Gannett Peak: Day 3 (Practice)

Gannett Peak via the Glacier Trail
Shoshone National Forest
Day 3: 8/15/2006

On our 3rd day out we awoke to stormy skies and cool weather. It was raining and sleeting. There was fresh snow on the ridges above camp.

The weird weather kind of dampened our plan to get up and do some training runs and climbing practice up high. Eventually it cleared up enough though, we decided to go for it.

After doing some basic practice with ropes, knots and techniques in camp, we hit the boulder field. We wanted to get up to the glaciers where we could do some practice with our crampons and ice axes. Above- Dan leads the way for Hope through the boulders.

Hope quickly developed a fondness for boulders. Ha! It took us nearly two hours to cross the boulder field. It quickly became apparent that the boulder field itself was going to be a big factor in climbing Gannett.

Finally over the boulder and on to the Dinwoody Glacier. Way cool stuff. It's like another planet almost. We walked on the glacier for almost an hour until we reached a suitable slope for ice axe training. It was a great walk.

After the galcier walk we climbed up this quasi-couloir at the base of Dinwoody Peak and practiced self arrest techniques. It was great fun! If you look closely you can see our tracks.

We continued to get great views of spectacular country on our hike back to camp.

Shad soaks up the scenery.

Hope goes glacial!

Man on the moon? Or Hope on the Dinwoody, headed down off the glacier.

Looking down the Dinwoody drainage towards camp. Lots and lots of rocks to hop and climb. Hope couldn't wait.

About the time we reached the end of the boulder field and neared camp the weather went down again. When the clouds dropped it forced all of the forest fire smoke down. The smoke literally rolled over the peaks like tidal waves. It was eery. The plan was to get up at 2:30am the next morning to climb Gannett. The weather really had us wondering if that was even going to be possible.

Ridem' Tally!