Waiting for the Plane

Two tired climbers soaking up the only warmth we'd seen in 20 days in the Cirque of the Unclimbables; unfornately, it was the last day and we are waiting for the floatplane. The ugly approach to the Cirque can be clearly seen. One hikes up the drainage until you reach the huge white talus slope at the base of Mount Harrison-Smith. This slope is white because the the rock just fell a few years prior to this photo (you can see clearly see the scar from where the rock came from). The approach takes you up this loose talus and into the Cirque. Just to give you a sense of scale - the rock face that you can see on Harrison Smith is 5000 feet high. (photo: A.Jones)