July 26-7, 2003, Kennedy and Frostbite, Glacier Pk
7/26/03
3413
1
Jeff and I planned a busy weekend. We started from White Chuck TH Saturday morning at 8:37, took our overnight gear to 7,000 feet on Kennedy Peak, and then climbed Frostbite Ridge. Kennedy Glacier looked interesting, and we agreed that would be our Sunday objective. We left the skis at the base of Frostbite Ridge for expediency and summited after seven.
We got back to the skis in time to hit some corn turned crust in alpenglow. The snow off Kennedy Peak was still pretty soft and fun, though.
The next morning we headed up to the Kennedy Glacier. It took a little looking and some skinny snow bridges to get onto it. Up high, we decided to head right and try to get around a bergschrund instead of taking the more direct Beckey line. The Beckey line probably would have been better, since the 'schrund required a sketchy bridge crossing followed by some near vertical ice.
There were patches of blue ice showing through above the more direct line, too, so I decided not to ski it alone, and skied Frostbite Ridge while Jeff downclimbed it.
Kennedy Glacier is spectacular, and I look forward to skiing it when it has better coverage.
There are some photos here:
http://staff.washington.edu/skykilo/Kennedy/Kennedy.html
Here is a video of some sweet steep corn skiing on Frostbite Ridge:
http://staff.washington.edu/jam03/Glacier%20Peak%207-26,27-03/MVI_0461.avi
We got back to the skis in time to hit some corn turned crust in alpenglow. The snow off Kennedy Peak was still pretty soft and fun, though.
The next morning we headed up to the Kennedy Glacier. It took a little looking and some skinny snow bridges to get onto it. Up high, we decided to head right and try to get around a bergschrund instead of taking the more direct Beckey line. The Beckey line probably would have been better, since the 'schrund required a sketchy bridge crossing followed by some near vertical ice.
There were patches of blue ice showing through above the more direct line, too, so I decided not to ski it alone, and skied Frostbite Ridge while Jeff downclimbed it.
Kennedy Glacier is spectacular, and I look forward to skiing it when it has better coverage.
There are some photos here:
http://staff.washington.edu/skykilo/Kennedy/Kennedy.html
Here is a video of some sweet steep corn skiing on Frostbite Ridge:
http://staff.washington.edu/jam03/Glacier%20Peak%207-26,27-03/MVI_0461.avi
We weren't skiing, but the folks that brought their skiis to the Sitkum on Sunday July 27 were healthily rewarded.
Suncups and runnels were relatively minor.
Thanks for the report and photos skykilo.
Suncups and runnels were relatively minor.
Thanks for the report and photos skykilo.
Reply to this TR
Please login first: