Bear Creek Spire

by **tradmonkey** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:55 pm

rhyang wrote:
tradmonkey wrote:We ran up on 6-27-09...

Got a late start, but the friendly folks ahead of us on the 4th pitch let us pass on through as they took a break and we got back to Bishop in time for a Whiskey Creek Works Burger.

The snow is still there all the way from Gem Lakes, but it's getting thin and you'll posthole into the talus as it softens up. A few small patches of snow on the route itself, but nothing you can't easily avoid. An ice axe is a good idea for the descent if you're coming down late in the day. Mosquitoes are still minimal, but hatching fast! Bring your bug juice.

Here are the pix!
http://picasaweb.google.com/tradmonkey/ ... pireJune09

Enjoy.
Adam

Looks great ! From what I've read, the 5.8 pitch (offwidth / stemming big flakes) isn't as harsh as it first appears. What did you all think ?

This one was actually my first multi-pitch route ever about 5 years ago. We ended up soloing the upper half of the route on that trip. The route is very easy and not very sustained considering how impressive the Arete looks from below. The "5.8" pitch has one awkward move around a flake that's well protected and more liebacking/stemming than anything. There's no OW climbing involved anywhere on the route.

by **rhyang** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 7:29 pm

It's that time of year again

How is the approach to BCS looking, specifically the North Arete ?

by **fluxlib** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 7:44 pm

Here's a pic of my kids fishing Long lake about 2 weeks ago. Pretty sure that's Bear Creek Spire in the upper left. We did not go higher up, but I would bet the upper reaches of the basin are all snow for the most part and the gems and treasures were frozen. Hope this helps, been 2 weeks of warm weather since.

[/img]

by **Vertigo soul** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 4:15 am

Great photos Kathy! I don't know you, but your photos made my day. Brought back some great memories and some were just down right beautiful! Thanks for posting!

by **Vertigo soul** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:58 pm

Kathy - how long did it take you guys car-to-car?

by **kevin trieu** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:16 pm

I did Mt. Dade this past weekend. Still good amount of snow up there. Probably don't need crampons as the snow is soft, even in the morning hours.

by **goldenhopper** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:41 pm

Deleted User wrote:I was up in that area (Rock Creek) last weekend. Not sure if this is BCS or Dade?

Photo: 6/21

Sorry, unrelated technical question: How does this image still exist if my old profile is gone?

by **KathyW** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 1:14 am

Vertigo soul wrote:Great photos Kathy! I don't know you, but your photos made my day. Brought back some great memories and some were just down right beautiful! Thanks for posting!

If you're talking about my June 09 Dade climb, it was about 11 hours round trip for me. Keep in mind that I'm on the slow side. I had pretty good snow conditions - hard enough to crampon up in the morning and just soft enough by the time I came down.

The Hourglass Couloir is a wonderful snow climb, but it would be hell without snow; so go while there's still snow or wait until next year.

by **Vertigo soul** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 6:55 pm

KathyW wrote:
Vertigo soul wrote:Great photos Kathy! I don't know you, but your photos made my day. Brought back some great memories and some were just down right beautiful! Thanks for posting!

If you're talking about my June 09 Dade climb, it was about 11 hours round trip for me. Keep in mind that I'm on the slow side. I had pretty good snow conditions - hard enough to crampon up in the morning and just soft enough by the time I came down.

The Hourglass Couloir is a wonderful snow climb, but it would be hell without snow; so go while there's still snow or wait until next year.

Sorry for the confusion, but Yes I was asking about your Dade climb. Thanks for the info and pics....I think i'll give this one a go tomorrow and see how long it takes me.

by **hol571** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 7:11 pm

This weekend from Dade Lake, snow is getting pretty soft in the afternoon

by **Blair** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 7:48 pm

Does anyone have a topo of the North Arete?

by **rhyang** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 8:21 pm

hol571 wrote:

This weekend from Dade Lake, snow is getting pretty soft in the afternoon

Very nice, thanks

by **WML** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:58 am

Updated as of 7/26/10

Only slight patches of snow, very few mandatory, snow is soft in the mornings, in some cases post-holing occurs, in others you can kick steps and it remains firm.

Hope this helps.

by **fossana** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 7:31 am

We were there on Sat (24 Jul), up the N Arete then quickly down the NE Arete when the t-storms arrived. Surprisingly minimal postholing on the approach or descent. View back down the valley from BCS:

by **rhyang** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:59 pm

Beautiful, thanks for the beta all

Bear Creek Spire

Nice pics....

BTW...

Re: Nice pics....

Re: Nice pics....

Who is online