What a thrilling trip report! Did you consider simple goto way points with a GPS to help find your way back across snow covered talus with hard to find cairns?
Nice TR. We got caught in a whiteout on Little Bear in Oct 2006 with visibility down to ~10-15 ft. To top it off there was verglas just under the thin layer of snow. After getting cliffed out multiple times we managed to recognize one of the rock features from the photos I had snapped of the route from the base. I've never been so thankful to be down from a climb.
If not, as close as you can get...Great read. Glad you made it safely! I have LB on the "to do" list this year and this story gives good perspective: Bring your A game, pray for good conditions, or spend your summers forevermore going up and down that stinking road! Best of luck on Rainier!
maddie77777 - May 28, 2009 3:43 pm - Voted 10/10
WowGreat trip. Fantastic story. I'm glad you guys made it safely.
Summitseeker69 - May 31, 2009 2:11 pm - Hasn't voted
hummSounds like you took unnecessary risks.
slowbutsteady - May 31, 2009 4:15 pm - Voted 10/10
GPS waypoints?What a thrilling trip report! Did you consider simple goto way points with a GPS to help find your way back across snow covered talus with hard to find cairns?
Ted Eliason - May 31, 2009 8:11 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: GPS waypoints?We did set way points, which did prevent us from going down the wrong exit from the ridge. GPS is a godsend when you finally figure it out.
kwiatek - Jun 1, 2009 11:52 am - Hasn't voted
nice storygreat, thrilling read :)
thanks for sharing
fossana - Jun 3, 2009 2:20 am - Voted 10/10
i feel your painNice TR. We got caught in a whiteout on Little Bear in Oct 2006 with visibility down to ~10-15 ft. To top it off there was verglas just under the thin layer of snow. After getting cliffed out multiple times we managed to recognize one of the rock features from the photos I had snapped of the route from the base. I've never been so thankful to be down from a climb.
Glad we're all around to share our stories.
RMdaytripsgrl - Jun 3, 2009 5:29 pm - Hasn't voted
Epic?If not, as close as you can get...Great read. Glad you made it safely! I have LB on the "to do" list this year and this story gives good perspective: Bring your A game, pray for good conditions, or spend your summers forevermore going up and down that stinking road! Best of luck on Rainier!
MoapaPk - Jun 6, 2009 10:06 pm - Voted 10/10
stay aliveGlad you made it back.