split a shot when the snow has melted her slopes, to expose the scree and talus. no matter what, it will be a sweet victory to gain her summit.
From the high desert to the Sierra high country we will go.
And you thought May brought flowers. Last night it brought snow!
Plus wind to blow the snow
The summit was not ours today, but our highpoint of 12,700 afforded us some nice views. A massive cornice.
Mount Prater
Back in the flats, the locals seemed nonplussed when we told them what we had been up to.
rest of my pix are here: http://picasaweb.google.com/ryan.norma8 ... mptMay2010#
take a look at Dave's pix.At least you guys have an excuse to get back to the Sierra soon! Its nice to have an entire area to yourself. I wish we would have spent 2 nights like you did. Doesn't look like to much has melted up high in the past month, but everything down low looks a lot greener.
It is a blessing that we have country like this in California. I need to make a bigger effort next year to get out there in the winter and spring.
Nunc est bibendum
