Cornell Peak 99.1%

[Florian]

Interesting day up the tram today. I usually take the 8:40am tramcar up the mtn. I leave my house just after 8am and arrive at the valley station 5 minutes before departure. It's just right. But today for some reason the cars were departing on 30 minute schedule instead of the usual 20 minutes. I walked into the valley station just as the 8:30 car was departing so now had to wait for the 9am car. Oh well, no problem. Went outside on the deck were the telescopes are, sat on a bench, took off my pack and hat, and enjoyed the view.

9am came soon enough and i was on my way up the mtn. But i'd somehow lost my sunglasses. I was planning to hike to San Jacinto summit but didn't really want to be that high and exposed to such harsh light without eye protection. No problem, let's do something else and maybe stay in the trees a bit more. Decided to hike the Davis trail to Tamarack. Was good. First time in Tamarack this year and gee whiz, Cornell sure looks inviting. Let's do that!

I have only climbed Cornell once and that was decades ago and didn't actually get to the summit. I headed up the west side and realized i could not get to the top this way. Dropped down and traversed the south side a bit and came up the east side. This seemed like the right route as there were numerous cairns and was obviously a use trail.

Got to the summit register in its red tin can without too much trouble. But now it gets questionable. I'm not really a climber. No training or experience with anything technical at all. There is a big crack with a couple of chockstones from the register location up to a level area. Took my pack off, took a little break, had a snack, and gave it a try. I felt okay doing this. Took my time, watched my foot and hand placements, and got up the crack okay. (I should add now that no one knows i'm up Cornell. My permit and Wen at home think i'm just hiking the trail to San Jac and back. If i were to slip and get into trouble no one would be looking for me on Cornell. Not good.) So i get up the crack okay, and the summit is right there. Spitting distance. I sort of straddle the edge and inch up just a bit. This doesn't feel good. I'm out of my comfort zone and it only takes a second to decide i've gone as far as i should today. I'd much rather come home and write this little report instead of you all having to read about a rescue of another stupid hiker on the RMRU site. Came back down via Round Valley and the main trail back to the tram.

Riding the tram down i'm still thinking about my lost sunglasses. Maybe when i was waiting for the 9am tramcar i lost them there. Sure enough, checked behind the fence behind the bench by the telescopes at the valley station there they were! Hurray! Also found out the tram was running on generator power today as their Edison supply was down for some reason. Generators were running at both the valley and mtn station as well as at the Long Valley ranger station.

I really want to get on top of Cornell someday. If any of you are climbers and have been up on top and wouldn't mind my coming with you sometime please let me know. I'm sure with a spotter and a little guidance i could get to the summit. Today being solo just wasn't the day to do it.

Couple of photo links...

Cornell from the east ► http://www.flickr.com/photos/fboyd/4761 ... otostream/

Almost to the top. Mouse over to see notes ► http://www.flickr.com/photos/fboyd/4761 ... otostream/

-Florian

[bluerail]

frickin bucket was empty thursday evning and yesterday we hauled ALL the empty bottles off....I just cant figure what it is with some people.

[EMan]

Saint Florian of H2O,

Glad you got your shades back!

It's unusual to read a T/R from someone mature enough to NOT have the ego issues which often interfere with prudent discipline. Thanks for sharing your experience so candidly with us.
Perfectomondo.

[Lcpl Hughes]

It was one of those days for me to..didn't get up early enough, couldn't find my headlamp, decided to go anyway and got half way to Mt Baldy and realized I forgot my sunglasses..I just said forget it and turned around and didn't feel like buying any..I am sure it was the best choice..and I am off work tomorrow..I'll see what that brings..

Nice trip report Florian, I have turned around in those circumstances a couple of times, mostly hiking solo, cause it adds an big extra of "what if?"

[Hikin_Jim]

Good photo, Florian. I turned around at exactly the same spot. Going out to that last point is more than just a bit hairy. Good call.

HJ

[Florian]

“The better part of valor is discretion, in the which better part I have saved my life.” --William Shakespeare, 'King Henry IV part I'

And bluerail, thanks for cleaning up the water bucket. If we have a cool weekend, when i can take the 8am tramcar up, i might make the hike down to the bucket and back to replenish. I'm not really interested in going up from the bottom right now.

-Florian

[neverwashasbeen]

Good Judgement call Florian, I'll pm you re: that last bit.

Happy Trails

[Florian]

Just received this comment in an email from my friend Jim .. "There are old climbers and bold climbers, but there are no old, bold climbers."

-Florian

[Sally]

Nice TR, Florian. Sounds like you got a pretty good adventure without going overboard. When I hear that little voice telling me "Don't do it" I always listen, especially when I'm on my own.

[Hikin_Jim]

And oh by the way, the point that you got to is no small accomplishment. The top of Cornell has drop offs on the N side that go thousands of feet down. Moving around up there is not for the faint of heart.

HJ