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After 26 class 2 hike-ups to 14ers in the last 16 months, I was ready for a bigger challenge. Mount Lindsey it is!
I made it to the base of the summit block with no incidence on this solo hike"very nice hike through the woods and upper basin. I made it to the saddle between the Iron Nipple and Lindsey in about three hours.
After a 3 hour hike, here is the view of the north face. You can see the gully in the middle of the north face that I'll be headed up.
I was halfway up the gully on the north face when I came to the crux of the route. It was a nice day but there was a good layer of ice and snow on the rock going up the gully. I contemplated turning around at this point because of the ice on the handholds.
Here is the crux where I hesitated. This picture was actually taken on the down climb.
I had seen one other climber about 20 minutes behind me on the trail so I waited for a climbing partner to get up this gully. That's when I dropped my new digital camera and it took off down the gully like a rocket. Every rock that it hit made it bounce 10-20 feet in the air. It finally stopped at the bottom of the gully about 150 vertical feet below me.
So after seeing my camera zoom down the gully, it made me a little more apprehensive about slipping down the gully in camera-like style--given all the snow and ice.
So I waited for a few minutes for the only other person on the mountain to catch up to me.
Thanks to John Schell I made it to the top. When he made it to me the first words out of his mouth were, "Looks like there are nothing but old farts up here today." (He is 51 and I am 52) I watched as he maneuvered through the crux and after his encouragement I decided to give it a try. After all, now there was someone to punch the 911 button on my Spot Satellite beacon if I were to imitate the flight path of my camera.
Here I am climbing out of the top of the gully.
We made our way up the gully and it was a fun climb even with the slick hand and footholds.
Catching my wind after topping out of the gully.
Once we made it to the top of the false summit, then its on to the true summit.
Just about there!
It was great weather on the summit as the clouds moved in and out on us.
Gotta fly the 4-H Flag on the summit. They don't call me the 4-H Climber for nothing.
Here is a shot of John Schell. Without his encouragement I would not have made the summit. Without his camera I would not have these pictures. Thanks John!
A hole through the clouds.
Headed back down.
The climb down through the gully was actually easy as the ice on the rocks used for handholds had melted off. This made for a fun down climb through the gully.
Here's a look down the gully from the top of it.
The fun climb down.
One of the best things about having a climbing partner is that you then have a photographer on hand.
More fun.
And more fun.
We made it to the final resting place of my camera at the bottom of the gully, but alas, it was DOA, even though it was in a padded case.
It was good to make it up this one"a higher challenge that was a lot of fun. I would have to say that this is my favorite 14er so far.
Thanks John Schell for the encouragement to get me to the summit.
4HClimber
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
I would have been apprehensive on a solo climb,too, with the ice and snow. But, conditions can be read to tell if it‘s doable. I, too, am 55 years young, and just did Harvard & Columbia combo last week solo. The saddle was a lot of work, but in the end very worthwhile! Glad to read of others of ”us old farts” up there having the time of our lives!!! What better way to celebrate life! It‘s always fun to meet a new friend on the hike!
When we hiked Mt. Lindsey a month earlier we didn‘t have the ice or snow and we still were nervous in lots of places in the gulley! Too bad about your camera...but hey, it‘s Christmas shopping season now so you should be able to get a good deal on a new one!!!! I also agree with you, it is a challenging hike but also the most rewarding of the short list of 14ers I‘ve done so far! Enjoyed your report!
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