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Rolling with the V gully punches to take quite a beating
Day 2: Rolling Mountain, V9, V8 (Pt 13,300'), Beattie
Mileage: 7.98
Elevation gain: 4,837'
Trailhead: end of Mineral Creek Rd
Partners: Ryan & Tony
Class: 4
Looseness factor: 9/10
Despite a nice long night's sleep, I couldn't convince Ryan to get up any earlier than civil twilight again. He must need his beauty sleep! We better hope that the weather holds, since bailing along this route before Hope Pass is a no-go..
The trail up from the end of the road is pretty good and we make very quick time up to our departure point with Rolling Mountain's east ridge. We stick to the talus - willow boundary to have the best terrain we can. Though at one point, the guys chose the far talus and I went with the more slabby, wet and mossy section, which wasn't all that wet. I made great time up that section in comparison.
Once above the first bench, the view to the ascent to the ridge was obvious on the left. Quick scree-talus jaunt up, and we found ourselves on the east ridge of Rolling. Then it went from easy talus to minor scrambling, to talus, to interesting route finding to harder scrambling. We stayed pretty near ridge proper to a bit south for the entire enjoyable ascent to the peak. 2nd best part of the trek!
The weather that had started out pleasant, wasn't looking so great from the summit, so Ryan loaded up Chris Tomer's weather forecast so we could hear the latest. It seems like there was only a slight chance for scattered showers, and that the chances would decrease as the day went on. So we should at least be able to get to Hope Pass and decide on the remainder of the route.
After we started to get a wee bit chilly, we started the descent over to the false summit of Rolling. Nothing difficult on this section, but also not much interesting. Once on the falsey, the real challenge of the day would begin. How the heck do we get off this shite hole? No option looked good. All looked loose and stupid freakin steep. Ryan and I walked a bit back further east, but it looked like it cliffed out. So back we went to option sucktastic #1
I really didn't want to go down the scree gully, and thought maybe to the east of the ridge line may be better, but since we didn't come up that way, those roll over cliff points can be hard to find. So down the damn scree chute of doom we go. Ryan didn't seem to mind pounding this nasty scree face, he was down super fast. Tony and I took our time.
Once off the face of loose doom, we had all cursed ourselves silly. But at least THAT was over. The remainder should be better, or so we thought.
The remainder of the way up V9 was uneventful, even if none of us could stop cursing Rolling Mountain. We did find the scary rap point for someone going up or down that east side of the ridge.
The sun came out in teasing forays as we sat on the summit of V9, sometimes illuminating the nearby peaks. I was staring at Grizzly and V10, uggg still have to do those loose ones. San Miguel looked menacing in the light
So with the weather clearing, we figured we still had the 2 other peaks in play for the day. We all felt reasonably well enough. So we started down the ridge. Intermittent between loose rocks and loose scree gullys. Not much on this ridge is stable, and it takes delicate hands and feet to get down it, not brute force. No pounding! Eventually Ryan got to a spot on the ridge where he didn't want to go any further. All TR's take the ridge, I would advise ALL to take the ridge, but at the moment, Ryan didn't think the ridge went. It seemed to be too much elevation to lose in such a short time. So he wanted to pound down yet ANOTHER loose V gully to the base of the peak. Ugggg. Ok whatever... I was too tired to argue further for the loose, exposed and likely fairly terrifying ridge to Hope Pass.
I DO NOT RECOMEND FOLLOWING THIS ROUTE!!!!!
Once down from that loose and dangerous face where we had to descend simultaneously at the same elevation, since otherwise there would be little way to avoid the rock fall that was impossible to stop.
From the base of the face, was a loose avalanche path of talus over to the pass. I knew the next section was also loose and steep, but I was hoping it was "better" than what we have already done. It was, sorta. Pretty thick loose talus that moves all around you, so we spent the entire time hunched over on the ascent. Had to spider walk up the slope. Back hurt like I'd been on my knees for hours.
Once I could stand upright again, it was a short and easy section over to the true summit, where I proceeded to eat a meat stick. No sugary V8 for me!
At this point Ryan started wondering if he had the energy to go over to Beattie. In my mind, there was NO question. I was summiting Beattie, and then descending. Tony also agreed with me. Ryan kept mentioning that he wanted to be "fresh" for Beattie. Ryan, do you think Beattie is a woman? Is she going to be impressed if you're less tired when you mount her? Or did he feel a little dirty after the previous V poundings? Silly Ryan. The effort to come all the way back up and down was too great, to orphan a peak that close. We also had wonderful weather. We would "decide" at the saddle.
At the saddle, Ryan was hemming and hawing. The descent off the saddle looked easier than the other V gully poundings we've done, but still not enjoyable. I was having none of it. Only a half mile to Beattie? Let's go. So I used my usual trick. If the woman keeps going, the men will follow. Call it the V rule. Works like a charm! I even promised some of my hot meat off the grill this evening, to keep them moving.
Didn't take any photos on the way up Beattie, which turned out to be the most pleasant and enjoyable part of the ridge traverse! I had to keep my speed up so Ryan's whining couldn't happen. Soon we were on the sunny summit, and looking down at an easy descent back to our camp. Welcome to 13ering Ryan, you're no longer on the 14ers or Centennials anymore! You don't orphan a peak unless there is no other option.
Once down off the talus rock glaciers below, it was a long painful descent back to camp. I hurt - a LOT. But I was also incredibly glad that I didn't have to go back for Beattie, and do that again - twice - UP and DOWN. Blech!
We rolled into camp, and I got my grill going, and I ate a pound and a half of burgers, sharing a patty each with the deserving guys - soooo yummy! Grilled green peppers and peaches for dessert. I also got a Pinot Noir from Ryan, which we immediately began mispronouncing...
Tomorrow we can sleep in, since it's supposed to start storming at dawn. Saturday 6:15am CRACK... BOOM!
I still think the gully was the better option. Not like it was a landslide still trying to move or anything. And besides, the ridge was coming apart as we moved down it. Go with the flow, down the gully, right? :-)
Tell me what you're gonna do now
Breath in, now breath out
Hands up, now hands down
Back up, back up
Like the majority of that song - I can't say what we were sayin' on most of the hike Tony Though I did add in that you were in agreement from the start about Beattie. Also, I can hear Ryan talking from 2 miles away...
Ryan - Personal preference... Though there will be times that that sort of ridge is the only option, so you have to learn to spider walk. "Throw your hands up"
I took the southeast ridge up Rolling. A bit trying getting onto it, but very pretty once I hit it and a walkup until a couple 2+ moves were required getting on to Rolling's main east-west ridge.
But you're bringing back bad memories of the downclimbs off Rolling and V9... harder than I bargained for, and I had snow going down Rolling. Combine that with the ascent of V8 and I think I'd prefer do those solo. I wonder whether doing that route in the opposite direction would be easier.
Did y'all reach a consensus on which summit of V9 is higher?
Natalie - Oh, I wanted my skis and snow when I looked down those peaks! I figured since Benners hiked these, they couldn't be that good a ski. Guess I'll have to check it out next spring!
jasayrevt - Thanks, do what I can
Tornadoman - I'm a ridge proper kinda gal!
Matt - I was originally going to do V9 & Rolling as an out-and-back from Hope Lake. I can surmise that upclimbing the ridge on V9 would be much easier. On Rolling, going up the north face, you should have better idea of what cliffs out, and there could be a better way. As to the summit on V9, I walked over the first one before getting to the one that looked highest. My partners didn't care.
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