Shut Down... Again
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Landslide Gully from the Saco River, post-attempt (it looks like it's clearing, but that's just because the snow turned to heavy sleet). On the way down we ran in to a pair of climbers heading up to try Shoestring, the way we'd try to get to it originally but had given up. Better men than us. One of them asked about avy danger. I gave my diagnosis, for what it was worth. I thought it was the right question to ask, at any rate.
While it was sad to again not attain our goal, we did take some postives away from the trip. Though it was on easy ground, Brian and I climbed better than 2500 vertical feet of varied terrain over two days in a little more than three hours total. Not bad, for us. We got along well, again, and we have many plans for the future. It was still better than a day in the office. A lesson learned: the ice fan was within our abilities, but we should have taken the time to rope up well below it and belayed the section. When we got into the mixed section it was too precarious to stop and rack up. It cost us progress up the route and essentially terminated our attempt once we exited the gully. Nevermind the fact that we'd almost certainly have had to turn around further up. What else can I say? Next time... The hills will always be there. Just a note: there was nothing we did on this trip that was more dangerous than the drive on I-93 back to Manchester in the storm. Numerous serious accidents, including one fatality whose aftermath we witnessed in a transient moment as we passed by. Sad stuff. |
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