Pitch two of Hitchcock Gully.

There is a wide snow ledge between Hitchcock's first and second pitches. We kicked out a platform and stacked the rope at this location. Brian offered to untie and go scout the way to The Cleft. He took off past the ice slabs to our right and I... basically sat there in the sun. In a few minutes Brian came back and reported that The Cleft was somewhere or other around the bend, but that getting to it would be a grovel. We both turned around and looked at Hitchcock's second pitch. There it was, sure enough. Right there.

As much as we wanted to do a route we hadn't seen before (as opposed to having seen and/or climbed it three or four times, depending), neither one of us was overly enthused about the hunt and peck that would be necessary to locate The Cleft. Brian had not had the chance to lead much of any good ice on the trip, and Hitchcock's second pitch, which is a blast, would give him that opportunity. We agreed. We'd finish Hitchcock. I slogged on up and built a comfy belay.¹³

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¹³Mike selflessly offered the pitch to me. I was yet again unsure of motive but not so guarded as to refuse his offer.
- Brian Connors, Earl of Footnote