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Base Camp
Up
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- Statistics:
- Date Hiked: May 31,
2010
- Miles Hiked:
11.0
- Elevation Gain: 4,200'
- Hiking Partner(s):
Brian Kooienga
- Description:
- Brian and I intended to climb a cool route in the Loch Vale area, but got
side-tracked and ended up climbing an unnamed couloir on Taylor Peak.
We were hiking from the Glacier Gorge trailhead at 4:30 am and made
relatively descent time to The Loch. I struggled all day with low
blood sugar levels and didn't perform too well. In addition, I was
at sea level the week before this hike and had a relatively big week of
running prior to the climb. Anyway, we topped out on the couloir
and Taylor Peak and descended down Andrew's Glacier. Instead of
heading left above Sky Pond up Taylor Glacier, we turned right for a
slightly more direct line to the summit ridge. The first 2/3rds of
the couloir was moderate 40-45 degrees snow, and the upper 1/3rd was a melted
out nasty scree scramble with loose rock.
- We took the shortcut on the way in and had to deal with a nominal
amount of post-holing even at 4:30 in the morning. On the way out,
we decided to play it safe and take the standard trail around past
Alberta Falls. There were a lot of tourists out hiking this
Memorial Day. When we got back to the trail junction with the sign
that reads "Alberta Falls 0.6 Miles", there was an older gentleman
contemplating whether to continue on. Dressed in full
mountaineering gear with helmets, boots, and ice tools fully visible, he
asked us how the falls were and whether it was worth the hike in.
Brian looked him in the eye and said, "We didn't make it." He
looked a little disappointed and remained indecisive, but I had to start
down the trail before I busted out laughing.
- Maps:
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Click here to view a
2D map of
the area where this hike is located.
- Photographs:
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www.
just
hiking
.com
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