Posts Tagged ‘Mountaineering’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Mountaineering – Backpack To Base of Dallas Peak

Friday, August 1st, 2014

High Camp Below Dallas Peak at 11,340 ft
My Cozy Campsite, at 11,340 ft

Dallas Peak Shrouded in Clouds
View of Dallas Peak from Camp

I am a planner. I spend countless hours pouring over details; analyzing and collecting data about mountains. Executing a carefully planned trip to the point of success is a thrill like none other!

However, this summer, I missed an opportunity, big-time!

I was in Ouray and Telluride 7/23-7/27. Then, I drove home to Denver. Five days later, I returned to the San Juans! Why didn’t I just *stay down there*? To suffer an extra 16 hours driving in the car; when I could have been climbing mountains instead…HOW could I miss something so obvious???

(more…)

Tags:, , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Mountaineering, Rock Climbing | Comments Closed

Mountaineering – Teakettle Mountain (13,819 ft), Ouray, CO

Thursday, July 24th, 2014

Teakettle Mountain from Coffeepot
Teakettle Mountain from Coffeepot. The dark gash in the mountain is the Black Gully!

Clare and Potosi Peak
Climbergirl and Potosi Peak

Ever since climbing Mt. Sneffels, in July of 2013, I had a desire to climb the two centennial 13’ers flanking it. To the west of Sneffels, Dallas Peak stands guard while to the east, there’s Teakettle Mountain. Both captured my imagination and so I must climb them!

Bruce the Champion of Teakettle Mountain
Trip Leader, Bruce, on the summit of Teakettle Mountain

When I saw Bruce’s trip posted on the CMC website, I called him immediately. We had a pleasant conversation and we agreed to meet in a climbing gym, prior to the trip. The last section of Teakettle Mountain involves 5th class climbing; so it’s important people understand rope management, basic knots, safety, and climbing. Them gym meet-up went well, so the trip was on!

Trip Participants: Bruce (Leader), Tom, Frank, Meredith, Lisa, Helen, and I

Our Progress:
Leave Yankee Boy Basin TH: 5:10am
Base of Coffeepot: 7:40am
Base of Black Gully: 8:10am
Above Black Gully: 8:25am
Base of 5th Class Pitch: 9:10am
Start Climbing: 9:15am
Finish Climbing: 10:45am
Below Black Gully: 11:30am
Started Awful Scree Descent (We went down the direct route, not up/over Coffeepot ledge): 11:45am
Finished Awful Scree Descent: 12:40pm
Return Yankee Boy Basin TH: 1:30pm

(more…)

Tags:, , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Mountaineering, Rock Climbing | Comments Closed

Rock Climbing – Navajo Peak (Attempt), Indian Peaks Wilderness, CO

Sunday, July 6th, 2014

Navajo Peak and Glacier From Airplane Gully

On Sunday, Doug and I drove up to the IPW to climb Navajo Peak. I was looking forward to the rock climb on Navajo Peak; a moderate route in a beautiful alpine setting. Also, there was the lure of Dicker’s Peck, a tower of rock standing in attention, just waiting to be climbed.

For a variety of reasons, we did not summit: Late start, poor health, poor route finding, bad weather, and crossing a boulder field while wearing crampons. I hyperextended my knee during the crampon bouldering section, and 6 weeks later, it’s still smarting.

We hiked back to the car in a downpour, which just cemented our mutual feelings of utter failure. We vowed to “get it” next time. (more…)

Tags:, , , , ,
Posted in Mountaineering, Rock Climbing | Comments Closed

Mountaineering – Mounts Ouray and Chipeta

Saturday, June 28th, 2014

Mt Chipeta, Pt 13472, and Mt. Ouray
Panorama taken on the side of Mount Ouray (13,971 ft).

Mount Ouray is to the far right of the frame, while a ridge leading to Mount Chipeta and Pt 13,472 stretches out in front. Fred and I decide to tackle Mount Ouray. Later, we make an attempt on Pt 13,472 but decide to turn around on the summit of Chipeta.

Mt Ouray - Not A Selfie
On the summit of Mount Ouray

Mount Ouray was named after Chief Ouray, leader of the Uncompahgre band of the Utes. According to Legends of America, he married Chipeta in 1859 and they were together until the Chief died in 1880.

Dandelions and Mt Ouray
The flowered fields on Mt Ouray’s South Side

Our Schedule
Carpool meetup – 4am
Depart Marshall Pass TH – 5:35am
Gain the Ridge – 6:35am
Mount Ouray Summit – 8:35am
Back to Ridge – 10am
Mount Chipeta Summit – 11:45am
Back to Ridge – 1:20pm
Back to Marshall Pass TH – 2pm

(more…)

Tags:, , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Mountaineering | Comments Closed

Mountaineering – Mt. Hope (13,933 ft) via Hopeful Couloir and Quail Mountain

Sunday, June 15th, 2014

Success on Mt. Hope
Summit Shot on Mt. Hope

Hopeful Couloir on Mt. Hope
Hopeful Couloir, our destination!

Summit Register on Quail Mountain
Happy Father’s Day to Dad…My summit registry entry on Top of Quail Mountain

Mt Hope from Quail Mountain
Hope Mountain from Near Summit of Quail Mountain

On Father’s Day, Fred and I set off to climb the Hopeful Couloir on Mt. Hope. It was on my list of desired snow climbs and I was happy Fred was there to join me. While we were out bagging peaks, Dennis was somewhere on the Colorado trail and tooling around Twin Lakes on his mountain bike. It was neat to be up high and wondering where he was over the course of our day.

Our Schedule:
Depart Camp: 4:30am
Nearing Treeline in Sheep Gulch: 5:30am
Hope Pass: 6:30am
Descent to 12,100 ft and donning crampons: 7:10am
Base of Hopeful Couloir: 7:40am
Top of Hopeful Couloir: 9:25am
Top of Mt. Hope: 9:50am
Descending Mt. Hope: 10:15am
Hope Pass: 11:30am
Quail Mountain Summit: 12:30pm
Back to Camp: 2:30pm

(more…)

Tags:, , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Mountaineering | Comments Closed

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »