Amy on the trail below Lumpy Ridge.
Looking out from below the Twin Owls formation.
The Bookmark and The Book.
Dinner time! Brendan enjoying a BBQ chicken sandwich and a beer.
The top of Glacier Gorge. Spearhead is the striking central feature; the North Ridge is the obvious prow above the sunlit East face.
Our route up the North Ridge of Spearhead (III 5.6). Circles are belays. The first pitch was only partially belayed, as it was mostly an easy slab. The second and third pitches climb a chimney system, and the forth pitch shown was simul-climbed. When we reached the top of that it began to rain hard; I climbed the first 15 feet of the next pitch before the slick, lichen covered rock convinced me to turn around.
Arrowhead in early morning light, taken from near the base of Spearhead.
Amy on the approach.
Spearhead.
Looking North down Glacier Gorge from the base of the route.
Amy getting wet. What started as a light sprinke that seemed likely to blow past us turned into a steady rain.
Going down. Our first rap anchor, composed of one third of a cordelette (it was ready for retirement anyway) on a bomber chockstone. We backed it up for the first person.
Amy on rappel.
My first-ever piece of pro, serving me one last time as part of a rap anchor. Thanks Stewart! In total we made four rappels and left 3 nuts, 1 cordelette, 1 sling, 2 rap rings and 2 leaver biners .
Looking back at Spearhead as we start the hike out. The rock was starting to dry, but significant sections were still wet.
Looking back up Glacier Gorge from Mills Lake.
Two beers chilling in a creek a couple miles from the trailhead. Planning ahead is a critical part of alpine mountaineering.
Cheers!
Thursday we drove up Trail Ridge Road to the alpine visitor center. We encountered a mix of rain, clouds, and sun.
At the observation point above the vistor center.
Looking down on alpine meadows from the vistor center.
Friday we attempted Long's Peak via the Keyhole route. We crossed the boulder field just after sunrise.
The top of the diamond at sunrise, viewed from the boulder field.
Jeff.
Brendan and Amy.
Approaching the keyhole.
Amy and Jeff on the scramble up to the keyhole.
At the start of the narrows. The weather on Wednesday and Thursday left a little bit of snow and some ice on the route.
Looking down on Green Lake.
The narrows.
Jeff considering his options on the iced-up terrain.
We turned back at the home stretch section of the route due to icy conditions. Probably about half the people on the route made the same decision. Just as we got there we saw someone slip and take a short fall twice while descending the route, which probably influenced our decision.
Chief's Head Peak.
Descending "the trough."
Jeff on the summit of Mt. Lady Washington.
Brendan on the summit of Mt. Lady Washington.
