KaskadskyjKozak Posted December 28, 2009 Posted December 28, 2009 (edited) Trip: Eldorado - East Ridge Date: 12/27/2009 Trip Report: I met up with PR and a couple of his friends to climb Eldorado this weekend, taking advantage of the gorgeous weather and amenable avy forecast. Unfortunately, most of my photos from the first day did not come out, and I left my camera in my tent on summit day, so I just have the following two dusk photos taken from base camp (5700 feet)... plus a few others from my partners immediately following. Earlier the moon rose right over Torment, but that photo did not come out. Note Boston Peak on the right. Boston and Sahale are completely white and in full winter glory. You can never get enough of Johannesburg. The CJ couloir route looked damned intimidating from our vantage point. Stopping for a break at the rock island (7500 feet): The knife edge: KK enjoying views from the summit: The route was in good shape. Approach was a bit tough with lots of postholing up to the knees or more on sun-exposed slopes in warm temps. The forecast called for lots of gusting winds but they were not bad at all. The snow up to the ridge notch and on the Eldorado Glacier (and below) was also challenging. Conditions improved a bit for the traverse on the Inspiration Glacier and on the East Ridge itself. The knife-edge was in fine shape. Approach 4.5 hours. Summit day 11 hours. Other than us, there was only one party of two on the mountain. :-) Gear Notes: No need for crampons. Utility of snowshoes debatable (we left them in the car). Ice axe, trekking poles needed. Rope optional Approach Notes: Trail bare until about 3500 feet, then icy and nasty in spots up until the boulder field. Lots of postholing up the boulder field with sun exposure. 5-10 inches of fresh snow with a breakable crust on much of the snow from 5700 feet until about the Inspiration Glacier. Crevasses covered. Edited December 29, 2009 by KaskadskyjKozak Quote
KaskadskyjKozak Posted December 28, 2009 Author Posted December 28, 2009 Nice job getting after it! Thanks! With weather like this, it is worth making the effort even with the short days! Quote
Fairweather Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 Nice job KK! Didn't even see that one coming. Quote
KaskadskyjKozak Posted December 29, 2009 Author Posted December 29, 2009 Nice job KK! Didn't even see that one coming. Well, I missed all the summit views on my June run-up. :-) Quote
t_rutl Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 well done KK! looks like a helluva day out Quote
woodchips Posted December 29, 2009 Posted December 29, 2009 Were you able to drive to the trailhead? How far is the road driveable? Quote
KaskadskyjKozak Posted December 29, 2009 Author Posted December 29, 2009 Were you able to drive to the trailhead? How far is the road driveable? We drove all the way to the TH. The road is gated there, however. The road was icy, but almost bare. Quote
ivan Posted December 31, 2009 Posted December 31, 2009 a lot more snow on that trail after y-day - was pouring frosty, frost snow from 1500 feet on up the past couple days Quote
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