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Misguided folks I think, not prepared etc.
Hiking, backpacking, trekking, mountaineering...
- Thread starter Col_M
- Start date
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Hills above Loch Afric.
Bigger; http://i.imgur.com/BiwPPT1.jpg
9 miles. I fell crossing a stream and now I have a big bump on my shin.
Bigger; http://i.imgur.com/BiwPPT1.jpg
9 miles. I fell crossing a stream and now I have a big bump on my shin.
Superfeet aren't going to help, it hey aren't soft either, it's the fact there is no padding at all that gets me, my XA Pros (which are my go to walking footwear over my boots if its not going to be wet) are so much softer on the foot, not to mention lighter (and that is why the high ankle version is so popular).
I can't remember if I got a second set of superfeet or not now, the first were excruciatingly painful because I have slightly odd shaped fret. I think I did, must be in my ski boots, I think I should swap them up a bit now, thanks for reminding me!
Smart wool or my favourite (all my go to walking and ski socks are them) wigwam.
Avoid bridge dale like the plague. Great as a cheap backup sock if you've made all your other good pairs wet/ Holley but nothing more IMO. They are horrid and raspy. Get a sock (like those recommended above) that you don't need to put an inner with.
Mount thielsen, oregon
The forecast for Saturday was rain showers by 11am, thunderstorms from 2pm, and a temperature of 74*F in Eugene. Figuring I had to give Thielsen a chance after having to turn back just before the summit last April due to a whiteout and strong winds I left early at 5:30am and got to the trailhead at 8am. Temperature was around freezing and the snow mostly frozen. I followed the summer trail for about a mile before deciding to head straight up but ended up hitting the SW ridge that the regular trail follows anyway.
Snow conditions were just about firm enough in the trees to offer a fast climb but once I topped out above the tree line circa 7500ft at 10am the snow turned very hard. Ski crampons were sufficient with care, the steep upper slopes and zero penetration made for apprehensive transitions. I took my time to avoid a nasty fall and let the sun do its work. It was certainly very warm but a gusty wind was limiting the snow melt. I enjoyed the views while slowly progressing to the summit saddle at 11:30am. Decided at against going to the base of pinnacle because of rockfall and icefall that was constantly petering down, plus there were plenty of exposed rocks below there. Soloing the summit pinnacle isn't my cup of tea (but would follow if someone else led climbed). Sunbathed with great view for 45mins, by then the snow was perfect corn for great snappy turns without any slop. So good that after descending 1200ft to where the trees start again I decided I had to skin back up to the top. At 12.25pm the snow was much softer and I didn't need and ski crampons, only fitness slowed my down to top out again at 1:15pm. A quick transition and I got to ski the face again, also very good conditions, softer and more penetration but nothing sloppy.
The trip back to the car was mostly ok but very sticky sloppy snow in the balmy temperatures. Got stuck in a few thick scrubby trees but mostly open old growth.
Was the only person on the mountain, crazy! Round trip distance was around 12miles and 4700ft. 6hrs including plenty of sunbathing and slowing down to let the snow melt.
Upper slopes, mounts or in the distance
Mount Bailey cross diamond lake
Crater lake in the distance. The snowy area in the forcest to the right is the pumice dessert, pumice rock from mt Mazama eruption drains all lying water away leading to a small desert. In the far distance is the peak of mt McLoughlin, 50 mies to the south
North face, tempting but leads to a deadly cliff face.
Mt Bailey, diamond lake a tufa rock formation.
Spring corn turn. The camera is tilted upwards a lot, your are seeing around 1500 vertical, see top pic for steepness of main slope (a steeper crux appears near the summit a few degrees steeper at around 40deg)
The forecast for Saturday was rain showers by 11am, thunderstorms from 2pm, and a temperature of 74*F in Eugene. Figuring I had to give Thielsen a chance after having to turn back just before the summit last April due to a whiteout and strong winds I left early at 5:30am and got to the trailhead at 8am. Temperature was around freezing and the snow mostly frozen. I followed the summer trail for about a mile before deciding to head straight up but ended up hitting the SW ridge that the regular trail follows anyway.
Snow conditions were just about firm enough in the trees to offer a fast climb but once I topped out above the tree line circa 7500ft at 10am the snow turned very hard. Ski crampons were sufficient with care, the steep upper slopes and zero penetration made for apprehensive transitions. I took my time to avoid a nasty fall and let the sun do its work. It was certainly very warm but a gusty wind was limiting the snow melt. I enjoyed the views while slowly progressing to the summit saddle at 11:30am. Decided at against going to the base of pinnacle because of rockfall and icefall that was constantly petering down, plus there were plenty of exposed rocks below there. Soloing the summit pinnacle isn't my cup of tea (but would follow if someone else led climbed). Sunbathed with great view for 45mins, by then the snow was perfect corn for great snappy turns without any slop. So good that after descending 1200ft to where the trees start again I decided I had to skin back up to the top. At 12.25pm the snow was much softer and I didn't need and ski crampons, only fitness slowed my down to top out again at 1:15pm. A quick transition and I got to ski the face again, also very good conditions, softer and more penetration but nothing sloppy.
The trip back to the car was mostly ok but very sticky sloppy snow in the balmy temperatures. Got stuck in a few thick scrubby trees but mostly open old growth.
Was the only person on the mountain, crazy! Round trip distance was around 12miles and 4700ft. 6hrs including plenty of sunbathing and slowing down to let the snow melt.
Upper slopes, mounts or in the distance
Mount Bailey cross diamond lake
Crater lake in the distance. The snowy area in the forcest to the right is the pumice dessert, pumice rock from mt Mazama eruption drains all lying water away leading to a small desert. In the far distance is the peak of mt McLoughlin, 50 mies to the south
North face, tempting but leads to a deadly cliff face.
Mt Bailey, diamond lake a tufa rock formation.
Spring corn turn. The camera is tilted upwards a lot, your are seeing around 1500 vertical, see top pic for steepness of main slope (a steeper crux appears near the summit a few degrees steeper at around 40deg)
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Off to Snowdon tomorrow. Not sure which route yet, Pyg or Llanberis. Maybe Pyg then walk to Llanberis where the car will be.
Taunton Leisure in Bedminster is very good. There's a decent range, with helpful staff and they let you take the boots home to try them on for longer. As long as you don't wear them outside you can return them if they don't fit.
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Phew back in one piece. Pyg track pretty bad near the top, saw people skidding about everywhere. Llanberis down.
Was meant to go and walk Snowdon last weekend but decided not to. Didn't want to take my Girlfriend (in-experienced walker) considering 3 people were rescued from there a week before in the snow.
Gutted to see other peoples photos, it looked amazing!
Heres all of mine from last Sunday/Monday..
Glyderau
Carneddau
The Monday was pretty horrible compared to the Sunday. The wind was so strong I could barely stand up in places and I'd left my sunglasses/goggles in the car so was struggling to see with all the spindrift!
Looks like the MRT were have a field day last weekend too, although I'm not surprised with the amount of under equipped people I saw!
That's great
, do they know there stuff on how to fit/measure?Got a few nights booked into a B&B in Snowdonia in mid may and really need to get some boots sorted.
Not impressed with merrell one is falling to bits already.
Mega mega MEGA jealous!!
Those photos are stunning! Great job! Defiantly going to get my shizzle together and go for some hiking in the peaks next week!
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Snowdon pics:
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Very nice pics. We went Sunday and I think I even caught a bit of sunburn.
Soldato
- Joined
- 10 Mar 2006
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Hills above Loch Afric.
Bigger; http://i.imgur.com/BiwPPT1.jpg
9 miles. I fell crossing a stream and now I have a big bump on my shin.
Epic photo there my friend. That looks amazing.
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Saw plenty of people turning back from the Pyg track including a couple who looked like they had a lot of gear but no basic spikes/crampons - they turned back after a few hundred yards into the track!
I use some Chainsen Pro spikes and to be fair larger crampons wouldve been better but they did their job really well. Ill invest in a pair when the weather gets warmer and hopefully I can bag a bargain along with an axe.
I use some Chainsen Pro spikes and to be fair larger crampons wouldve been better but they did their job really well. Ill invest in a pair when the weather gets warmer and hopefully I can bag a bargain along with an axe.
That's a great idea, I might do the same, though my walking boots are only 3 season, not sure how they'll fare against winter conditions.
What do you guys think?
They're Mammut Brecon GTX's. Awesome boots but not sure if they'll suffice for winter stuff.
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They should be alright as long as they are watertight. At least get some of the basic slip on spikes (there is another brand called Kahtoola Microspikes too, basically the same thing but more readily available in the UK). An ice axe would be useful.
Like you said, I'll just wait till the middle of summer, hopefully when there's a sale on.
Thinking about it, for an Ice Axe, i don't need anything fancy, I'm not going to be climbing Mont Blanc anytime soon!