by SierraSeeker » Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:30 pm
My first post, and relevant to a recent experience...
Was the beneficiary of a lucky trail meetup and subsequent climbing partnership (for a day) on Mount Abbott at the end of June.
Had planned to solo the NE Couloir route and shared some trail beta with a solo climber during an acclimatization hike, she had planned on tackling Mt. Starr the next day.
Long story short, we teamed up for Mount Abbott, everything clicked, we had a blast on a great day, in a great location and will always remember how a chance meeting can turn into a great adventure.
Part of our initial discussion for this climb included the, "we must respect each other's level of comfort and safety and if something doesn't feel right, we need to talk about it, ego-free."
When we hit the top of the ridge late that afternoon and got blasted by the wind (50+ mph) on the knife-edge, that earlier conversation made turning back a whole lot easier.
As a result of our turning back, the glissade down the couloir was PERFECTLY timed; in a couple of more hours, it might have been quite icy.
Pics and trip report to follow.
Full disclaimer: we both related to each other later, how, when we first met, there was an instant of "I feel like I've known this person for years" and our conversation of teaming up was a result of this mutual feeling. If my gut had said no, I wouldn't have even mentioned my plans.
Summary: if your instincts say no, it's probably wise to listen. The opposite can also be true, so go with an open mind.
MK