Rock Climbing --- 6/30/2016 - 7/22/2016 --- Wyoming, Idaho
Without Bottled Oxygen...
First an aborted attempt at Ellingwood Peak in the Wind River Range. Mike's back is bothering him. We hike a few hours, then decide to set up camp. The next morning, we bail.
On to Ketchum, Idaho. We bike the Greenhorn-Imperial loop. Then enjoy hammocks in the shade. Finishing the day with a long soak in the hot springs. The next day we repeat the process... biking the Fox Creek loop, hammocks, and hot springs.
Next stop, Grand Targhee. We bike most of the trails in Horseshoe Creek. The next day we meet up with Gretchen, Adam, Jess and Jay. While Gretchen and Jess participate in a biking clinic, the rest of us bike the non-lift access trails at the resort. Taking a chairlift to mountain bike? Not for us. And we are doing this without bottled oxygen.
Tetons! Highlight of the trip... Seeing a mama black bear and three cubs at the Lupine Meadows trailhead! From there we hiked all the way up to the Moraine campsites. With packs that were far too heavy. Ugh! The next day we started up Owen-Spaulding, but even with axes and crampons it was just too icy and cold for comfort. We turned back around 12,500' (which is lower than my high point of the upper saddle on my previous attempt). Hiked all the way out. Packs still too heavy. Saw a fox on the way to camp for the night.
Cragging day south of Jackson in Hoback Canyon. We climb Hoi Polloi, Bolt Face, and Hook It. Limestone sport climbing... yay :/
Back to Pinedale, WY for another shot at Ellingwood. Mike isn't up for the hike, so I abandon him (I'm a climbing partner, but not a good climbing partner) and head in solo. Seven hour hike to where I set my tent just east of Island Lake. The next morning, up at 4am for a solo attempt at the North Ridge. Two hours to approach the climb, and then about 300' up I decide that free soloing is not for me. I thought it would be an experience of pure climbing without all the ropes and gear to distract. But it turns out that I find it to be oppressive and looming and not much fun. I downclimb the route and return to the tent. After scouting a few different approaches to the climb (for when I come back with a rope and a partner) I pack up the tent and hike out. Reaching the trailhead at 8:30pm... that's a really long day.
Forecast in Crested Butte sucks (as does Squamish and the Cascades). We drive to Vedauwoo and climb Edward's Crack and Screw. Here is a tip for you... if a climb is called "Screw" it just might refer to what the climb does to you. Just sayin'
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Getting ready to hike into the Winds Wind River Range, Wyoming -- 7/3/2016 |
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Mike hiking Wind River Range, Wyoming -- 7/3/2016 |
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Mike hiking Wind River Range, Wyoming -- 7/3/2016 |
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Mike hiking Wind River Range, Wyoming -- 7/3/2016 |
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Boots and tents and boots and tents and boots and tents Wind River Range, Wyoming -- 7/3/2016 |
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Mike hiking Wind River Range, Wyoming -- 7/4/2016 |
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Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016 |
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Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016 |
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Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016 |
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Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016 |
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Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016 |
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Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016 |
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Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016 |
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Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016 |
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Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016 |
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Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016 |
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Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016 |
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Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016 |
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Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016 |
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Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016 |
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Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016 |
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Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016 |
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Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016 |
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Biking the Greenhorn-Imperial Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/5/2016 |
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Biking the Fox Creek Loop Ketchum, Idaho -- 7/6/2016 |
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Craters of the Moon National Park Craters of the Moon, Idaho -- 7/7/2016 |
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Craters of the Moon National Park Craters of the Moon, Idaho -- 7/7/2016 |
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Biking Horseshoe Creek Drigs, Idaho -- 7/8/2016 |
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Jay and Adam biking at Grand Targhee Grand Targhee, WY -- 7/9/2016 |
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Jay and Adam biking at Grand Targhee Grand Targhee, WY -- 7/9/2016 |
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Adam, Mike and Jay looking out over the Tetons Grand Targhee, WY -- 7/9/2016 |
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The inside of the truck is so empty! Grand Targhee, WY -- 7/9/2016 |
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Oh... that's why Grand Targhee, WY -- 7/9/2016 |
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The Grand Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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Ready to start hiking Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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A mama black bear and three cubs!!!!! Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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So freakin' cute!!!!! Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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Amazing Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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Hiking up to the Grand Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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Hiking up to the Grand Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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Hiking up to the Grand Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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Hiking up to the Grand Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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Black Dike splitting Middle Teton Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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Black Dike splitting Middle Teton Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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Taking a break at the Meadows Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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Taking a break at the Meadows Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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Hiking up to the Grand Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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Hiking up to the Grand Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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High camp at the Moraine Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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Was I really hungry enough to eat a sausage? Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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High camp at the Moraine Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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High camp at the Moraine Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/12/2016 |
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Adam and Gretchen coming up to the lower saddle Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016 |
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Adam and Gretchen coming up to the lower saddle Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016 |
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Adam and Gretchen coming up to the lower saddle Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016 |
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Amazing view to the south Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016 |
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The lower saddle Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016 |
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Lots of snow and ice on the route Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016 |
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Adam and me Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016 |
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Marmot Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016 |
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Marmot Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016 |
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Where's Waldeer? Deer Grand Tetons, WY -- 7/13/2016 |
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The 1925 Gros Ventre slide Kelly, WY -- 7/14/2016 |
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Gretchen and Adam Kelly, WY -- 7/14/2016 |
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Climbing in Hoback Canyon Hoback, WY -- 7/14/2016 |
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Climbing in Hoback Canyon Hoback, WY -- 7/14/2016 |
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Climbing in Hoback Canyon Hoback, WY -- 7/14/2016 |
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Climbing Hook It Hoback, WY -- 7/14/2016 |
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Climbing Hook It Hoback, WY -- 7/14/2016 |
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Climbing Hook It Hoback, WY -- 7/14/2016 |
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Climbing Hook It Hoback, WY -- 7/14/2016 |
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Hiking into the Winds Wind River Range, WY -- 7/16/2016 |
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Hiking into the Winds Wind River Range, WY -- 7/16/2016 |
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Hiking into the Winds Wind River Range, WY -- 7/16/2016 |
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Pika Wind River Range, WY -- 7/16/2016 |
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Ellingwood Peak and Elephant's Head Peak Wind River Range, WY -- 7/17/2016 |
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My shoes in their happy place Wind River Range, WY -- 7/17/2016 |
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Me in my happy place Wind River Range, WY -- 7/17/2016 |
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North Ridge just at the boundary of sun and shadow Wind River Range, WY -- 7/17/2016 |
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North Ridge just at the boundary of sun and shadow Wind River Range, WY -- 7/17/2016 |
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Hiking out of the Winds Wind River Range, WY -- 7/17/2016 |
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Very long day! Wind River Range, WY -- 7/17/2016 |
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WHY IS THERE AN ICE SCREW ON YOUR HARNESS????? Mike leading Edward's Crack... it would have been funnier if this was on Screw Vedauwoo, WY -- 7/19/2016 |
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Heroic Mike Vedauwoo, WY -- 7/19/2016 |
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Heroic Squirrel Vedauwoo, WY -- 7/19/2016 |