EISPIRATEN

got a chance to make an unalpine, 8am start of Icehouse Canyon yesterday with Tracie (Blooty) and Jim (Calicokat.) not knowing what to expect with the recent high temps that dropped on Saturday we were pleasantly surprised with the conditions. nice firm boot track up the drainage with no crampons or 'shoes necessary all day. though some others were sporting them.

Bighorn's north facing slope was sweet and the rimed trees made for beautiful views. we were hiking in a cloudy mist from 11am on and enjoyed the eerie atmosphere it provided. Timber's south facing slope was firm due to the cold temp yesterday but the snow was a mixture of hard slush and rime ice from the high temps last week. there was still soft stuff in areas that don't have too much exposure to sun. did some glissading on Timber's rime iced slope back to the drainage. kinda like butt screeing on prefectly good pants! ..or what were once good pants! we also worked a little on teaching Tracie self-arrest, but she couldn't help but look like a girl! there's still hope for her, yet!

we all agreed it was a very fun day on the mountain!

Trying to see the Randonee Race on Baldy through a break in the clouds


Tracie framed in rime on Bighorn


From Timber looking at our boot track up Bighorn. It looks steeper than it felt.


rest of the pix are here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ryan.norma8 ... imber22110#

Alice in Rimeland, that’s cute.

Looks like you had a great day, photos say it all. Cannot ever remember being at Ice House Saddle and seeing anyone going up Bighorn, let alone 20 people – (especially wintertime) were they giving away “lotto tickets” or something?

Did you head straight up from the saddle or did you traverse around the first bend towards Kelly’s Camp and then head straight up?

Nice work Norma, Tracie and Jim, thanks for sharing.

Sweet! Thanks for sharing the pictures.

lilbitmo wrote:Cannot ever remember being at Ice House Saddle and seeing anyone going up Bighorn, let alone 20 people – (especially wintertime) were they giving away “lotto tickets” or something?

Did you head straight up from the saddle or did you traverse around the first bend towards Kelly’s Camp and then head straight up?

hi Patrick!

it was the usual suspects of IHC heading up Bighorn. i was just surprised with our late start that they were behind us.

we went straight up from the saddle. i had only done BH once before last winter with Dave, so i took the same route.

Thanks Jim and Norma for a splendid day of snowy adventure!


Jim in the Cougar Den


Some places were soft and deep


pretty views all around



Jim heading straight up Bighorn from Ice House saddle