Josh below the S Ridge, psyching up for the retreat
Ben, Josh, Dave, and I set out to climb the South Ridge route on Ingalls Peak North, but it was a bit wintery up there, so we headed up the South Peak just in time to catch a refreshing whiteout. We were all acting like such idiots all day that bailing on the intended route did nothing to take away from the fun.
There was verglas on the rock, snow on the slabs, and wind in the face. Good conditions for winter, but we were in a more summery mood. I bouldered around on the little crags below the route and we posed for the cameras.
Our most productive source of humor was the postholing, and snow conditions in general. Dave was the "moat poodle", sent ahead to find by close inspection the small crevasses (moats) between buried rocks and the snow we were trying to walk upon. At 200+ pounds and well over six feet, Dave is the best man for the job. All that Dave looks pretty funny when it falls over into the snow, too.
Pretty much the next day, it got real hot in Washington and I'm sure it's all nice and dry up there now. Good times.
