An SUV in the road blocked us from driving closer to camp, so we had a bunch of junk to lug 200 vertical to camp!
Jim's load
Camp at ~10200'.
Little Bear looms at dawn.
Ascending the west ridge above treeline.
14er Ellingwood Pt looking spectacular.
First good view of Little Bear.
The life of Lygon Stevens was claimed in this general area back in Jan by an avy. Her body has yet to be located as of our climb.
Ellingwood Pt again
Debris field from avalanche.
Another potential spot where avy could have occurred back in Jan.
The traverse to the hourglass on solid snow.
The base of the infamous hourglass couloir, which is tamed by firm snow.
Jim and Karen squeezing through the hourglass. Slope angle never exceeded 43 degrees in here.
Looking up to the lower rappel anchor.
Don't trust this anchor!
Looking down the hourglass.
We followed tracks from yesterday over to the right above the hourglass. Here's Jim and Karen traversing to the center of the face.
This slope was in the 45-47 degree range.
Jim and Karen on the steepest part of the climb at 50 degrees just below the summit. We had nice ladder steps cut for us.
Jim Ohl nears the summit of Little Bear.
South Little Bear from summit.
Blanca and the 5th class connecting ridge.
Kudos Jim and Karen!
Como Lake basin
Descending steep snow.
Nice perspective of the slope high on the mountain.
The snow stayed firm and safe on the way down.
Downclimbing the hourglass.
Looking down to the Little Bear Lake basin from base of hourglass.
Traversing back to the west ridge.
The traverse over to the hourglass.
Avy debris field
The striking n.w. face of Little Bear to left.
Looking down our route up the west ridge.
Ellingwood Pt, Blanca, and Little Bear l to r on the way out.
