Fast forward to October, Hanging out in the North Pines campground after climbing the Royal Arches...
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 My buddy Mark near the top of Royal Arches.. Credit: adikted |
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 Myself tryin to hold halfdome Credit: adikted |
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The next day was the longest day ever, we were climbing near The Falls when i get a call from the lady, not a good one, she needs her space and is going to go climb with out me. It doesnt sink in until the drive back to Tahoe, Devastated i decided to take a break from climbing all together and concentrate on the snowboarding season...which turns out to be kind of shitty.
January rolls around and my friend Ben calls and wants to climb since the snow sucks so bad, He pitches doing snakedike in January, it didnt take too long for me to agree and us to head down...Besides, how often do you getta climb Halfdome in January. Unfortunately i cannot find those pics so ill post another time.
Months go by without any climbing, the little snow we got we attempted to salvage until about April Making one last ski trip into the High Sierra.
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 Aaron hiking into the Sawtooths for a little spring ski Credit: adikted |
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 snoooowwww Credit: adikted |
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Since we came here to ski...we might as well ski....
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 sweet tracks in a sweet setting Credit: adikted |
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 love it Credit: adikted |
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Once the snow started to melt the fire to climb started to burn, and burn it did,i started bouldering alot and eventually that led to a blown right middle finger, damn, another little bit off of climbing....seems as though that would happen, but none the less the fire still burned and while i was recouping i started to think of ways to become more at peace with myself and the mountains that i have grown to love, plus thoughts of her still rang heavy on my soul, so i decided that it was time to do a little soul searching of my own, thats when i decided to do a Solo Traverse of the Cathedrals, the version that's found in the Croft guidebook. it Seemed perfect A great day in the mountains plus it had the allure of being the last route i did with Her......I wanted cathedral...and then some..
So on a brisk July morning i found myself pulling into the trailhead at about 5:30am and heading toward Budd Lake..
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 see you this afternoon Credit: adikted |
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 getting psyched Credit: adikted |
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I found myself at the base of the route by 7:00am and was the first one there, so i put on my shoes and head up the stone...roughly 40 mins of classic moderate climbing got me to the summit..
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 celebration shot on the summit of Cathedral...with no one around Credit: adikted |
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Headed back down i was back at my pack by 8:15am where i was greeted by a couple people gettn ready to head up. felt good to go fast. Next up was Echo #3..
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 on the way to the Echo's Credit: adikted |
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 Sooo Prettyyy Credit: adikted |
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 My Entry for Echo #3 register, (the only one i found that day) Credit: adikted |
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 lookn back at the echos Credit: adikted |
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Such a fun ridge.....only a little mildly annoying hiking...heres some of the goods.
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 Myself with Matthes Crest in the background Credit: adikted |
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 the whaleback of Echo Ridge..... Credit: adikted |
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 The High point of the climb, summit of Echo ridge Credit: adikted |
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 Classic Ridgeline Awesomeness Credit: adikted |
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The Cockscomb gave me the most diffaculties for the day...it took me three trys to finally figure out how to get to the summit, just to find out that i was right the first time i went up...DOH..none the less it was an awesome summit...No summit pics though. At this point the fatigue started to set in but i decided that i was too close to stop now, i grabbed my pack and took off toward Unicorn.
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 Looking back on The Cockscomb Credit: adikted |
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The hill seperating Cockscomb and Unicorn sucks..but once its done its only a short 4th class scramble to the top of Unicorn, i dropped my pack in the shade and took off for the summit...
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 Battle shot from the final summit!! Credit: adikted |
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 Lookn Back!! Credit: adikted |
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After scrambling back to my pack exhausted i indulged in a much needed High Sierra power nap..
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 Nap never felt so good... Credit: adikted |
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Feeling parched and delerious i decided it was time to find some water since i ran out before Unicorn so i followed the sound...it was OOOO soo goooood!
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 Sweet Nectar of life.... Credit: adikted |
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I scrambled down to Budd lake and enjoyed a nice alpine swim, i was greeted by a group of hikers who watched me scramble down from Unicorn and they asked where i had come from, i was all i could do to not Smile from ear to ear...That lake never felt so refreshing...
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 Credit: adikted |
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 LIFE IS GOOD Credit: adikted |
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So i hiked back down and made it just in time for the grill to close... oh well, i was greeted by great friends who invited me to join them for burritos...love me some burritos...so i don't know what i learned about life or anything for that matter but i did have a great time, and for a while there i had not a care in the world, nothing besides myself and the beautiful Sierra, what more could one ask for?
