This is less about words, more about pictures. I went up to Baxter State Park for the first time in winter to check out the ice lines in the South Basin with a few friends. That place is like Huntington Ravine on steroids. Enough said.
Jeff and I climbed a nice route on the right side of the Basin on a perfect weather day. Luckily for me, Arm had spotted us as he was hiking the Knife Edge from Pamola to Hamlin.
The route we took.
This is a little picture trip report from both perspectives, through my eyes and from far off. When I'm climbing, I'm focused on whatever small detail about the ice I can see and interpret in order to get up safely.. like, "hey, there's a small divot here that I can get my crampon spike in", or "that stick sounded a little hollow, the ice seems more solid here.".. but then, once at the anchor I take a look around and soak in the wide alpine space I find myself in.. the South Basin is pretty massive and I feel small and insignificant, yet strong and confident when I know my physical and mental well-being got me to that place and I'm able to reach the top. I think it's cool to do something where focusing and concentrating on the smallest details brings you to places so expansive and vast. There's so much beauty in both aspects.
Ok, enough words.
Good stuff. I'll be back here to tackle some lines on the left side of Basin, for sure. If anyone wants to see the full set of pics.. go HERE. Thanks for checking this out!
Jeff and I climbed a nice route on the right side of the Basin on a perfect weather day. Luckily for me, Arm had spotted us as he was hiking the Knife Edge from Pamola to Hamlin.
The route we took.
This is a little picture trip report from both perspectives, through my eyes and from far off. When I'm climbing, I'm focused on whatever small detail about the ice I can see and interpret in order to get up safely.. like, "hey, there's a small divot here that I can get my crampon spike in", or "that stick sounded a little hollow, the ice seems more solid here.".. but then, once at the anchor I take a look around and soak in the wide alpine space I find myself in.. the South Basin is pretty massive and I feel small and insignificant, yet strong and confident when I know my physical and mental well-being got me to that place and I'm able to reach the top. I think it's cool to do something where focusing and concentrating on the smallest details brings you to places so expansive and vast. There's so much beauty in both aspects.
Ok, enough words.
Good stuff. I'll be back here to tackle some lines on the left side of Basin, for sure. If anyone wants to see the full set of pics.. go HERE. Thanks for checking this out!
