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Date: | Thu, 27 May 2004 11:23:21 -0400 |
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Mount Wachusett MA, 25 May 2004:
It was weeks in the planning & preparation stage, but the weather wasn't
in our favor.. Finally a break- but it wasn't predicted to last! What
to do- abandon carefully laid plans for the expedition, or go fast &
light, get in & out while we had our chance???
The latter of course!
Quickly assembling the lightest gear in the quiver we made our way to
base camp post haste.
http://www.narsil.org/Dana/WaWa/WaWa-Images/1.jpg
(The Lightest Skis in the Quiver: XA Blades and Luv BigFoot)
The warning signs were ominous, but we were committed (as well as
perhaps Committable? I'll ask Jan... or maybe I shouldn't... :-) ), we
pressed on!
http://jshefftz.photosite.com/~photos/tn/880_1024.ts1085553114000.jpg
(Danger signs abound- hey shouldn't that read, "Jonathan & Dana, IF YOU
CHOOSE TO SKI..."???)
Ascending rapidly (off unbelay!) up the most direct route ignoring the
apparent hazard, around the bend our quarry came into view, the majestic
Wachusett Glacier!
http://jshefftz.photosite.com/~photos/tn/878_1024.ts1085553114000.jpg
(On approach. is that a Yeti?)
With pounding hearts and bated breath we approached the toe of the
glacier with caution- it had been warm recently the snow bridges had
collapsed- musn't get nailed by calving ice, now that success was so
near at hand!
http://jshefftz.photosite.com/~photos/tn/879_1024.ts1085586681735.jpg
(At the crevasse.)
Scaling the glacier went smoothly and quickly despite the treacherous
dirty suncupped surface, but looking down from the bergschrund was
intimidating, given the rock exposure on the E side and the steeply
inclined western aspect (not to mention the sudden drop at the
crevasse!!)
http://www.narsil.org/Dana/WaWa/WaWa-Images/2.jpg
(View from the top- must be S4 or S5 (or at least as bad as anything
_you've_ ever skied))
But the first descent went well, and our anxieties soon evaporated. By
the 70th lap it was skiing like a groomer!
. Dana Skiing
http://www.narsil.org/Dana/WaWa/WaWa-movies/Dana_Skiing.mov
. JShefftz Skiing
http://www.narsil.org/Dana/WaWa/WaWa-movies/JShefftz_Skiing.mov
. Steeps Training
http://www.narsil.org/Dana/WaWa/WaWa-movies/Steeps_training.mov
An hour later the faint murmur distant thunder above the whispering of
the leaves signaled the closing of our window of opportunity- it was
time to make a quick exit in failing light. There will be another day.
dana
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