The hourglass where the buried ropes were was short, sweet, and much safer in snow than the garbage above it. Per all these other postings, this is a deceptively longer and tougher day than any of the standard guidebooks suggest.
The hourglass was full of water and got a bit off route above it for some tougher climbing. Followed the correct route down. Much longer and tougher day than I had expected.
Not much snow in the Sangres this year. Ice and hard snow to reach the ridge. The hourglass had ice up/down the center but bare to the left. Pseudo-repelled through the stream on the way down. Would like to ascend the north ridge one day.
jamie and i climbed the hourglass today. it was alot steeper(55 degrees) than expected. perch made for an awesome snow climb on really hard snow....feet still hurt from kicking steps!
climbing two couloirs, hourglass and west ridge entry couloir(from lake como) was tougher than previously thought!