Climbing season is back! and I’m helping out with the BoeAlps Basic Climbing Course again this spring. I’m helping out on Team 5 again, so let’s get the playa introductions goin! Sean is the team lead this year! Ian has returned as an instructor!! and Clare and Mark are back as first year instructors!!!
But what about the 2k17 edition of students? Well, the jury’s still out… but so far, they’ve been magical, and one thing is for sure! Everyone is out to MAKE ALPINISM GREAT AGAIN!!!
:-p
A few weeks ago, we held our standard ice-ax arrest, and snow anchor outing. We’ve had a good snow season, and spirits were high!
Fast forward to last weekend, and we our first student-planned climb. The objective was Kendall Peak, and the students had to do the navigating.
There were a handful of stops to get us on course.
It was also snowing a bunch
Ian!
Once we broke out of the trees, we were greeted with the slope that we had to ascend. It was super windy, and which resulted in so-so conditions…
…but we went for it anyways! Everyone was enjoying the struggle up the slopes, especially Clare!
Lookit those smiles!
Gettin’ close to the summit block!
v(^_^)V
Jen was all like (◣_◢)
So here we are at the top. The plan was to run a fixed line up to the summit. Ian was on lead.
Ian found the last bit to be too icy to continue, so we called it.
Thus, we setup a fixed line, and had the students travelling up the line, and rappelling down. For this year, we’ve adopted the Mountaineers method of rappelling.
Liz, on rappel!
The lovely view from the rappel station
Kyle! enjoying the Sunday afternoon!
After everyone had a chance to practice, it was time to head back to the cars!