Aug
26
26
Traverse of the Lobhorner
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To continue their "training" for Mt. Kenya Pat and Jeff decided to spend some time climbing some sunny limestone near Lauterbrunnen, just a short train ride from Grindelwald. The plan was to traverse the Lobhorner.
The traverse of the Lobhorner includes climbing over five prominent towers. This is a picture of the descent off of the third tower. The views of the surrounding peaks are impressive and the idyllic Swiss setting...
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We really have no idea how this plan was hatched but the original goal was to climb Mt. Kenya. While researching the climb we came up with the brilliant idea of accclimatizing in the Alps instead of acclimatizing on Mt. Kenya. We had to fly through Europe anyway, so why not get off the plane and do some climbing. Below are some shots from our trip up the SW Ridge of the Monch.
Here Pat Luke is enjoying some nice solid rock climbing at 12,000 feet. The SW Ridge...
NCMG guides Mark Allen and Jeff Ward had a few days off in Chamonix and were able to get out and enjoy some of the nice weather. Here are a few shots.
Mark topping out on the classic Frison Roche. You can see the Chamonix Valley far below. The climb actually starts with an easy walk downhill from the Brevant Lift and tops out within 100 feet of the top station.
The day didn't start out bluebird. The first few pitches were climbed in the clouds. ...
After taking a several year hiatus from climbing in the Alps, Les and Jolene Lovett decided to join Larry for a week of climbing in Saas Fee this year. The Saas valley sits one valley away from the major alpine mecca of Zermatt, but is much quieter, while still offering plenty of great climbing options. On day one we spent the day at a small rock climbing crag, working on rock skills and working through some jetlag, as the Lovetts had just arrived the day before.
Our next...
On a day off in Chamonix NCMG guides Larry Goldie and Mark Allen got together for an ascent of the Chere Coulior on the Triangle du Tacul on Mt. Blanc.
We began by riding the first cablecar on the Aiguille du Midi. Here Mark exits the ice cave and begins the descent down the narrow snow arete that leads to the Valee Blanche.
The approach takes about 20 minutes of mostly flat walking to the base of the triangle. After crossing the bergshrund, we made our way up to the start...
Returning NCMG guest Kevin Hines recently contacted us with a desire to climb the classic West Ridge of Forbidden peak. As one of the 50 classic climbs, this is undoubtedly one of the best climbs in North Cascades National Park. Kevin and Larry met up in Marblemount under thick, grey skies with a weather forecast that didn't inspire too much confidence, but looked good enough to possibly squeak the climb in.
Hiking in on the first day we got soaked on the overgrown trail before...
Part time Mazama resident Les Lovett had a friend from kentucky come out for a visit with him and wanted to give him a small taste of the North Cascades. Since John had no real climbing background, they joined Larry for an ascent of Wallabee peak.
Les and John in front of Wallabee peak with the climb shown here as the right hand skyline. This route is largely a scramble with a few short sections broken by stretches of rugged hiking.
After coffee and pastries at the Mazama store,...
Highpoint enthusiasts John Mitchler and Steve Mueller of Colorado contacted NCMG about assisting them on an ascent of Mt. Goode. These gentlemen have ticked many highpoints including all 50 states as well as all of their home state's 14,000' peaks. Mt. Goode at 9,200' happens to be the highest peak in the North Cascades National Park and the 52nd national park highpoint for John who is currently writing a guidebook to the highpoints of all the national parks in the lower-48. His final...