johnkelley Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 (edited) Trip: University Peak Saint Elias Range - South West Spur Date: 4/29/2011 Trip Report: Here's the FA of the 8,500 foot South West Spur. Kevin Ditzler and I spent a week climbing University from the south west. We spent four days climbing the south west face to where it meets the ridge. Only four of the pitches had any rock. Everything else was AI3/4 for about 7,000 feet. For some wierd reason we thought we could cruise the ridge. After about a half mile of roped pitches and two days we finally found the top. It took the rest of that day and half of the next to decend the North Ridge. We waited in Beaver Basin, the bottom of the North Ridge, for five days with minimal food and fuel for a pick up. Late on the fifth day Paul Claus, Ultima Thule Outfitters, made it in the marginal weather and flew us back to the lodge in time for dinner. Edited April 29, 2011 by johnkelley Quote
wfinley Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 Congrats John! A fine line. Make sure you call up Charlie and tell him about it so both of you can reminisce about steep ice, run-outs and low food on University. Quote
Kraken Posted April 29, 2011 Posted April 29, 2011 a fine line. kevin was psyched about that. clint Quote
Stefan Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 you make us look pathetic! that first shot is "k2"-ish. great stuff! Quote
genepires Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 wow-zers! damn cool photos. maybe you could draw a line on the second photo where your route went for us unfamiliar types. Quote
Gaucho Argentino Posted May 3, 2011 Posted May 3, 2011 Buddy, where the heck is that tent pitched??!! Freaking awesome! Do you have any pic from the tent looking down? Cheers, GA Quote
wayne Posted May 3, 2011 Posted May 3, 2011 Thats great, fast work on a big mountain! Looks like those glaciers were thinly covered and the route looked like hard, old ice. Does remind me of K2 as well. Quote
John Frieh Posted May 4, 2011 Posted May 4, 2011 So. Awesome. Well done boys. I am so jealous... Quote
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