Hi...
So, having done a fair amount of research on various pages, and having read a great deal of conflicting information, I'm unclear about some details about the North Ridge of Mt. Conness and would be grateful to anyone who can answer the following:
Quickly, before going into the questions, I'll give you context of who is going: myself, been climbing my whole life, many technical and non-technical ascents in an Alpine environment, but rarely harder than 5.8. I am recovering from a shattered leg from a bike accident 10 mo ago, and this will be my first climb since the accident. I am going with my father, who taught me to climb, but will have just turned 69 yrs old. Still a badass, but definitely aging. So, we will be a slower moving, cautious party.
It is rated 5.6, but that is just because the rappel?
The upper portion of the climb (after the rappel) is 4th or 5th class? Is this dependent on how one chooses to get to the summit?
It is one or two rappels?
Some places suggested you can even (safely?) downclimb the rappel without a rope. True?
In one video I saw, the rappel looked very short. Do I need to bring a full 60m rope, or can I bring a shorter (therefore lighter) 45m rope?
The 'downclimb' is a walk off, no?
In some vids, people are carrying ice axes. Is that just for early season/high snowfall years? Is it safe to assume that in the beginning of Aug. of this year, I will not need an ice axe?
Thanks so much for any and all help in this matter. I'm really looking forward to getting out onto a mountain again. It has been too long!