Day 3 (Layover Day) - Climb Giraud Peak
Doug, Tina, Jan, Mitch, Jeannie, Anne and I tackle the first class 4 peak of the trip, with a rewarding day’s climb up the northeast ridge of Giraud Peak (12,608’). Margi, Cherie and Al choose the option to attempt Columbine peak, while Ken & Billy enjoy a casual day exploring around Dusy Basin.
30 Photographs
1
A layover day gives a full day for some climbing, so we divide into groups for attempts on Giraud Peak (right side) and Columbine Peak (left side, not in photo).
2
The Columbine Peak group heads up the basin past a wonderfully calm lake...
3
...while the Giraud Peak group immediately gains some altitude up a ridge.
4
Once on the northeast ridge of Giraud, it’s nothing but a jagged boulder pile!
5
Rocks, rocks, and still more rocks! Mitch, Jeannie and Tina make their way up.
6
“Hey, who tilted the mountain!” Jeannie and Anne start a nice traverse.
7
The ridge is full of abrupt drops down these chutes..., don’t look down if you’re afraid of heights!
8
Doug and Tina carried ropes for the occasional belays on the exposed sections.
9
Ah, steep solid rock, my favorite!
10
The summit still taunts us, with lots of exposed ridge yet to get over.
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Hmmmm, a slight roadblock...
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...time to drop down a little ways to a ledge below the ridge.
13
Jan pulls out the directions for her brand new “Reverso” belay/rappel device, which she’s never used! It ends up staying in her pack in favor of a simple ATC.
14
Jeannie makes her descent look easy...
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...while Anne looks on.
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The last climber comes down as a nice silhouette...
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...and finally Doug clears the anchor and uses this boulder to rappel off of.
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Anne watches his antics in amusement...
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...then moves on with the task at hand - there’s more climbing to do!
20
Jan gets a belay across a steep slab that offers an express descent of several hundred feet!
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Everyone else makes the exposed crossing in turn...
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...and soon we’re back to scrambling up the ridge.
23
Several climbers opt for an easier class 2 final summit approach, while Doug, Jan and I finish on the class 3 ridge.
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We’re there! Ah, there’s nothing like being on top!
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The other climbers make their way up...
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...and soon the gang’s all here!
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This panorama gives us a complete view of the Palisades (on the left), along with some of the highest Sierra peaks (including Whitney) off to the south.
28
Back in camp, Anne offers a foot massage to a tired Jeannie.
29
Dinner gets underway...
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... and everyone gathers around to swap their climbing stories for the day.