Fall Colors in Convict Cyn and Mt Baldwi n dayclimb

“Photos: http://community.webshots.com/album/467007794rVJWWV

Calhiker and I car-pooled to Mammoth late Friday and got a few hours of sleep before meeting Bishophiker at Convict Lake (7,600') Saturday morning. The hike started out relatively easy, but as usual I dropped behind a lot. Not sure what I'm thinking when I try to keep up with guys who like to participate in two day bike rides with 29K el gain, "The Everest Challenge"!

After three miles, we passed the washed out bridge, took a break at Mildred Lake, made our way past the meadow, then followed a use trail to a calcite mine. After passing Bright Dot Lake, we started up the rock slabs. Once we got past the slabs I realized how sleepy I was. I struggled on the last section up a sandy and steep use trail to the summit of Mt Baldwin (12,615').

As we started down from the summit 20 minutes later, little did we know what the next two hours would bring. Bishophiker had begun his descent as I summited since he had been on the summit for awhile and was cold. After hiking down the steep scree trail for 10 minutes, we came to the top of several chutes. The wind was so bad at this point, that one of the gusts forced us to sit on the ground until it stopped.

I saw a cairn just to the north of us, but Calhiker saw some snow at the top of that chute and thought he remembered us coming up slightly to the south. We began descending the steep chute. Bishophiker called to us on the radio from down below, saying we were two chutes over from where we needed to be and below us was a snow filled couloir. Basically, we needed to traverse across to the next chutes or hike back up in the steep scree. I was tired and a traverse looked possible, so we opted for the latter. Calhiker made it across the steep slabs and then climbed up to where we needed to be.

This is where I started having a little trouble. Calhiker is a lot taller than me, and has a longer reach. I couldn't extend to some of the hand and foot-holds that he used. Instead of going back, I tried to climb up the steep and sometimes crumbly rock and was confronted with a near vertical wall. It looked like it had a ramp I could climb up, but I just couldn't get to it. Now I was getting worried, and Calhiker, standing 20 feet above me, tried to guide me to an easier route. After a few minutes, I realized I was stuck - I couldn't go up anymore and the idea of down-climbing on the steep slabs was freaking me out a bit. Feeling uncomfortable, wind whipping me around and legs getting shaky, I told Calhiker I was scared. I had a bad taste in my mouth, and my throat and mouth were so dry I was having a hard time swallowing. I was starting to panic.

He had never seen me like this before, so he quickly climbed down to where I was in an attempt to help me get to a safer spot. As this was starting to unfold, Bishophiker was below looking up at two dark "spots" on the slabs, trying to alert us to the fact that we needed to get moving or we'd be in trouble. I tried to go the way Calhiker had just climbed down, but once again the reach was a little too far for me. "I can't" was coming out of my mouth a lot.

Running out of places to go we saw a good sized crack leading up to a possible traverse across to the other chute. There were good hand-holds, but Calhiker had to give me a boost up the first tall step. I made it to the top of the crack, but what looked doable from down below, suddenly didn't look safe and had too much exposure. Calhiker had climbed up the crack also and was able to traverse to his right, but I couldn't reach the solid hand-holds. Everything I tried to hold onto crumbled away. We knocked down enough loose rock to see that if one of us fell, we probably wouldn't survive it.

About now Bishophiker called again warning us of the danger we'd be in if we got stuck out here in the dark. Calhiker reiterated calmly that we were doing everything we could to get off the rock, and if we had to bivy, we were both prepared with cold weather gear. With another possible route failing, we decided the only option for me was to climb back down the crack. My feet were slipping and cramping on the gravel that covered the tiny ledge I was standing on, and the handholds were weak. Calhiker traversed back down and around to the bottom of the crack, and standing 15 feet below me, guided me down, telling me exactly where to put my feet and making sure I was always holding onto a solid rock. I still had to descend the way Calhiker had come over, which wasn't exactly easy. He went first and had me use the palms of my hands to wedge, scoot and support myself against the rock since the footing was slim. After a few tense minutes I was finally back to where I had started nearly two hours earlier.

We then did what we should've done in the beginning, and hiked back up to re-enter the next chute over. We were still faced with a long hike out in the dark, but at least we were back on solid terrain and making progress in the right direction - down! It was at this point that Calhiker turned back and said to me, "Cori, we're OK now!"

Now my adrenaline was up, and if it hadn't been dark out, I think I would've jogged back to the trailhead.

I was fortunate that Calhiker was there to help me out of a sticky situation. I was tired and just about ready to give up, when he would talk to me and come up with something else to try. Bishophiker was about to give the radio back to Calhiker on the summit, but Calhiker told him to hold onto it. I think we would have bivouaced if Bishophiker wasn't there to guide us to the right chute. As Calhiker said back down at the trailhead, "That was a fun little hike, eh?"”

“Yikes!!”

“Ditto on the Yikes!
As usual, awesome report and photos.”

“Whew doggy! Hiking/climbing as much as you do, you're bound to get in those scary situations now and then. I remember finding myself stuck out on a tiny ledge once high up a mountain that dead-ended into a granite wall. There was some gravel on the ledge that made the footing uneasy and the vertical exposure below me was mind-boggling. The toes of my boots were almost hanging off the edge and the whole angle of the mountain seemed to be pushing me off. I couldn't easily retreat the way I came and I got the feeling you did... the onset of a feeling of panic. I didn't panic, but I felt it coming on. I ended up tragically falling to my death and they still haven't recovered my body. Kidding, I'm still here. But I slowly and deliberately made my way back to a safer place and I've never stopped eating ice-cream and pizza since. Life is good®. I'm thankful you pulled it off without serious incident, Snow Nymph!”

“Great trip report Snow Nymph. Reading it was almost as exciting as actually experiencing it! Glad you stayed calm and didn't freeze up like a lot of people might've done. It sure was a fun peak to to bag and what an awesome sunset picture you got!”

“Wow, I couldn't see the photos from work but I can at home. That's some steep stuff and serious exposure! I've backpacked up the Convict drainage to Dorothy Lake and beyond, but we didn't climb any peaks. The geological coloring up there is really odd. Great pics and way to whip out the camera and take shots even under stress!”

“Wow, I'm glad you guys are safe. Nothing wrong with a little adventure now and then, as long as you can enjoy talking about it over a cold beer later on :) Great Pics too, as always.”

“SN I have to say reading about what happen got my heart rate up!! What a day that must have been for you all. You and Calhiker are very brave & sounds like you did good to get yourselves out of that situation. How sweet what he said to you...were okay now :)
Glad everything worked out and you all are safe.
Beautiful pictures, the rock in that area is for sure different, but very beautiful I think!
Thanks for sharing such an amazing story”

“What a cliff hanger, glad there was a happy ending. Maybe see you on the mountain the week after opening day.”

“After a long day of hiking, and a tense few hours in the wrong chute, we decided to check out some fall color and have a more relaxing return to civilization the following day.

Snow Nymph's pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/album/470296025fpLuts”

“Calhiker thanks for posting the link to SN pictures! Nice you two had a relaxing day after the adventure day! SN Beautiful pictures of the fall colors, Cool reflection shot, I have never heard of Red Rocks..How beautiful it is there, great rock shape formations and colors. Where is this at? I have not been south of Lone Pine. I LOVE the bug, it is very cute!...cool vintage stuff on the roof, that cute suitcase..and that surfboard..looks like it was painted in tie dye colors :)
Calhiker I love your new car!! it's beautiful, how nice that must be for you”

“Wow! What an adventure you guys. Glad it turned out and you were able to get the great pictures up on webshots. Missed you up on the Virginia Lakes area hike Snow Nymph.”

“Whew Cori!!!!! Glad you guys are okay, what an adventure! Great shots.”

“Ditto to yikes and whew! And double ditto to glad you guys are okay!

I loved the photos. You have an incredible eye, and I so enjoy seeing the world from on top of the peaks you summit.”

“Except for the going-down-the wrong-chute-part, it was an awesome hike. One I wouldn't mind doing again. Very unique when compared to most Sierra peaks.

MiT - Now I have 4WD and can go off-road wihout fear of getting stuck, and can sleep inside instead of outside in the bed of my old truck.

Almost forgot to post my brother's pics:
http://community.webshots.com/album/467026541RsKUag

and my own pics:
http://community.webshots.com/album/470305532KHzGUG

We had three perspectives on this hike which is sort of interesting.”

“Beautiful country... Great photos!”

“Calhiker, it does seem like an awesome hike. It's now on my 'someday in the future' list -- not the summit, but the rest of it.

All the photos are great. Congratulations on the new car.”

“Thanks, everyone.

Calhiker, thanks for getting the link up. I ran out of time Friday. I borrowed a few of yours, but webshots scrambled the photos so they're not in order now.

jvz & wbp, Sorry I bailed. I was planning to do Dunderberg, but kept thinking "Class 3" and "solo" was NOT good at this time. I wasn't sure what I was doing for the weekend, but had books and maps with me so I could decide last minute. I took it "easy" this weekend, and also ran into a friend at the coffee shop to hike with on Sunday. I'll post a separate thread on that.

MiT, I knew you would love the rock. That's the place I was telling you about.

Lunch is almost over, so I better post the pics.”

“SN...I remember you telling me about that rock very well :) I think the different rock makes it such a unique area of the Sierra's compared to other areas & that the area has some of the oldest rock in the Sierra's. I love bright dot lake! What a pretty little lake in a beautiful setting!
Calhiker your pictures and your brothers pictures are beautiful! Your photo number 11 of bishophiker and the calcite mine..is very unique looking I think.


Thank you all for sharing your pictures..I really have enjoyed looking at such a different area.
Red slate mountain looks very inviting to me for some reason :) Cori have you done that one yet?
Calhiker, yes it will be nice to sleep inside your new car im sure with a shelter over you & the 4WD will be great to have!
Wannabp..I too have put it on my very long Sierra list of to go places :)”

“MiT, maybe that will be our first hike together :)”