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A quick TR... I did a 4-day snow camp with an ascent of the Mountaineer's Route with Sierra Mountaineering Int'l (SMI.) Though i have done dozens of day hikes in snow, this was my first snow camp and i would call it "Baptism by fire!" We had storms that caused sub-zero temps at night and freezing temps during the day for 3 of the 4 days. I can't say enough for the guiding which was exceptional by Kurt Wedberg and George Dunn. Sara Matisse was also guiding, though she was injured taking down a hiker with chest pains the first evening and was unable to return. We greatly missed her. I must say that being so cold for such a sustained period of time was exceptionally hard, but i have come away with knowledge that will benefit me the next time i snow camp (this weekend!) and an experience of ascending the MR, the Final 400 and summiting Whitney that will be a fond lifetime memory. Me and Kurt Wedberg on Whitney's summit  For those that are going to up the North Fork and MR this weekend, i wish you a safe trip with good weather and a great experience.  My pix are here: http://picasaweb.google.com/ryan.norma81/WhitneyMRApril2010#
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Hi The traverse???Wow !!! I did it once in the summer and got caught in a slide had to jump onto a large slab as we pasted by and wait for the rock to settle before moving on.
Your photos and Kurts are required reading .They capture the trip with detail most miss .
Thanks for a sharing the photos and captions ,I see many are planning trips later in the month and with the last storm when you were there and the one yesterday conditions are not going to change soon .
The notch area that was clear in your photos is snow covered this morning also the left chute(above Iceberg) that was clearing is now covered again and the lower section has fresh cover to about Lower Boyscout Lake.
Thanks again for the effort to caption and load the photos and I am sure you added a wealth of support for the others in the group with your insight and experience. Doug
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Congrats Norma! I so admire how you test your limits and push yourself to accomplish amazing feats. You are an inspiration... I'm in awe of how far you've come in your mountaineering skills. Outstanding climb!!! And you were in pretty good company.  Glad Sara's knee is healing; just hope it will be back 100%. Doug said it best "Your photos and Kurt's are required reading. They capture the trip with detail most miss." I like that you take the time for captions; really helps to see the climb through your eyes.
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Howdy Norma,
Congratulations -- what a terrific acheivement.
Miles of smiles,
Ellen
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Hey Norma, Congrats on your fine summit, way to go!! Looks like you guys had a pretty thin weather window to get up there, but it still looked pretty darn cold. Your photos really captured the experience beautifully, in fact I think they convinced me to make the trip someday, maybe next winter... Aww heck, why wait? I'll just head on up there later this week! 
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Congratulations Norma, great photos! Looks like Kurt did an amazing job of shuttling up and down the North Fork, and keeping everyone safe while getting to the summit.
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Wow, incredible photos and narrative! Congratulations!
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Norma,
Looks like a great climb. I appreciate the photos with detailed descriptions.
Although the weather forecast for this weekend looks warmer than your trip, I think I'll bring the warm sleeping bag after all! It looked cold!
Jim
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Congrats Norma! I so admire how you test your limits and push yourself to accomplish amazing feats. You are an inspiration... I'm in awe of how far you've come in your mountaineering skills. Outstanding climb!!! And you were in pretty good company. Glad Sara's knee is healing; just hope it will be back 100%. Doug said it best "Your photos and Kurt's are required reading. They capture the trip with detail most miss." I like that you take the time for captions; really helps to see the climb through your eyes. Exactly!!! Ditto to all of the above! Thanks so much for the wonderful post! Rosie
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal." Albert Pike
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Well done Norma and everyone else that went. That looked like it was fun and very cold. I can't wait to try the MR in winter next year.  Mouse
Get up! Get moving! That is when life begins.
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Norma, congrats to you and the group, awesome weekend..
Thanks for the pictures and words with them..
mark
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It sounds like you had a great trip. Is George (Geo) Dunn down here now? Back in '89 (I think it was) I went Rainier with him during a Winter Expedition Seminar he taught. He's a fantastic guide.
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Great slide show, Norma. Oh yea, and great job on the climb too!
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Congrats on that winter adventure (I know the calendar said spring, but from the looks of it....it was winter when you went) Great job.
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?ref=name&id=1477964166
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gosh, thanks everyone for your kind words. it was indeed an amazing adventure and because of the temp & weather one of those that i will always remember the tenacious strength of the whole team, guides especially. you know i did the MR in May 2008 (with Dave G and Ranboze) right after a snowstorm and it is still the longest day hike i have ever done to date, but doing it as a snow camp with the elements presented was a whole different experience. Jimbozoom, George is still up in Seattle but comes down every spring to guide 2-3 MR trips. i was so pleased to meet him and really enjoyed his dry wit and excellent guide. He mentioned he will be hiking Rainier for the 500th time this summer! MC, you have to be the kindest person who has ever touched a keyboard. you are the cheerleader of the WPSMB and have nothing but wonderful insights and heartfelt words to share with all. i feel blessed to count you as a friend.
Last edited by Norma R; 04/14/10 04:57 AM.
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Oh wow..what an awesome photo album! Looks like you guys had an epic time.
I wanna have breakfast served to me in my freezing tent..that's for darn sure!
Did you have a good book to read while snowbound?
Yeah..Kurt is a machine. I'll never forget him smoking his way up the MR to help out some of his clients a few years back. It was awesome..
You guys got some great shots of the chute from Iceberg to the Notch. Looking at it from afar (like down on the Portal Road) it looks like the thing is practically vertical. Once you are on it and working though..it isn't so bad..although it is still pretty steep! Your photos give good perspective on it..
Great trip report..and congrats..
Chris
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Congrats Norma and the rest of your Whit crew, great stuff! Thanks for sharing all the terrific photos  Q, if that snow slide across the road was cleared, could you drive all the way to the Portal? Cheers, RickG
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I wanna have breakfast served to me in my freezing tent..that's for darn sure! Never thought I'd pay for a guided trip, but that breakfast in bed thing has a certain appeal, fo sure... Good job summiting and retaining all your extremities, Norma!
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