20090314 Telegraph Peak FIGHTING BEARS WITH MISSILES
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 5:53 pm
Snazzy title.
Just got a new pair of Grivel Matrix Light tools in yesterday, and I wanted to scratch them up and go get hit by falling rocks. They're nice, just have to do something with hard ice.
Started up Lightning Couloir at dawn. Heard that sickening sound of rocks whizzing past, so I got the f*ck outta there and went to Miner's Bowl and onto the road to that overpriced ski lodge at the notch where they now play really loud music over loudspeakers that can be heard atop Telegraph Peak with wind. Totally sweet wilderness experience.
Went on that road that eventually ends up at the stunning summit of Thunder, and stopped at that first notch north of Thunder where you get the view of Telegraph Peak's NW Face. Took a break, looked at my options, and went down from there into Coldwater Canyon. There were a handful of steep sections where you have to Tarzan off of some bushes to get down without twisting an ankle.
The snow down in the canyon was real nice for boarding and such (I don't ski or board, just saying). Started up the large and most prominent couloir to the north of the NW face, and that was easy and done before I knew what hit me. Up, hang a right just before hitting the ridge, go up a second gully, that drops you on the ridge, go up and you're at the summit. Easy peasy.
I wasn't expecting to go this fast (real fast and safe with two tools instead of one axe), so I stayed up there for a few hours. Talked to a guy who's name I cannot remember (wearing Trango's). Watched Miguel climb up the Northwest Face. We talked for a long time about all kinds of mountain stuff. Met LD (herro sah!), everyone ate, then we all headed down. Down the west side (easy side with 3-T's trail), to Thunder Summit, down the west side of Thunder into Big Butch Wash/Miners Bowl, then south, passed Lightning Couloir, and straight to the cars. Bam.
Photobucket is being incredibly retarded (SURPRISE!!!!!), so no pics at the moment.
Just got a new pair of Grivel Matrix Light tools in yesterday, and I wanted to scratch them up and go get hit by falling rocks. They're nice, just have to do something with hard ice.
Started up Lightning Couloir at dawn. Heard that sickening sound of rocks whizzing past, so I got the f*ck outta there and went to Miner's Bowl and onto the road to that overpriced ski lodge at the notch where they now play really loud music over loudspeakers that can be heard atop Telegraph Peak with wind. Totally sweet wilderness experience.
Went on that road that eventually ends up at the stunning summit of Thunder, and stopped at that first notch north of Thunder where you get the view of Telegraph Peak's NW Face. Took a break, looked at my options, and went down from there into Coldwater Canyon. There were a handful of steep sections where you have to Tarzan off of some bushes to get down without twisting an ankle.
The snow down in the canyon was real nice for boarding and such (I don't ski or board, just saying). Started up the large and most prominent couloir to the north of the NW face, and that was easy and done before I knew what hit me. Up, hang a right just before hitting the ridge, go up a second gully, that drops you on the ridge, go up and you're at the summit. Easy peasy.
I wasn't expecting to go this fast (real fast and safe with two tools instead of one axe), so I stayed up there for a few hours. Talked to a guy who's name I cannot remember (wearing Trango's). Watched Miguel climb up the Northwest Face. We talked for a long time about all kinds of mountain stuff. Met LD (herro sah!), everyone ate, then we all headed down. Down the west side (easy side with 3-T's trail), to Thunder Summit, down the west side of Thunder into Big Butch Wash/Miners Bowl, then south, passed Lightning Couloir, and straight to the cars. Bam.
Photobucket is being incredibly retarded (SURPRISE!!!!!), so no pics at the moment.
You got some nice routes in your back pocket. NExt time you're going out, shoot me a PM. I need to get some climbs in before April.