The afternoon started with a swim in the snow up a hill by Frisco, CO
The swim afforded me this shot peering into the Gore Range.
From a near by vantage, I snagged up this shot. Then, called it a day after a few hours of snow groveling.
Then, this evening or not really, almost this morning I got a few shots of the Flatirons.
I got a total of four shots in about 45 minutes.
The Full Moon to my back was a wonderful fill.
The new American Alpine Club
The American Alpine Club (AAC) has some sweet new ideas sprouting into a gold mine of new support for it’s members and non-members. This new gauntlet runs from the “Choss Boss” photo contests for every photographer out there to great rescue insurance.
The new member benefits for May 2011
(Note at time of publish: Some of the above links from AAC may not work)
Another cool thing the AAC is doing to connect with the climbing public. They are showing up to climbing events like the Zanskar Odyessy film premier that took place at the Eldorado Springs Art Center.
The AAC at the Zanskar Odyssey Premier
One the other new things the AAC is doing. They are cutting down on surplus by only printing the American Alpine Journal (AAJ) for it’s members in the future. This is a good thing since most the books they print end up sitting on a shelf not purchased, therefore not helping the club funding and also wasting product and time that could have been spent in a more useful manner. Besides, the AAJ is available online after the print issue has been out.
Lyle Guthmiller near Loch Lomond.
Lyle and I went to recon the East ridge of Bancroft on April 30, 2011. Instead we found something more interesting.
Yours tuly at Loch Lomond
We had a fun filled 5.5 hrs total of snow wallowing in an average of knee deep snow and some stretches crept up to our waists. Good fun.
Our snow pit analysis showed to icy weak layers, both visible in photo. The first layer was a thick sun crust which will be a bed surface for coming weeks.
We dug the snowpit near the face.
Approaching the face from here was all waist deep snow.
The sweet spot!
Mount Toll from the summit of Mount Audubon
Southeast ridge of Audubon which I climbed today.
Looking back down the SE ridge.
Self Portrait on the ridge crest
A view of Monument Peak above East Weaver Lake
A view through the Monument-Bally saddle towards Sawtooth Mountain
Yours truly: self portrait