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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 25
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 25 |
I just wanted to post a brief trip report on my adventure up the MR this past weekend. Having summited via the Main Trail twice made me want to try the MR. Drove up Friday night and stayed at the hikers campground at the Portal. Saturday I decided to take a day hike and scout out the North Fork for the next morning. Glad I did because I got turned around on the Ledges. Fortunatelyl for me a couple of people saw me in the wrong place and yelled "Your in the wrong place, come down and go farther up." I finally found the right place and zipped right up. I met several people on the trail including Mike from Santa Maria whom I climbed with to UBSL. We took the slab route to UBSL and it was awesome. You just don't find climbing like that on the Main Trail.
Sunday morning I left the trailhead at 4AM. I made it to UBSL by 6:30AM and had not seen anybody yet. Got to Iceberg lake at 8AM and saw people for the first time that day. Talked to a few nice people who gave me some tips for the route. I was going up solo and for my first time so any help was greatly appreciated.
Started up the use trail to the gully at 8:30am and about 9am met a nice couple from San Diego. They were heading down due to one of them having a bad headache. They had done the route many times and offered great advise. After thanking them I headed on up. Saw another group of three roped climbers coming down and they made sure I was on the right track. I made it to the notch after a scree fest but didn't mind, this was awesome. Unfortunately I was so busy climbing and breathing that I didn't take a single picture, I guess that will have to wait until next time. I went up the Chute and did the chicken dance around some icy sections. When I finally topped out at the Summit I couldn't have been happier. I signed the register at 10:40am, 2 hours and 10 minutes after leaving Iceberg. I decided that since this was my first time and I was solo, that I would just go down the Main Trail. I spent 40 minutes on the summit chatting with people and eating jerky to regain some energy.
At 11:20am I started down the Main Trail. I was so elated that I was practically running down, in fact, part of the way I did run down.
With sore feet and an empty stomach I reached the end of the line at the Portal at 3:30pm. I felt great after my 11 hour and 30 minute round trip. Had a burger and fries at the Portal Store (thanks to Doug and everyone there for their encouragement and great food), packed up my camp and was home in Santa Clarita by 7:30pm.
It was a great weekend with awesome climbing, great food and the company of really nice people. I will be coming back, wanting to summit every month of the year and training for the Seven Summits over the next few years. Thanks again to everyone for all of your support.
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 66
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 66 |
Hi Russ-It was nice meeting you on the MR on Sun. It was such a beautiful day for hiking and as you said no one else on the trail-a little bit more of a wilderness experience than the main trail. I felt bad having to turn around so close to the top as Leonard was going strong but there will be other trips! Good luck with your 7 summits training-we have been to Kilimanjaro,Aconcagua, Denali and will head to Everest next year-it has been an exciting advanture! Perhaps we will see you again on the mountain.
Barb from San Diego
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 25
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 25 |
Barb,
It was nice meeting you as well. I would definately like to hear more about some of the trips you have taken and what you have done to prepare for them. I do hope to see both of you again.
Russ
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 42
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Joined: May 2007
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Great times on your climb, It seems like you were moving at a good pace. Im heading up on Wed. to do it solo as you did. I was there 3 weeks ago in a wind storm and only made it to the top of the chute. This results this time will hopefully be different. When I got to the top of the chute I was shocked to see how much further and how steep it was to the summit but it sounds like you just blazed through it. Thanks for the inspiration.
Craig
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 42
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Posts: 42 |
Russ great job!
Did you lose anything on the wrong ledges?
On Sat I was on some wrong ledges, down from the E ledges, when I found something. Maybe it's yours?
Wes
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 250
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 250 |
Russclimber-
Great trip report! Sounds like you had a wonderful time.
I hate to sound ignorant, but what are the "Seven Summits"?
climbSTRONG
"Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing" -Helen Keller
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 25
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Posts: 25 |
Wes,
I don't think I lost anything on the Ledges. I did see someones pack on one of the Ledges though. I don't know how long it has been there and didn't want to grab it in case someone left it there on purpose while scouting around. Thanks for asking though, it's great that everyone looks out for one another.
ClimbSTROMG,
It was a great trip, I will be doing it again, hopefully soon. The Seven Summits are the highest point on each of the seven continents. They are as follows:
Asia- Everest
Europe- Mt. Elbrus (Outside of Moscow)
Africa- Kilimanjaro
Antartica- Vinson Massif
South America- Aconcagua
North America- Denali (McKinley)
Oceania- Carstensz Pyramid (Some consider Kosciuszko in Australia)
If you like reading books about Mountaineering, one of the classics in my opinion is The Seven Summits by Dick Bass. He was the first man to complete the Seven Summits (Kosciuszko version). It is very inspirational and partly made up my decision to do them all. Originally I just wanted to climb Everest.
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