A section of cliff bands in the upper portions of Stairs Gulch, just below the final snow fields leading to the headwall ridge. The location of this photo is somewhat off-route, well to the right (west) of the proper route (labeled 'B') as shown in this photo. Although the route we followed ended up working, the rock is made up of steep and slick downsloping quartzite, much of it loose, making for slow and treacherous progress. The optimal route up the headwall is located well to the east of this photo, generally along a minor gully / bench, roughly parallel to the bottom of the main gulch.
June 11, 2005