Chapter 2 (2,700 foot camp to the 5,390 foot Summit)
Bryan topping the ridge with the tip of Cross Mountain in the distance.
It took us about 2.5 hours to get up to this point from where the steep ridge began.
This is my favorite photo of Bryan on 5390.
Just snow, clouds and sky!
Me, at the top of the ridge. The peak is still a couple of miles to the left of me.
We dropped our backpacks in this area so that we could make a quicker scramble to the summit.
Bryan, on one of the false summits on the way to the top.
We were on a dash to get to the summit so that we would be back in enough time to set up our next camp in the daylight. From where we topped the ridge, we had to hike laterally across the bottom of this rocky ridge to get to the summit pyramid of 5390.
We finally arrived at the summit ridge and started up. The summit was made up of large granite blocks.
WE MADE IT!!!
Absolutely breath taking!
Lesser peaks of Baranof Island in the background.
Bryan took this photo of the summit with me on the top on his way down so that we could get a shot of what the actual summit looked like.
Bry and Brad on the summit. The sun was intense. We were in such a hurry to get to the top so that we wouldn't get caught in the dark that we forgot to put on sun block.
Needless to say, I got fried!!!
We were happy because our exertions payed off! We couldn't have asked for a more perfect summit experience.
Bryan, resting on the summit block after a strenuous climb! This photo is facing south.
Brad, on top facing North.
Bryan, facing to the North. Chatham strait in the background to the right.
Me, facing South.
Handsome Bryan taking a self-portrait.
Bryan, being creative on the way down the summit ridge.
On the way up the summit ridge, Bryan found a place where melt water was dripping from an icicle. We were dying of thirst and left a bottle to fill while we were at the top. When we arrived back at the bottle, we were so frustrated when we saw that the bottle had fallen over. Still, after filling the bottle up, it was some of the best water we had ever drank.
Doesn't that look refreshing?
Thirsts quenched and daylight burning, we headed back to retrieve our backpacks and head for a lower campsite.
The following photo is of me above the clouds on Lone Peak in Utah when I was 17 or 18 years old. The photo was taken by my friend, Brent Jarvis. I am at the top of Draper Ridge. It was so cool to climb above the dark and dreary Salt Lake Valley into the bright and brilliant alpine realm above a sea of clouds.
To be continued!
Some interesting info about this leg of the climb:
