Mountaineering 1997

The summer of mountaineering began with 2 failed attempts on Lone Peak (11,253). Both times the guys attempted the Jacob's Ladder, and both times it rained. It may have been too early in the season anyway, with snow conditions. The wind on the trail just below Jacob's Ladder was probably the strongest wind the guys have ever been in, along with a lot of rain. Don Tetzloff, Duane Poslusny, Chris Tetzloff, James Barlow, Dave Poslusny, Dave Stair, Isaac Westfield, Jon Buck, Keith Stevens, Andrew Smith, and Don Stevens all participated in these failed attempts on Lone Peak.
Beta:The Jacob's Ladder route is an enjoyable route when the weather is good, and is the most popular route up the peak. It is a looonnnggg hike, but never difficult or very exposed. Bring plenty of water. It is a very dry trail.

The first successful event of the season was in late May on the Pfeifferhorn (11,326). The guys climbed the Pfeifferhorn from Red Pine Fork. On the descent, Isaac lost control while trying to self arrest, and hit some rocks, but he was okay. The weather was bad as usual, but they had finally completed a successful trip.
Beta:The Red Pine route up the Pfeifferhorn is the most popular route up the mountain, but the group had it to themselves the whole day. May through early July is the best time for mountaineering here, but it differs by year. The route is easily hikeable when snow is not present in August and September.

Throughout the summer, the guys did hikes, climbs, and mountain bike rides throughout the Wasatch. The Pipeline bike trail in Millcreek Canyon was a favorite. They biked up the main road and rode the pipeline down the canyon. Grandeur Peak was successfully summited by James, Duane, and Andrew on an easy day hike in Millcreek Canyon.

James, Keith, Duane, Isaac, Dan, and Andrew headed up to Lake Blanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon. This was Dan's first hike with the group. When the guys started to head back, Duane, Isaac, and Dan took the west side of the canyon. They ended up bushwhacking through heavy brush to cross the stream and make it back to the trail. Meanwhile, James, Keith, and Andrew took the trail after a dip in the lake. They met up with the other guys part way down once the other guys found the trail.

Duane, Isaac, and Andrew did a hike up White Pine Canyon, and ended up sliding down a snowfield above the lake. It was a good easy hike overall. Meanwhile, James did some hiking in the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe. He climbed some 9,000 foot peak, which he has since forgotten.

The trip began at the Elkhart Park Trailhead, north of Pinedale. The people who came were: James Barlow, Chris Tetzloff, Jon Buck, Keith Stevens, Isaac Westfield, Don Tetzloff, Don Stevens, Brian Westfield, and Alan Jensen. The first day the group hiked to Hobbs Lake, where they found a great campsite. Jon, Chris, Isaac, James, and Keith did some bouldering at the Hobbs Lake campsite that night as well.

They ate breakfast on the trail, near Seneca Lake. Then, the group went over the pass towards Island Lake, before they realized that they made a wrong turn. The group turned around and went back to the trail junction going to Peak Lake, and went the right way. They had lunch at a lake near the junction, while Brian, and Isaac talked to Don T about turning around. Brian and Isaac were having problems, and couldn't keep up. They decided to turn around and head home. The rest of the group continued on to Peak Lake Pass. It was a long, hard day, the worst of the trip. After finally reaching the pass, they dropped down the switchbacks into Peak Lake. Alan found a spot just big enough for the three tents. Later on, the day was notoriously known for the false passes that were continually mistaken for Peak Lake Pass. Also, some hikers heading the other way got the guys hopes up when they said that they needed ice axes on the other side of the pass. What a bunch of idiots! There was no need for ice axes at all! The guys were all disappointed about the false tip.

It rained all day the next day, so Don and Alan decided not to go over Knapsack Col. Everybody spent the day in camp, in the tents, and finding the best route around Peak Lake. James and Chris drove Jon crazy by reading stuff off of food wrappers. Jon, James, and Chris also made wax characters from Jon's cheese wax. The flying schoolbus was a hit, which showed the level of boredom.

The rain let up during the night, and the group headed for Winifred Peak. Unfortunately, they had to forget about Gannett, since they lost a day at Peak Lake. The snowfield leading to the pass between Winifred and American Legion was fun, and relatively easy. From the pass, the guys headed east to the summit. There was a lot of loose rock, but they kept spaced enough so it was not a problem.

After a descent from the summit, they dropped into Summer Ice Lake. It earned its name, because it was covered by an iceberg, and the water pumped from it was very cold. Just as everybody was finishing dinner, it began to get windy and snowy. Everybody holed up in the tents and by morning, it cleared up. The group then descended into Titcomb Basin, and hiked all the way to Little Seneca Lake, for the night. There is no trail leading out of Summer Ice Lake, but it is a beautiful basin above Titcomb Basin, and below American Legion.

James and Duane did a hike in the early morning in October to experience the changing colors of trees in the Lake Blanche Fork.