Barley and Ice: Part 3 of 4

The easiest route up the Maroon Bells was labeled by one guide book as one of the most difficult and technical of the 14ners. Of the main points stressed is the mandatory early start and rock fall potential. So of course we don't start until 9:00 am and we leave our helmets in the car.

We started the night before and, right as we arrived at Crater Lake, all hell breaks loose in a monsoon rain storm. With no time to get rain gear out, we jump underneath a rain tarp and proceed to play a game of three man hearts in the 40 minute downpour.

The idea that the rocks will be wet led us to think that we were going to cancel the climb and sleep in. Of course, unspoken, we all knew that we were going to try and climb anyway. After climbing and reaching Maroon Peak at 1:00 pm we considered retreating, but given the crap we just went through, we WERE going to ring both bells.

Four hours later, after multiple near death hang-the-ass-off-the-edge-of-cliff moves up the hairy ridge, we stood on the summit of the North Maroon Bell.

We had to use the rope 3 or 4 times for climbing or abseiling, and maybe only had one come-to-Jesus meeting with the group. But, this area was by far the prettiest basin I have ever been to in my life. For some strange reason the weather cooperated with us until we were off the second summit.

We didn't get down to the tent until after the sun went down (in another downpour), but when we finally decided to start talking to each other again, I think we agreed that we were never going to do that again. (Although we still have to go back to get Pyramid Peak)

Barley and Ice: Part 1 of 4

The first installment of this 4 part series is mostly a quick introduction of my summer to geosall readers. First off, we finally climbed Mount Rainier!!! The snow conditions were amazing and very little route finding was needed. With out a doubt, June 26th was the longest day of my life. More on Rainier will follow in segment #2. We did try another mountain, Mount Shuskan, but were not successful in climbing that one.

Other mountains that were climbed include: Mt. Shavano, Maroon Peak, North Maroon Peak, East Spanish Peak, West Spanish Peak, and Trinchera Peak (the last 3 were for my job). The Maroon Bells were so awesome; they deserve a prominent spot in the 3rd segment.

For those wondering, I will be in Emporia, KS this semester. Within 7 hours of showing up at Emporia for the first time in 2 months, I had a job, place to live, and a boot on my Blazer courteous of Emporia State. And finally, now I will start my official transformation back into society from rock climbing and backpacking in Colorado.