Yosemite, May 2010, A day on the East Buttress of Middle Cathedral.

The East Buttress of Middle Cathedral, grade IV, 5.9, A0, one of the Fifty Classic Climbs in North America. The Mountain Guide















At the base of the route in the morning light, Sloan Larsen and Daniel Kennedy prepping for the route above, 10 pitches of the best moderate terrain in the Valley.



















Sloan Larsen on pitch 6, a wonderful 60 meter rope stretcher of everything good, fingers, hands, fists, laybacking, and some good stemming. It doesn't get much better that this.



















Sloan nearing the belay ledge at the end of pitch 6, with El Cap meadow and the Merced River far below.



















Daniel pacing himself on the long 6th pitch as he cleans the gear. We were quite fortunate to have only one other party on the route that day, a very uncommon event given the well deserved popularity of the route.
















Sloan nearing the top, it turned out to be a longer day than normal as the descent gully was choked with snow. We had rappels through waterfalls, a number of rappels off snow bollards, a very alpine finish to a great day in Yosemite Valley.

Spring Skiing in the Sierra, Carson Peak, 10,909, Pete's Dream

April 30, 2010, Carson Peak. It has been a wonderful winter and a continuing cool spring. The
snow has remained great. Given the big winter and subsequent avalanches Pete's Dream was ski-able
from the summit to the Double Eagle Resort following the fall line. It's the first time I've seen it possible.















On the summit, 7pm, looking east towards the June Mt. Ski Area. It was a beautiful
sunset with good cloud color and great snow.


















The "Range of Light" in winter glory. Looking north to Mount Wood















Winter Snow on April 30th? Yes indeed. My skin track up the main bowl on Carson Peak, with the
June Lake Loop in the background. Mono Lake in the distance.

















Nearing the top of Carson Peak I got a nice view of the Minarets, Mount Ritter
and Banner Peak. That's allot of snow for this time of year !

Tioga Pass to June Lake Ski Tour

Ken Corathers skinning up to the Kuna Crest, Tioga Pass in the
background. We had a wonderful 3-day trip, with great snow, weather,
and the most beautiful mountain scenery.


Looking through the pass towards Banner Peak and Mount Lyell



Doug taking off the skins for the downhill run



Ken on Donahue Pass, morning of the 3rd day, heading home



Almost home, great skiing down to June Lake with Banner Peak in
the background.

Winter Ascent, East Face, Mt. Whitney

Woody White approaching Mount Whitney in the morning light


The Washboard in winter conditions


High up the Giant Staircase


Woody on a variant pitch at the top of the
Giant Staircase

Bridelvail Falls, CO, WI 5+, Jan. 2010 with Constantine Severis

A Jeff Lowe classic, Bridelvail Falls is one of America's best known
and coolest ice climbs. Three Pitches of interesting and hard climbing.





















The climb follow the right hand ice flow, the left is off limits with power cable and sewage lines under the ice, eeww !

















Constantine Severis on the 1st pitch.



We had great ice early season ice on Bridelvail.


Constantine in great form !















Con after the battle !

Trans-Sierra Ski Tour, March 2010

Bill Becher, writer for the New York Times, and Larry Baugher enjoy winter conditions across Tioga Lake


















Winter Conditions ? Glad we were reminded ! As if the single digit temps at night didn't.















Bill and Larry ski past Pywiack Dome, Tuolumne Meadows

















Skinning up the south side of Mount Watkins prior to a great descent

Lee Vining, THE BARD IS BACK ! March 2010

March Stepovich on Hobnail Boots
















Hobnail Boots, Pitch 3














Hobnail Boots, crux pitch, a very cool runnel


Mark Stepovich