Mt Russell (14,086') - 3 day backpack
- Snow Nymph
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Mt Russell (14,086') - 3 day backpack
Whitney Portal to a secluded spot east of Upper Boy Scout Lake
Day 1 of 3: http://community.webshots.com/album/553365904LDnhKN
Two years ago we turned back at ~13,900', I chickened out. A friend said he would take us up to Mt Russell so we set a date. He had a climbing accident in June and fell ~1,000' when a cornice broke from under him (CO), but thought he would be ready 10+ weeks later. He wasn't, so we decided to try it ourselves.
I had a few moments where I was ready to turn back. Mainly from the exposure. :retard: SnowDude spent a lot of time climbing up and down looking for the best way to go, as I kept telling him to "be careful". I think in my head I was worried about how we were going to get down some of the places we climbed up. We had some rope, but the exposure is what got me
My hero got us up there!
Day 1 of 3: http://community.webshots.com/album/553365904LDnhKN
Two years ago we turned back at ~13,900', I chickened out. A friend said he would take us up to Mt Russell so we set a date. He had a climbing accident in June and fell ~1,000' when a cornice broke from under him (CO), but thought he would be ready 10+ weeks later. He wasn't, so we decided to try it ourselves.
I had a few moments where I was ready to turn back. Mainly from the exposure. :retard: SnowDude spent a lot of time climbing up and down looking for the best way to go, as I kept telling him to "be careful". I think in my head I was worried about how we were going to get down some of the places we climbed up. We had some rope, but the exposure is what got me
My hero got us up there!
Last edited by Snow Nymph on Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free . . . . Jim Morrison
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- ifernau
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Wow Snow Nymph, those pictures are scary at times. I glad you made it o.k. I always enjoy your story telling phtos.
Inge
Capture the Scene of the Light
Unless you’re prepared to expect the unexpected, you’re likely to miss capturing nature’s finest moments.(Galen Rowell)
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Capture the Scene of the Light
Unless you’re prepared to expect the unexpected, you’re likely to miss capturing nature’s finest moments.(Galen Rowell)
http://ifernau.blogspot.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifernau/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- Snow Nymph
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Day 2 of 3: Mt Russell summit day: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/553367010nmAyON
Our second try was successful!
Our second try was successful!
Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free . . . . Jim Morrison
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- Trailtrekker06
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- Buck Forester
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- ifernau
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Wow again. What an adventure
Inge
Capture the Scene of the Light
Unless you’re prepared to expect the unexpected, you’re likely to miss capturing nature’s finest moments.(Galen Rowell)
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifernau/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Capture the Scene of the Light
Unless you’re prepared to expect the unexpected, you’re likely to miss capturing nature’s finest moments.(Galen Rowell)
http://ifernau.blogspot.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifernau/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- Snow Nymph
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Thanks, Inge. Its easier than writing a trip report. Camera is always out so I don't forget anything.
Ridgeline and wingding, Everyone hikes at a different pace, and I know I was being extra cautious on this one. SnowDude did all the route finding, I was partially frozen with fear, looking down at the exposure after each move, and wondering if we could get back. I normally don't have a problem with class 3 and it wasn't that hard, but with class 5 exposure it scared the sh!t outta me with each move. I've had vertigo and didn't want to make any mistakes up there, like when I was climbing Banner. I got up a vertical snow/ice chute, got my leg up on the boulder at the top, relaxed for a second, then the next thing I knew I was sliding down backwards, head first. Somehow I ended up with my ice axe in place under me. I don't know what happened, it happened so fast! :retard:
From Russell-Carillon Pass it took ~3 hrs to the east summit and another 40 min to the west summit. We took a 1/2 hr break where we turned around last time, stashed our packs and took only a jacket, water and snacks. I know at another place we spent ~20 min trying to get past a rough spot. There were a lot of tough spots. Coming back it only took 2 hrs from west summit to R/C Pass. It was probably easier because between the two of us we remembered which gnarly route we took to get up.
Trailtrekker, I told SnowDude I was ok turning back, but he probably didn't hear me, or maybe he was ignoring me. I've been having trouble with exposure lately . . . . And yes, I hate the new webshots "improvements".
Buck, Tulainyo is a beautiful lake. We camped by it 2 years ago. The water is so clean there's nothing growing on the rocks at the shoreline.
Still working on day 3!
Ridgeline and wingding, Everyone hikes at a different pace, and I know I was being extra cautious on this one. SnowDude did all the route finding, I was partially frozen with fear, looking down at the exposure after each move, and wondering if we could get back. I normally don't have a problem with class 3 and it wasn't that hard, but with class 5 exposure it scared the sh!t outta me with each move. I've had vertigo and didn't want to make any mistakes up there, like when I was climbing Banner. I got up a vertical snow/ice chute, got my leg up on the boulder at the top, relaxed for a second, then the next thing I knew I was sliding down backwards, head first. Somehow I ended up with my ice axe in place under me. I don't know what happened, it happened so fast! :retard:
From Russell-Carillon Pass it took ~3 hrs to the east summit and another 40 min to the west summit. We took a 1/2 hr break where we turned around last time, stashed our packs and took only a jacket, water and snacks. I know at another place we spent ~20 min trying to get past a rough spot. There were a lot of tough spots. Coming back it only took 2 hrs from west summit to R/C Pass. It was probably easier because between the two of us we remembered which gnarly route we took to get up.
Trailtrekker, I told SnowDude I was ok turning back, but he probably didn't hear me, or maybe he was ignoring me. I've been having trouble with exposure lately . . . . And yes, I hate the new webshots "improvements".
Buck, Tulainyo is a beautiful lake. We camped by it 2 years ago. The water is so clean there's nothing growing on the rocks at the shoreline.
Still working on day 3!
Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free . . . . Jim Morrison
http://snownymph.smugmug.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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- Trekker
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The only way I would do something like that is with a parachute strapped to my back and 3 feet of styrofoam surrounding my body!!! Or if I was bitten by a radioactive spider.............
Incredible pics! To get shots like that while climbing something that risky takes guts! And don't worry about having trouble with exposure; it proves you're still sane......doesn't it?
Incredible pics! To get shots like that while climbing something that risky takes guts! And don't worry about having trouble with exposure; it proves you're still sane......doesn't it?
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