|
Returning from
Winchell Col, we ski some fine lines in the corn, then
start skinning back up to the Palisades glacier. Along
the way, we hear on the radio that Chris and Robb have
topped out on the U-notch and are starting their
descent. I also discover that Sam and Rick are
feeling better and have climbed up from camp. Sam hits
me on the radio. "Dude, Robb and Chris are down
safely. Rick and I are going up to hit the
U-notch." I hesitate. "C'mon, its no steeper than the
Spillway
chute we skied last Memorial Day," he says. "You
mean the one you almost ate shit in?", I say. "Um,
yeah, that's the one".
Before I know it, I
leave Nate and Dave on the climb up to the moraine,
and still skinning up to the base of the U-notch. I
catch Rick and Sam as they are starting up the couloir.
Robb is there too, going for a second lap!
I crampon up and follow Robbup to the notch. About an
hour of tough slogging up the couloir, I am again at
the border of Kings Canyon National Park. If there
ever was a more impressive geographical boundary line,
I haven't seen it.
As the day is getting
late, we did not dilly-dally at the notch. We
paused for a few photos, and we watched a couple of
climbers rappelling down the chimney from the summit
of North Pal. Before I knew it, Rick dropped
into the couloir. Sam followed, then Rick.
I shot video and snapped photos, so of course I'm
always the last guy at the top of the run. I'm
staring at a 45+ degree headwall, leading to a narrow
choke with vertical rock walls guarding the sides.
I get a little nervous. Just then, one of the
climbers arrives at the notch and gets his
camera out to take photos of me. Not wanting to
disappoint him, I drop in.
The skiing down the
couloir was nothing short of exhilarating. Other than
the fact that I kept skiing too far to the right and
onto the one slick of blue glare ice in the couloir,
it was an absolute blast. At the bottom, I ripped huge
turns down the apron, barely hanging on. I collapsed
next to the group at the bottom and lay there gasping
for breath. Skiing above 13K really takes it out of
you.
|
|
|
Crossing the Bergschrund.
After Chris and Robb had already descend the U-notch,
I came over to take a look and decided to give it a
go. Here, Rick leads the way up the bottom of the U-notch.
The 'schrund was still pretty well covered, but the
crevasses were starting to show, requiring care on the
exit. |
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
BACK
