PERDIDO

 Where have I been lately? Not very many places... unless you count the climbing gym, hospital, new apartment, new job, visiting family over the holidays, getting fat, getting skinny, Milosport, making splitboards in the shed, the Mall (for the first time in almost 5 years...), St. George, and I don't know where else.

In all reality the weather hasn't been too friendly for doing anything outside until recently. I threw together a few photos from a recent outing we took on Timp. Hard to believe that almost exactly one year ago we were taking waist deep turns down Primrose at 3 a.m. This time we were struggling up in a couple feet of terrible snow.

The snow was consistently crappy all the way up past 10,000 feet. It was a fun group to be out with and I am glad we went. At least the day provided some good photos.

 This is surface hoar. The winter version of dew that forms during long periods of cold dry weather.

 Greg borrowed a board from parker...

 Ice

 The McMillan

 Emerald Lake

Same trip through the lens of Jim Knight

Overnight at Emerald Lake

 As I drew near the crest of Primrose Cirque I sent Jim Knight, the guy that I was planning to meet at Emerald Lake, a text to see if he was on the trail.

He replied simply, "At hut, em lake."

I was now glad that I had elected to go up alone, I thought I was getting a head start because he had work so I kept looking back over my shoulder because expecting to see him gaining on me. Jim is close to twice my age and I have a hard time keeping up. The guy is a mountain machine.

I only had a couple hundred vertical to go before I reached the Hidden Lakes Basin but I was starting to drag. During that last little push I was encouraging myself out loud. Every time I go somewhere with a full pack it reminds me why I like dawn patrols, your pack weighs about a quarter as much.

I finally reached Jim and his dog at the "Hut" which is still completely buried. I cooked up some food and we sat and talked. Jim talked mostly while I asked questions. The guy has done it all. Quite a few of the climbing routes I have been doing lately are his, or his sons, creations. The ice axe I was using was even one of his designs. 

The sun hit us early and we took our time letting the sun warm the snow. We made the decision to just head down Primrose instead of going any higher. As soon as we dropped in we knew it was a good idea. The snow was already too soft and sloppy, still fun, but sloppy. 

It was a good little trip, I have been wanting to camp up there all year and now I did. Check. Now next season I know I want to do a multi-day trip up there, there is a lot to ride.

 Dusk, it wasn't dark long. The full moon lit it up like day.

I want a dog like this in the future... She warmed up to me pretty quick and she can run for days.

 

Home sweet home.

This place always makes me feel small.

White to green.