Feather Peak
*
Partner: Willy Pell, Dave Keatly
An active mine near the put in marked the start of our 12+ hour day.
This first pitch was soon to become very icy. Willy put his ski crampons to good use while Dave and I struggled.
Snack time
Willy skins
Rock reminiscent of the Black Canyon's Painted Wall
One of the days many lake crossings
Dave and Willy
Dave and Alex
Dave and Willy
Dave and Willy
Dave and Alex
Willy
Looking down the valley across the desert and to the White's
The shade was a nice break from the intense sun
Snack time in a windy spot...
... with a view
post snack nap?
The Whites
Dave Keatley
Feather Peak appears... but where is OUR couloir?
Dave Keatley
Looking back from where we came
Dave breaks trail to the base of our couloir... Feather's North Couloir.
Willy and I had major issues with snow sticking to our skins. The last push to the couloir's base was serious work. We were sure to wax our skins that night.
Getting ready to swap skis for crampons and axes
Great team work breaking trail to the top. At points the snow was bottomless powder and very difficult to move forward in.
Willy... STOKED!!!
A pretty nice spot
It had been too long since my last adventure with Willy... and this one was fantastic!
Looking down the couloir...
it ain't flat
steep... icy... and a little intimidating...
the snow softened up nicely after the initial roll over pitch. Willy tearing it up.
Goofing off and speeding across a lake
Headed home... with plenty of soft snow and vertical in front of us :-)
The view didn't suck
and neither did the snow
Alex
Willy lets em run
last view of the Whites