Heather (our Captain on the Europe trip) and the Three Stooges headed up last Friday. This was my first time in "real" mountaineering boots (La Sportiva trango men's 7). Initially, I had a hard time walking in them. Shortly after we reached the wilderness boundary sign, we had to don microspikes due to water ice on the trail
Before long, we were passed by Team Testosterone -- our friends Lilbitmo, Calicokat and James L. We went XC shortly after the Dollar/Dry Lake junction and switched to snowshoes -- heading up the right side of Xmas tree hill. This is the same route we've used to reach the saddle at the base of Charleton's west shoulder. Then it was a matter of navigating and post holing through glacial chop country -- down, up and across numerous rock and brush filled gullies -- until we reached the base of the Jepson bowl. Team Estrogen once again met up with Team Testosterone:
Starting the climb up the Big Draw in snowshoes:
About half way up, we changed into crampons. Thanks to Captain Heather (pictured below) for helping me don crampons and ensuring they fit properly. I laid on my back as she held up my foot to inspect the fit -- reminded me of a horse being shod
Da Boyz heading up the Big Draw:
Heather looking down as Da Girlz head up the Big Draw:
Once at the top of the Big Draw, Team Testosterone headed over to San Gorgonio, while Team Estrogen headed to Jepson. It was very windy and cold, so we crossed the summit of Jepson to find a sheltered spot for lunch. Our plan was to walk the ridge over towards Charleton and head down Charleton's west shoulder. Thanks to me
the Three Stooges walked too far west along the ridge and had to backtrack. We dropped down from the ridge to Dry Lake View, switching from crampons to snowshoes when we started post holing up to our crotches Followed Heather's snowshoe track and climbed up along the south side of Little Charleton to the saddle between Little Charleton and Charleton. Then, it was just a matter of gaining Charleton's west shoulder for a downhill snowshoe all the way to South Fork Meadows and the trail. Heather took these pictures of the north chutes and Big Draw on the descent.
We got back to our cars in the dark, exhausted but happy.
Based on the current warm weather, I doubt the snow will last
Miles of smiles,
Ellen
