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The Climb
We sacked out
on Saturday night right at sunset so we could get an alpine
start the next day. We hat a fitful night of sleep at
nearly 11,500' (after driving up from sea level). I woke up the troops just before
5am and started firing up the stove to make oatmeal.
We were off by 6am. We hoped to be on the summit by
9:30 and back down at camp by noon. As it turned out, we
estimated the ascent time perfectly, but it took us longer
to descend than we thought. We didn't get back to camp
until about 1:00.
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"5 am?
This Sucks!"
Greg, Griffin and I at the Sunset Lake breakfast bar
-- anybody seen a Starbucks? (photo:
M.Berg) |
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Early Light.
Heading out of camp towards Point Powell, already
bathed in the first light of the day. |
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Climbing above the Lake. Greg climbing up
the suncupped snowfield below the Thompson Glacier.
Sunset Lake lies in complete shade below. |
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Climbing
into the Sun.
It didn't take long for the sun to assault us with its
rays. We went from being cold to roasting hot in
a matter of seconds. Here, Griffin and Mike
approach the moraine of the Thompson Glacier. |
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"Dude, That Looks Steep!"
From the moraine, the route flattened out slightly and
provided us a perfect head on view of Point Powell.
From this head-on angle, the slope of the couloir
looked very intimidating. We decided to reassess our decision to ascend the couloir
as we got closer. As always, the slope
was not quite as scary once you were standing right
below it.
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Crossing the Plateau.
Here we are crossing the flat rocks on the moraine.
In the distant background are Mount Humphreys (seen
through the saddle) and Mount Tom (summit just visible over
the pointy peaklet above our heads).
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Approaching the Couloir.
Here we are approaching the base of the NE Couloir.
I'm leading the way, followed by Griffin and Greg.
The Thompson-Powell Col is the lower saddle at left.
The col is apparently the "easier" way to the summit
of Point Powell, but the absence of snow in the upper
col (and thus the presence of much scree and loose
rock) leads me to believe that the NE Couloir is a
better route when it is snow-filled
(photo: M.Berg). |
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Above
the Thompson Glacier.
Mike climbs up the steep apron and enters the couloir.
The entire Thompson Glacier is visible behind him. |
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In the
Chute.
Griffin, Mike and Greg climbing in the lower third of
the couloir. The peaks of the Thompson Ridge are
in the background. |
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