Alasdair wrote:I dont remember it being an issue at all. It was not technical in any way. We did not use any pickets until above 15,000 ft.
This is way cool! Thanks for this reply. I've had it in my mind that the vulgarities near the bottom were dicey and constantly changeable pending on how the weather and temps were but once past this section, the remainder of the route would basically a long commiting semi-technical ridge run to the easy summit plateau.
Cheese,
Chris,
I contacted AMG already up in Talkeetna about possible guided trips up Foraker via Sultana.
They are not running trips up there this season due to the low interest they had last season plus the low success rate.
Colby Coombs e-mailed me concerning the SE Ridge route the other day b/c I'd basically ruled that route out due to the higher inheirent dangers of that route due to increased serac fall, crevasse, up to 70° ice and the time consuming effort of having to fix your own lines. He informed me that's not really the case. Apparently, there's another 'direct variation' that kinda gets bled together with the SE Ridge Route and basically, one becomes the other, so to speak.
The guides are vying to not run trips up Sultana anymore b/c of the ridge length & exposure
(prolly due to increased risk to the client) and in lieu, start making the SE Ridge the 'regular route' on Foraker (sans the direct start) since it's quicker and shorter.
Personally, I had a blast up there back in May as I think the both of you did to.
I'm interested in Sultana b/c of how it's described in the Supertopo book. It sounds like one hell of a ridge run and one of the best aesthethic lines in the whole of the Alaska Range. I have to admit, I'm intrigued.
Foraker especially, and Logan have been piqueing my interest.
Plus the base of Foraker, as we already know, is only a few hours at most from KIA!
I'll call you guys up soon & talk this over further.