Baden-Powell 2-20-16
Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 9:49 pm
Headed up to Vincent Gap with the hope of summiting but the intention of trying out some new boots (see my Gear Review). I got to the parking lot a few minutes after 7:00 am on Saturday 2/20. There was only one other car in the lot. As I was getting out I saw a couple headed down the trail to Big Horn Mine. The trail was dry for 1/2 mile or so with a few patches of ice. After coming to longer patch I decided it was time for microspikes. I kept them on while the trail was still flat. Soon after the hard packed snow/ice was about a 30° pitch or so on the trail, and it was time for crampons and ice axe. The snow was pretty much frozen over all day except in places where it gets some sun. Even though conditions were deep in some areas, I never had to post hole. Occasionally my ice axe would sink the entire length of the shaft, but most of the day I was striking ice.
I lost the trail of switchbacks somewhere between mile 2 and 3 and started heading straight up, following a faint sign of tracks. A short while later a couple other guys caught up to me. They were appropriately geared up and told me how others in tennis shoes had rightly turned back when the trail turned to ice. (Hopefully news of the last few weeks' tragedies and rescues in our local mountains have made people aware winter conditions are no joke.) I hiked with them until we reached the ridge where I stopped to eat while they headed up to the summit. I ate lunch at the ridge and enjoyed the view for about an hour. Knowing my speed and my limits, some time around 12:30 or 1:00 pm I headed back down. After a couple stops for lace adjustments and crampon removal I reached the parking lot around 3:30.
Clearly by the texture of the snow, Wednesday and Thursday's rain did not mean snow on the mountain.
Icy pretty much the whole way.
The last push to the ridge.
Sunny all day, warm in the sun and cool in the shade. No additional layers needed.
Baden-Powell. You can see the two that continued on about half way up.
I lost the trail of switchbacks somewhere between mile 2 and 3 and started heading straight up, following a faint sign of tracks. A short while later a couple other guys caught up to me. They were appropriately geared up and told me how others in tennis shoes had rightly turned back when the trail turned to ice. (Hopefully news of the last few weeks' tragedies and rescues in our local mountains have made people aware winter conditions are no joke.) I hiked with them until we reached the ridge where I stopped to eat while they headed up to the summit. I ate lunch at the ridge and enjoyed the view for about an hour. Knowing my speed and my limits, some time around 12:30 or 1:00 pm I headed back down. After a couple stops for lace adjustments and crampon removal I reached the parking lot around 3:30.
Clearly by the texture of the snow, Wednesday and Thursday's rain did not mean snow on the mountain.
Icy pretty much the whole way.
The last push to the ridge.
Sunny all day, warm in the sun and cool in the shade. No additional layers needed.
Baden-Powell. You can see the two that continued on about half way up.
