Mt. Rainier, Emmons Glacier 9-16-07

We wanted to get in one more big climb before winter. We chose the Emmons Glacier route. This is the Emmons Glacier and Steamboat Prow as seen from Mt. Ruth.

The glaciers are full of vertical voids in the fall.

Jason, Didzis, Jim and Dave at Camp Schurman. Didzis flew over from Europe to join us on this climb and visit family.

A sea of clouds below us at sunset.

A snowbridge we crossed on the way to the summit early in the morning.

Sunrise at 13,000'.

Working our way up the mountain. The late season snow was like concrete.

We stepped into a crevasse to try to get out of the cold wind during a short break.

Jason retrieving his mitten from a large crevasse.

Going around another crevasse.

Finding a way around the bergschrund.

Ice in a water bottle.

The summit crater.

Dave, Jason, Doug, Mark, Didzis and Jim all summit on our international fall climb.

We encountered snow and rain on the way down. This climb was a challenge. The snow conditions and weather were not ideal. All the climbers did a great job and toughed it out. It was definitely more of an accomplishment than going up on a nice summer day.

Little Annapurna 9-1-07

The group decided to go on another ambitious day trip. We chose Little Annapurna, in the Stuart Range. The climb was not very difficult, it just had a long approach. It was hard to keep our eyes on the trail with Ingalls Creek providing such awesome views!





After 7 miles, we left the trail and headed cross country up towards the peak.


This part of the trip consisted of going over, under and around large granite boulders.

The dry gully leading to the South face.

We were really pleased to find some water up high, since we, uh, sort of waited too long to refill our water bottles.

The South Face of Little Annapurna.

Mark at a belay station. Jim and Dave had gone up a different route. Dave is looking over the edge

Jim, Mark, Doug and Dave on top. The rock formations are incredible everywhere you look!

Jim boot-skiing down.

There are numerous beautiful lakes, like this one, all over the Stuart Range.

Prussik Peak is on our short list of Mountains to climb. The long approach seemed twice as long on the way out even though it is downhill. As we hiked out in the dark, using our headlamps, we couldn't stop thinking about the cougar tracks we had seen earlier. It was another great day with friends in an awesome part of creation!