May 2002 

 

Note:  clicking on any photograph will present a full screen version.
	Conness Bowls.  To the left of that nastly looking chute on the previous page is this beautiful broad open bowl of corn snow.  There were no tracks here, and if I did not have my eye set on North Peak, I would've climbed up and put my mark on it. Click here for a larger panorama shot of the chutes and bowls on the east ridge of Conness (the nasty chute is in the center of the photo)
	North Peak.  From Greenstone Lake, this is the classic shot of North Peak's SE side.  The north couloirs are to the right of the cliff.  The class 3 route heads up the big snow bowl to the right of the prominent pinnacle, while the class 2 route gains the saddle at far left and then up the backside.
	Approaching the Conness Lakes.  Here's me skiing up the slopes above Greenstone Lake.  That's Mount Conness above my head.
	Conness Lakes Basin.  Skinning up from Greenstone Lake, I hit the flat bench holding the first of the Conness Lakes.  From here, Mount Conness and its broad glacier loom ahead.   Click here to see a larger panorama of the Conness Lakes Basin.
	Saddlebag Lake.  Looking down at Greenstone Lake (foreground) and Saddlebag Lake (in the distance).
	Ascending North Peak.  After dumping my sleeping bag and overnight gear at the upper Conness Lake, I started to skin up the south face of North Peak.  Skins quickly gave way to crampons and axe, as the route steepened to around 40 degrees.  Given the angle, this was a tough self timer shot, but my wife always tells me: "there are no people in your pictures; how many snowy mountain shots can you take?"
	Y-Couloir and Glacier Route.  From the slopes of North Peak, I got this view of the Y-Couloir (left) and the Glacier Route (low saddle) above the Conness Glacier.  Notice the bergschrund already starting to open up below the Glacier Route.
	Mount Conness and Glacier.  From the SW ridge of North Peak, you get an incomparable view of Mount Conness and its sharp west ridge.
	Backside of North Peak.  I reached the SW ridge of North Peak and ditched my crampons.  From here, the slopes are relatively gentle up the backside to the summit.

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