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All images © CPBL 2016 unless otherwise stated |
| This spring, in early summer conditions, Bryan met up ... |
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| with Aleksandra and me in Washington state for a non-quota visit to the Enchantment basin. |
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| In fact, Bryan appeared (as typically) in the wee hours, while Aleksandra and I were sleeping. |
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| The next morning we walked through an over-crowded and unregulated camping zone, heading for Aasgard pass on the far side of Colchuck Lake. |
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| Half way up, ... |
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| we paused for some lightning to pass, ... |
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| which required some replacement of instinctive fears with informed strategy. (The salmon jerky seemed to help calm someone's fears too.) |
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| We climbed into the larch trees, which I think may be a big part of what makes this area so special. |
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| The best route up the pass is not unambiguous ... |
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| and depends on the (rapidly changing) snow cover. |
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| There is no steep descent on the other side of the pass. The Enchantment basin was still snowy. |
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| We found bare rock for camp, |
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| ... with a nice view from the living room. |
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| Next morning we headed out ... |
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| towards Prussik Peak, the summit on the left. |
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| The col gave us a view back to camp. From there the climb is just a few pitches of pleasant granite. |
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| Bryan took a scenic piss ... |
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| before leading the crux of the standard route, a short but exposed slab. |
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| Fine positions ... |
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| and a crowning chimney ... |
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| lead to the small summit, joined by a number of other fine lines. |
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| We made several double-rope rappels. |
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| The final one... |
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| ... placed us on 40° snow on the North side of Prussik. |
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| We regained the rest of our gear |
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| and returned to camp. |
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| The next day we headed back down the pass. |
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| At one icy and exposed spot, Bryan could not safely move forward or backward, and hadn't room to put on some spikes --- without wrapping himself around a tree. |
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| We made it down to the lake and thence back to roads (through severely overused, unregulated camping). Thanks, you two! |
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| There are often lovely flowers like this cinquefoil in the middle of rock climbs. |
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| There were some other climbers up there. |
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| Do you know who made these (in Enchantment basin)? |
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