mcg11 wrote:... Still trying to digest all the options and read through the route descriptions. Any thoughts on what conditions might be like on Grunge Couloir on North Timpanogos in early December?
Thank you!
M
I'm still wishin I was u goin to Peru. Seems like you have a good amount of time to do stuff to prepare. Thats sweet. My thoughts on the Grunge in Dec. are that that might be pressing the limit of good conditions. but you never know until you go, eh? Still, I'd suggest others before that line. avalanches come to the forefront of my mind, just cuz that is a perfect avi slope. What's your avi knowledge? I'd add there are tons more accessible routes on Timp at that time of year that would have similar conditions, and, you wouldn't have to shlog as far to figure them out. I hesitate, however, to be definitive with any suggestion, especially with "mountain time" as possibly the most important aspect of training (even if you turn around without a summit bid...).
I'd say start with the south ridge of Superior, and go from there. That's quick access, quick descent, largely safe, and has steep snow and easy rock. You'd get your 50 degree slopes on that forsure, and can get your mountain legs under you for the rest of winter. I do this climb frequently as a yearround workout, and the knife edge is perfect 'exposure' training.
Watch this vid about Kelly Cordes training and you'll see that the best training doesn't necessarily involve the exact type of line you want to do in the Andes. He talks about long days in the mountains, endurances days, and technical days, and also says "what you think you can do, is probably about half of what you can really do." :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g7DnGyYGnw