Perhaps it is time for a California culture lesson for those who are new to the region or, dare I say, have made the pilgrimage to the center of the universe. Much of this lesson also applies to those who think everything should be handed to them via an internet forum.
This is in Alaska, and there is AWESOME mixed climbing to riders left. Wouldn't have known, but I took my snowboard up there and learned something. Brady photo
In California, we are a very proactive, exploratory type of people (for the most part, yes I am generalizing a bit so forgive me when I do). We ask questions and seek answers. Thus we have many many many excellent institutes of higher education and research (e.g. Caltech, Yosemite Valley, UCSF, Mavericks, Scripps, Squaw Valley, etc). We realize that before the 30 or so million of us a colossal amount of world class fun exists in the natural landscape in virtually every medium that could be desired. We tend to be humble and appreciate the burliness of those historical figures who paved the way back in the day as they pushed the envelope of physical and psychological possibilities.
Good mixed potential here. I went down, but there is a possibility to go up. Here, and in the next 10^3 drainages north, and south
Given the glorious provisions of land, sun, and opportunity, we don't really care about being the first or 100th to do something, we care about doing it FOR OURSELF. As a result, many times an accomplishment has been realized by a person and then they have just floated back into the mist of California, off to the next idea that hopes to once again "redline the fun meter" (to quote the late great Alan Bard). Because we don't expect to be the first with such an idea, often the feat is only known by the one doing it and the great silent observers made up of granite, sand, redwood, pine, whatever, and suffice to say, little history about many feats is kept. The basic premise for such is this, "I can't be that cool or clever to think that this is a good idea, someone else must have come up here 20 years ago to do the same thing, and someone else will probably come back soon again, and fun will be had by all, totally independent of the fact that it may or may not have happened before." In short, little is written or spoken of, because there are and have been a lot of cool people in California and since" we stand on the shoulders of giants" (Newton), it is best to remain humble and not claim anything. And as such, away goes the possibility that others will know, they are left to find out for themselves.
So what does this have to do with difficulty in finding information about mixed routes?
Well, personally, I gained a lot of inspiration reading about the fact that lots of crazy stuff exist, and built a foundation of knowledge by spending hours pouring over maps, taking long ski tours up random valleys, thinking, reading books, and visualizing conditions necessary for whatever activity to be maximized. Sure, trolling about on forums and googling brought up marginal information, but if nothing else, the dearth of information only added to mystery and the pure desire to go out and get it myself!
Like, duh, its out there. Go get it! Rowell route end of winter, very nice! awesome descent next door...
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious" (Einstein). All true art (the turns pasted on a hanging snowfield, the magical moves over frozen water through weaknesses) and science (what physical conditions allow us to enter these environs and accomplish our goals?) are the result of pursuit of the mysterious.
I like art class!!!!! Midterm in California, near a VERY famous group of peaks. Wheres that map...
How does it make me 11 years old to tell you there is great stuff out there and that you should go try out and enjoy finding it, to be adventurous for a change? I think the roles are flipped...maturity can only be gained by experience. Don't think Lewis and Clark had a map...or von Humboldt...or Marco Polo...the list goes on
Hey look mixed climbing! You can see the road from here!
How is there any adventure or mystery in giving someone the exact lat/lon (perhaps you prefer UTM?) of every climb out there? Are you so focused on your achievements that you throw the whole process of the search out the window? Isn't it much more fun to wander about, and go HOLY CRAP! LOOK AT THAT! around every bend in the valley and with each passing buttress or cirque. Don't let your path be bounded by what others have done. Find something, get stoked on it, and give it a whirl! It is from this process that we learn the most, and isn't playing about on Earth's beautiful surface done with the utmost goal of learning? Jah forbid it is to paste pictures on Facebook or just to tell someone else about how cool you are (trust me, they probably don't care as long as you are having fun, and it is quite possible that they have pushed the limits in whatever endeavor they choose to enjoy).
In France, but still mixin it up? Jean-Marc Boivin was first to ski this line. In France their records are a little better
So. Here's what you do. Realize that there is a lot out there. Be excited to go explore it. Oh, you only have so much time? Be thankful that you are able to do ANYTHING you want, that you have the FREEDOM to even make choices. Take advantage of every possible second to learn about our wonderful Earth and to enjoy the activities that can be performed.
Mixed skiing in the shadow of the Sierra Aiguilles
Love the mystery.
Edit to add photos