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Steve's partner and the Moose's Tooth (pic courtesy of Steve Towne).
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Before flying home, we celebrated with pizza and beer at the Moose's Tooth Pub and Pizzeria with Harry Hunt and Stuart Parks. |
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Rain began falling a few hours after our flight off the glacier. |
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Great burgers and beer at the West Rib. Recommendation courtesy of Ryan who accompanied us and regaled us with tales of his past climbs and plans for the next 4 or 6 weeks in the range. |
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Nice views on the flight back to Talkeetna. |
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The 'Unforgiven' (MI5+, WI5+, R, 1000') which splits the buttress on the Bear's Tooth initially seemed to be an option for us. |
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'Ham and Eggs' above the plane. |
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Steve heading out for a stroll and to talk to our neighbors. |
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The snow which began falling before we stopped above the Englishman's Col on Sunday-12th around 7pm, continued on Monday. |
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A couple of rappels to go. Steve rappelling between spindrift avalanches that were sometimes waist to chest deep and seem to flow over us for minutes at a time. My ropes are not normally white. |
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Steve re-entering the right-side gully after retracing his steps across the snow hump. I added new V-thread anchors in a couple of places to help make the ropes easier to pull. |
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It was snowing, blowing, and time to rehydrate and head down. |
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Steve coming up to our high point with the Englishman's Col below him on the left. |
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Me - just over the snow hump and moving onto poorly-bonded sugar snow - the other crux on the route. It was more exciting for Steve to lead than for me to follow (pic courtesy of Steve Towne). |
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Almost to the snow hump and then up to the Englishman's Col - Steve on steep ice. |
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Steve barely above the sea of clouds and also just above the crux pitch of the route. |
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The sea of clouds below us. |
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Steve again, "How's the ice up there?"
Me in the clouds under the overhanging stretch of ice, 'Steeper, maybe about 3+ for this bit." Truly fine and fun ice (pic courtesy of Steve Towne). |
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Steve to me, "How's the ice?"
Me, "About AI 3" (pic courtesy of Steve Towne). |
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Heading for the crux chockstone. Swinging leads and simul-climbing worked out perfectly to my advantage again - thank you, Steve! (pic courtesy of Steve Towne). |
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Steve's turn leading in the Narrows. |
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Steve coming onto lower angled terrain after a steep section. Note the clouds below him. |
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Higher in the Narrows (pic courtesy of Steve Towne). |
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The Narrows (pic courtesy of Steve Towne). |
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A happy climber just below the Narrows - some 500' of 50 to 60 degree ice with some steeper steps. Portions of this were barely a shoulder width wide. Excellent, easy ice. Would be awkward for more than a party of 2 or for a party to rap down past another |
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