Mt. Shasta Take 2 – Avalanche Gulch

Participants: Chris, Dara and Sassan

Distance: Approx. 7 miles each way

Elevation: 7100 ft. up

In mid-June, we were part of George’s Shasta PCS trip.  Before bad weather cut that adventure short, the climbing ranger had told us that conditions for the climb would likely be best about 4 weeks later.  Most couldn’t make the date, but the 3 of us were free and decided to give it a go.  To give ourselves the best chance of success (Sassan and I never having summited before), we planned to hike up to Helen Lake on the first day, and do our climb from there.  In retrospect, a few weeks earlier would probably have been better, as the lower part of the mountain didn’t have much snow, which made progress, particularly the decent, slower than necessary.  Happily we had no issues with the weather this time around.

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In late October, my dad and I went with a PCS group to attempt Virginia Peak, in northeastern Yosemite. Early snow prevented us from reaching the peak, but we enjoyed a fun early winter outing in an area I’d not previously seen.

Summary

Virginia Peak PCS Trip: 24 October-25 October 2009

Day 1: Green Lake trail from the trailhead, then a use trail over Virginia Pass (10,500 ft.) and going cross-country to camp in a basin southeast of Virginia Peak.

Day 2: Detour to Return Lake, then returning by the same route as the day before.

Participants: 5

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Midway through October, I joined a weekend Sierra Club hike for my first climb of Mt. Langley in the southern Sierra.

Summary

Mt. Langley PCS Trip: 10-11 October 2009

Day 0: Driving to near Lone Pine.

Day 1: Cottonwood Lakes Trail from Horseshoe Meadow to Cottonwood Lake #5. 7 miles, 2000 ft.

Day 2: Over Old Army Pass and up Mt. Langley from SE face (class 2), returning via same route to Cottonwood Lakes and trailhead. 12 miles, 2000 ft.

Participants: 3

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The Tour de Monte Rosa – circumambulating Switzerland’s highest peak

4 portions of a 9 leg journey around the Monte Rosa on the Switzerland-Italy border.

Introduction – A brief description of the TMR

Day 1 – Zermatt to Thedul Hut – Via Trockener Steg and the Kleine Matterhorn.

Day 2 – Theodul Hut to St. Jacques – Via the Colle Nord di Lago Bianco.

Day 3 – St. Jacques to Gabiet – Via the Colle di Bettaforca and Gressoney.

Day 4 – Gabiet to Alagna – Via the Col d’Olin and the Passo Foric.

Epilogue – Rain and an early conclusion to our trip.

Photos of our journey.