Alpine Col from Göethe Lake

If you've been searching for the best source of information and stimulating discussion related to Spring/Summer/Fall backpacking, hiking and camping in the Sierra Nevada...look no further!
quentinc
Topix Expert
Posts: 890
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2005 10:28 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Alpine Col from Göethe Lake

Post by quentinc »

Charles2 wrote:I have also heard Göethe pronounced "Gerta" and "Gerter". Hard to believe that English is a Germanic language, isn't it?
Now wait a second, what's wrong with pronouncing it "Gerta?" Technically, those should be schwa e's, but it's a reasonable phonetic spelling. Maybe after this, we can get to Nietzsche. :)
User avatar
fishmonger
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1250
Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2008 10:27 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Madison, WI
Contact:

Re: Alpine Col from Göethe Lake

Post by fishmonger »

Charles2 wrote: I have also heard Göethe pronounced "Gerta" and "Gerter". Hard to believe that English is a Germanic language, isn't it? I have a sheet with a lot more of this stuff; if you are interested, get me your email and I'll send you the file.

Göthe - the umlaut does replace the e behind the o, which is used when umlauts are not available, such as on the topo map for the region.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Wolfgang_von_Goethe" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; If you use Chrome, there's a sound link on that page to listen to the pronounciation.

Hard for non-Germans to pronounce, because not only is the umlaut the main vowel, it also is elongated in this word, so you have to hold that sound a little longer

That said - I came here searching for some Alpine Col ski info - seems like in winter this pass gets a lot of use to get into the Muir Pass region. Which one is easier in April - Alpine Col or Lamarck? From what I can tell online they seem to be about the same with local conditions such as cornices making all the difference, but slope angles appear similar.
User avatar
John Dittli
Topix Expert
Posts: 479
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:38 am
Experience: N/A
Location: Crooked Creek
Contact:

Re: Alpine Col from Göethe Lake

Post by John Dittli »

fishmonger wrote:That said - I came here searching for some Alpine Col ski info - seems like in winter this pass gets a lot of use to get into the Muir Pass region. Which one is easier in April - Alpine Col or Lamarck? From what I can tell online they seem to be about the same with local conditions such as cornices making all the difference, but slope angles appear similar.
Other than the fact you have to go over two passes rather than one to get in from the Eastside, Alpine Col is easier than Lamark: I have never seen it with a cornice, it lacks the two steep sections of Lamark and most importantly in my book, it most always has snow on both sides (in the snow season). Lamark on the other hand, is usually "burnt/blown out" on the SW side for a long way, requiring a lot of booting.
Walk the Sky: Following the John Muir Trail
User avatar
fishmonger
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1250
Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2008 10:27 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Madison, WI
Contact:

Re: Alpine Col from Göethe Lake

Post by fishmonger »

John Dittli wrote:Alpine Col is easier than Lamark
my kind of pass :D - Black Giant just moved up a few notches on my list of April tour choices. I found a report of a trip to Göthe peak here and compared to the summit descents they chose, the pass appears like a relatively mild route. Also found this trip report video from about 3 weeks ago - http://youtu.be/iUj2zAl2h0w" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Alpine Col is 3 mins into it. The descent doesn't look bad at all (but then there is that backpack...). Lamarck Col is around 4:40 into the video, I think, and from the little you see it appears like there's no snow on top.
Last edited by fishmonger on Wed Feb 27, 2013 6:42 am, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
John Dittli
Topix Expert
Posts: 479
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:38 am
Experience: N/A
Location: Crooked Creek
Contact:

Re: Alpine Col from Göethe Lake

Post by John Dittli »

I think I know that guy. Actually more snow then I would have expected on Lamark.

Black Giant is a great choice, here's some photos you might like; Somewhere in the slide archives I've got some Kodachrome of skiing Goethe, but the scanner is at Nikon repair....
1105_ 1541_D1AP.jpg
1105_ 1542_D1AP.jpg
1105_ 1554_D1A.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Walk the Sky: Following the John Muir Trail
User avatar
fishmonger
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1250
Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2008 10:27 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Madison, WI
Contact:

Re: Alpine Col from Göethe Lake

Post by fishmonger »

I've seen those winter shots from Black Giant before, which is why the mountain has remained on my bucket list. My kind of slope angle, great view, right next to my favorite pass in the Sierra.

I wouldn't be surprised if you do know the people who posted the reports. The photos are from Dan Mingori who co-authored the Backcountry Skiing California's Easter Sierra Guide book, which I have here on my kitchen table (right next to Staying Alive in Avalanche Country :eek: ). The person who made the youtube video appears to be a guide for Sierra Mountain Center.
User avatar
seeker2
Topix Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2014 12:31 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: Alpine Col from Göethe Lake

Post by seeker2 »

It is 'Göthe' not 'Göethe' ... :D
User avatar
maverick
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 11821
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Alpine Col from Göethe Lake

Post by maverick »

It is 'Göthe' not 'Göethe' ... :D
Hi Seeker2,

Welcome to HST! That is incorrect, the peak was named after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet, in 1949. :)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Wo ... von_Goethe
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
User avatar
rlown
Topix Docent
Posts: 8225
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:00 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Wilton, CA

Re: Alpine Col from Göethe Lake

Post by rlown »

Mav, Adding this link as it's more direct on the peak reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Goethe
User avatar
ironmike
Topix Regular
Posts: 156
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2005 8:14 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: California

Re: Alpine Col from Göethe Lake

Post by ironmike »

maverick wrote:
It is 'Göthe' not 'Göethe' ... :D
Hi Seeker2,

Welcome to HST! That is incorrect, the peak was named after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet, in 1949. :)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Wo ... von_Goethe
Seeker2 is *exactly* correct, as gdurkee and fishmonger have discussed above. Goethe is an Anglicized spelling. You can't put an umlaut over the 'o', unless you remove the 'e'. Göethe makes no sense in any language...
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: mkbgdns, mort, sdchesnut and 126 guests