U
Unregistered
Guest
Trail Conditions: Hard-pack snow, snowbridges solid, some underlying ice, few drifts up high. There was a bit of new snow (less than an inch) covering up the ice.
Special Equipment: MSR Snowshoes preferably; others worked marginally. Those without MSR snowshoes switched to crampons for the descent. Full winter gear including balaclava, face mask and goggles.
Comments: Talk about extreme conditions! This was as far as we'd like to experience but we were prepared for them. Near the hut temperature was about 2 degrees with winds at about 55 mph; visibility was about 50 feet. We figure it was 25 below zero with windchill. It was essential not to have any exposed skin. We had trouble finding the hut due to poor visiblity and route finding was a challenge. It was only when we were almost on top of the hut did we find it. The door to the dungeon had about 1-2 feet of ice build up on the opening so it was impossible to open. There are no steps on the steep ascent after Gem Pool so you are basically walking right up an ice chute. Most of us glissaded down Ammo using our ice axes as a brake.
Special Equipment: MSR Snowshoes preferably; others worked marginally. Those without MSR snowshoes switched to crampons for the descent. Full winter gear including balaclava, face mask and goggles.
Comments: Talk about extreme conditions! This was as far as we'd like to experience but we were prepared for them. Near the hut temperature was about 2 degrees with winds at about 55 mph; visibility was about 50 feet. We figure it was 25 below zero with windchill. It was essential not to have any exposed skin. We had trouble finding the hut due to poor visiblity and route finding was a challenge. It was only when we were almost on top of the hut did we find it. The door to the dungeon had about 1-2 feet of ice build up on the opening so it was impossible to open. There are no steps on the steep ascent after Gem Pool so you are basically walking right up an ice chute. Most of us glissaded down Ammo using our ice axes as a brake.
