Mt. Persis storm TR

[Distel32]

22march, 2003: Well no one else wanetd to go out in the storm except for Leejams, so we decided on persis because of the no avvy hazard factor. Went up to the west ridge, and the first 1/3 of the climb was simply on the climbers trail. Had snow for the last two thirds of the climb, some of it was pretty deep going in well up to your thighs, but since the storm was blowing so hard, most of the loose snow near the top was crustrific. Got up to the summit and simply could not see more than a few hundred yards in any direction.

 

The descent was where it got really interesting. During the duration of the climb the wind has been blowing very consistently with gusts up to around 60. It started to snow when we left the summit which turned into a nasty frozen rain. A little below the summit we heard a loud crack, and realized it was lightning. We figured it was a freak occurence and kept going down. The sleet started to pick up and the gusts were around 70 (Lee has been in 100mph winds and said that what we were in felt about the same!). We stopped for a minute and there was a huge flash directly above is followed immediately by a couple large cracking sounds. So since we were extremely close to the lightning, we stayed in the trees and started to run down the ridge, we got down about 100 yards and found a tree that had this streak of bark just shattered off of one side, and all the bark was lying around. Took a picture because how often do you get to see freshly struck trees? Made it back down to the car, and there was sun everywhere!? We had spent a good 4.5 hours in dense clouds with snow and high winds, and here we were ready to get a tan.

 

Climb was a great little conditioning trip, not difficult, but was fairly fun being in snow most of the time. Good half day trip, didn't need any gear besides some warm boots and good windproof apparel!

-Luke

 

 

Have some cool pics that will be up in a few days.

[chucK]

[Dru]

[leejams]

Oh mannn, You forgot to tell about the snafflehound you said you saw. Good TR distel.

[catbirdseat]

You guys came really close to getting fried. Glad you made it back safely.

[Distel32]

yeah, it ended up only being a squirel, but when we were on the summit I think those little were eyeing the

[Mike]

A fun (???) alternative is the SW approach listed in CAG. We hadn't been up Persis before and took Beckey at his word; we think the route description pre-dated the clear-cut that we had to bushwack through. The west ridge sure was a nice way down! As we were heading up I kept telling Doug and Jason "Everybody does the west ridge" and they'd reply "Beckey says that the SW approach is very aesthetic and scenic."

[leejams]

I have heard others report bushwhacking? We had none and a decent trail to the snow than postholing. I was wondering if that big ole waterfall ever freezes up? It is at like 3,000 ft or so. May be a possibility.

[Bronco]

yes it does but not very often, I think it faces due west.

 

was the road open to the trailhead?

[leejams]

Bronco, yeah road open to TH. But when we got back to the truck the snow level had dropped down to that level.

[Distel32]

A few pictures are up from the climb of persis, but also check out the bouldering section, I put up some pics from my trip to bishop with Erik.

[Bug]

Slogged up Persis this morning to start circulation in those pig hauling muscles. The start is really a bummer if you don't find the trail. It starts about 60 meters before the end of the road. The bushwhacking is stellar though. I wouldn't have missed it. No Devil's Club. Just downfall on a steep wet slope with small cedars blocking the view to your feet. Once on the trail , it is a good steep rise to North Persis. Snow started at about 3500. Who ever was up there Friday, don't worry, I picked up your Cliff Bar wrapper where you stopped . What did you eat? Cliff Bars and Onions? There was an onion skin up there also. I could still smell your farts on the way down.