MrBill's Albums - Mount Conness East Ridge, September 12, 2024

Frank crosses the dam spillway.

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 01:11:55 +0000

Frank crosses the dam spillway. / Frank crosses the dam spillway.

Stella on the off-trail portion back to the Saddlebag Lake dam.

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 01:11:26 +0000

Stella on the off-trail portion back to the Saddlebag Lake dam. / Stella on the off-trail portion back to the Saddlebag Lake dam.

Stella and Frank relax at the established use trail in Hall Valley.

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 01:10:28 +0000

Stella and Frank relax at the established use trail in Hall Valley. / Stella and Frank relax at the established use trail in Hall Valley.

The slope into Hall Valley increases but never becomes too steep.

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 01:09:34 +0000

The slope into Hall Valley increases but never becomes too steep. / The slope into Hall Valley increases but never becomes too steep.

Bill and Stella descend into Hall Valley.

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 01:07:47 +0000

Bill and Stella descend into Hall Valley. / Bill and Stella descend into Hall Valley. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.

Twenty Lakes Basin Panorama

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 01:06:53 +0000

Twenty Lakes Basin Panorama / Twenty Lakes Basin Panorama Taken from East Ridge of Mount Conness. Directly below is Greenstone Lake and darker Saddlebag Lake to the right. At upper left is Steelhead Lake and Shepherd Crest. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.

Group photo on the East Ridge.

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 01:05:56 +0000

Group photo on the East Ridge. / Group photo on the East Ridge. Twenty Lakes Basin is in the background.

Bill enjoys the view from the East Ridge.

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 01:05:08 +0000

Bill enjoys the view from the East Ridge. / Bill enjoys the view from the East Ridge. Shepherd Crest is in the background. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.

We stop for lunch near the edge of the East Ridge.

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 01:04:09 +0000

We stop for lunch near the edge of the East Ridge. / We stop for lunch near the edge of the East Ridge. Mount Dana is in the background.

Would it be any easier to traverse above the cliff through the talus?

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 01:03:10 +0000

Would it be any easier to traverse above the cliff through the talus? / Would it be any easier to traverse above the cliff through the talus? Maybe. But, by now we were tired and approaching our turn-around deadline. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.

Stella scoots down the slab.

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 01:02:16 +0000

Stella scoots down the slab. / Stella scoots down the slab. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.

Bill scoots down the slab.

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 01:01:17 +0000

Bill scoots down the slab. / Bill scoots down the slab. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.

View down from the bouldering problem on the mountaineer's route.

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 01:00:00 +0000

View down from the bouldering problem on the mountaineer's route. / View down from the bouldering problem on the mountaineer's route. At this point I got too spooked to want to continue, so I asked Frank to help spot me on the down-climb. I broke one of our hiking rules not to solo climb something I don't feel comfortable solo down-climbing. And this down-climb was not comfortable owing mainly to the slick rock and marginal hand holds.

Stella explores a possible alternate.

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 00:58:40 +0000

Stella explores a possible alternate. / Stella explores a possible alternate. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.

Bill climbs the bouldering problem on the mountaineer's route.

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 00:57:21 +0000

Bill climbs the bouldering problem on the mountaineer's route. / Bill climbs the bouldering problem on the mountaineer's route. Holds were available, but the hand holds were less good than I expected, the rock was slicker than I wanted it to be for my old hiking shoes, and the danger of a fall or slip apparent when I was committed. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.

View of Mount Dana and Hall Valley.

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 00:56:26 +0000

View of Mount Dana and Hall Valley. / View of Mount Dana and Hall Valley. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.

Bill stows his poles while studying the climb up the cleft.

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 00:55:41 +0000

Bill stows his poles while studying the climb up the cleft. / Bill stows his poles while studying the climb up the cleft. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.

We found a way to avoid crossing the slab by circling above it.

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 00:54:59 +0000

We found a way to avoid crossing the slab by circling above it. / We found a way to avoid crossing the slab by circling above it.

The route ascends the nearby slab, then the cleft in the wall that contains the most greenery. It's still a difficult climb.

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 00:53:55 +0000

The route ascends the nearby slab, then the cleft in the wall that contains the most greenery. It's still a difficult climb. / The route ascends the nearby slab, then the cleft in the wall that contains the most greenery. It's still a difficult climb. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.

Mountaineer's route ascends to the low point in the wall ahead.

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 00:53:05 +0000

Mountaineer's route ascends to the low point in the wall ahead. / Mountaineer's route ascends to the low point in the wall ahead. Photo courtesy of Frank Paysen.