Blown Away by Winter Storms

Last weekend, Jennie, Alex, Adrian and I made an attempt at the East Ridge of Mt. Russell despite the lingering storm system over the High Sierra.

One of the most beautiful and challenging 14,000-foot peaks in the Sierra Nevada, Mt. Russell stands high and proud and is arguably the better ascent than its close and infinitely more famous neighbour, Mt. Whitney.

There was lots of fresh snow down to 10,000 feet, making for a pleasant ramble through forested meadows and granite slabs. We saw some of the first winter ice form in the frozen waterfalls on the flanks of Mt. Thor. Considering the slippery rock, the cold temps, the tedious talus and the deteriorating conditions, we decided to bow down graciously from a climb of Mt. Russell.

I suggested an alternate class 3/4 route up the lower, Mt. Thor, and off we went at it in the uninspiring weather. The snow really took its toll on the rocks and progress was difficult. Nonetheless, we made it partway up the Northwest Face of Mt. Thor. At a seemingly impossible move up a narrow chimney, complicated by the slick snow and lingering ice, we decided to call it quits and re-adjusted our goals for the day to include beer and pizza at the trailhead.

No peaks for the weekend, but still an very enjoyable one at that. I fully soaked up the company of my closest friends in the wilderness. We got to witness the changing of seasons and for a brief moment, the Sierra resembled the soaring and jagged pinnacles of Patagonia or the Karakoram Himalaya - just beautiful!

Thus ends, the climbing season of the High Sierra. This will likely be my last climb here for a few months. Plans are already underway, however, for a nice, long, spicy winter attempt at a few peaks. Gotta love snow!

P.S - Congratulations to my friend Tina, who for the second time, finished climbing all the prominent peaks in the Sierra Nevada, the Desert Southwest, and Southern California (as spelled out in these lists - SPS, DPS, HPS).

Be safe friends!


All photos by Adrian Schneider