June 3, 2006
Virginia Peak - Licking the Ice Cream Cone
Joe, Abe
There's still a little vanilla dripping off that 2,000' ice cream cone - Virginia Peak - 6/3/06.
The first time I viewed Virginia Peak from the top of the Green Creek Couloir in 2004 I had three thoughts; 1. That's a striking and steep peak, 2. That peak is way the fugg back there, and 3. [Quote: Homer Simpson] Mmmmmm....Ice Cream. [/Quote]. In short, it looks like a distant steep ice cream cone. It eventually left my thoughts and dreams as I ticked off other sweet Sierra lines over the course of the next year. But then, one year later, on a trip up Dunderberg the creamy peak remerged on the Western horizon, tempting my body, soul and taste buds once again. This time I gave it a good look, and committed to touching that summit the next Spring. Which brings me to this year, 2006. I was given some very valuable information from Jamie, who had made the trek from Virginia Lakes, over Summit Pass to Virginia Peak. I checked Jamie's route on the topo map, scratched my head at the 7+ mile distance and the ups and downs required. I debated this over the Green Creek entry that seemed a little more direct, but lower in elevation. I ultimately decided to lay my faith in Jamie's substantial experience and start at a higher elevation (Virginia Lakes) and at least keep the skis on my feet most of the way. I had the trip planned for the weekend of 5/20, but nasty weather spoiled that would be solo venture. That turned out to be a fortunate event, as the new date allowed me to gain a great partner in Abe to make the epic slog, ski and slurp of vanilla.
Abe had spied Virginia Peak from a recent trip to Matterhorn. He took this picture of the alluring steep flanks from the NW:
I left my house at 4:30 AM under clear and balmy skies heading south on the grandest highway on the earth. I met up with Abe a little before 6:30 AM at the end of the Virginia Lakes road. By 6:45 AM we were skinning over sun cups and bush whacking here and there on our way up the general route of the Summit Pass trail. We passed Frog Lakes and friends on their South shores, and made it to Summit Pass by around 8:30 AM.
At the pass we were treated with the first view of our creamy objective:
We then skied some nice East facing corn down the West side of the Pass, followed by a long traverse to the South shore of beautiful Summit Lake. At this point we were shocked to see a tent and another couple skinning along the North shore of Summit Lake. We followed their track along the endless right hand, side hill, melt runneled traverse from Summit Lake to the base of Virginia Peak. Abe lost a pole basket, our ankles began to ache, the sweat kept dripping, views were nice, I was craving ice cream.
Abe on the traverse to Summit Lake (above)
West side of Dunderberg and the Canyon leading towards East Lake (above right), North face of Shepherds Crest...mmmm.. (lower right).
The heat was crucifying us and we had a lot of miles under our belt at this point. The sun was also radiating damaging rays on the steep snow face of Virginia Peak. We were a little skeptical about how stable the steep slopes might be. We were also a little surprised at how much vanilla had already melted, revealing less appetizing streaks of chocolate (my god, did I just say that!) on all flanks.
Picture of the endless right hand traverse (by Abe):
The couple (Doug and Carol) arrived at the apron ahead of us and proceeded to set a nice skin track up the lower half of the East face. At the choke they switched to booting and punched in a stairway to vanillen.....I mean heaven.
Me on the boot up the steeps (by Abe):
We reached the top of the cone around 1:00 PM. It took a little scrambling on very loose rock to reach the true summit. I nearly sent Abe sailing down the runnels when I sent a couple of loose frisbee sized rocks down towards his position on the snow below - Sorry Abe. Turned out, the only item to sail down the steep East face was one of Doug's skins. Of course it did not stop until it was in the main runnel near the choke. Where thousands of pounds of loose snow would pour down upon it as a result of our turns from above, further burying Doug's essential piece of backcountry travel equipment.
Views from the top. Our line:
Whorl Peak (Left) and Matterhorn (Right):
Matterhorn and Horse Creek Pass (Lower Right). Uncle Jack and I camped at the tarn marked by the Red X as reported here.
Twin Peaks:
Looking down towards Green Creek Canyon, Virginia Pass on Right side of photo:
Conness and North Peak (Northeast Couloir is looking Yummy):
Mount Dana is pointy:
Doug and Carol downclimbed the house of cards to a precarious and steep snow patch to step into their skis. Doug earned first for his efforts on the way up. With a few turns and a ski cut or two, he sent 6" to 12" of wet snow over most of the face downward in a torrid rush of white soft serve down through the choke. After skiing, Carol and Doug waited on the knife ridge separating the North slopes from the East Face.
Myself trying to down climb back to the snow without the top of the mountain toppling over on us (by Abe):
Then went Abe:
Then me (get that uphill hand off the snow!):
Abe's turn!
And he did all this with one pole basket!
Abe took the very nice chute to the skier's right of the choke rock. I was all set to join him, when an otherworldly force told me to "ski through the choke......you will find Doug's buried skin.....if you use your mind's eye."
Sure enough, as if existing in a brief moment of enlightenment, I immediately spotted a small piece of purple poking through the debris. It felt simple and unremarkable to pull the skin from within the belly of the frosty. Om Mani Padme Hum.
Abe sending it through the lower chute:
Abe on the apron. The lower half of the face offered more consolidated snow for our licking pleasures:
Go Joe, Go:
The whole treat from the top to bottom:
Another satisfied Jolly Kone customer:
We were hasty in our retreat from the top, not wanting the snow to soften too much. After we had skied it we were hungry and hot, and made our way to a shady spot to kick it, eat some lunch and prepare for the long haul back out. The shady spot came with a nice view too:
Abe hauls a big pack. When he pulled out gourmet snack aisle treats along the way I wasn't complaining. But when he pulled out his lunch, I was blown away. Sushi, with chop sticks!
Towelie's snacks:
Now for the long, and hot, haul out:
Yes. Shepherds Crest...
At this point my sun baked brain was pondering the logistics of pulling off a Japhy Ryder strip down to beat the heat.
From Dharma Bums,
"Japhy took his pants off so he could look just like an Indian, I mean stark naked, except for a jockstrap, and hiked almost a quarter-mile ahead of us, sometimes waiting a while, to give us time to catch up, then went on, moving fast, wanting to climb the mountain today."
Back to Summit Lake:
Doug and Carol were very kind in filling up our diminishing water supplies with filtered water. We thanked them and began the slow 1,000' climb back up to Summit Pass.
Backcountry Corduroy:
Abe triumphs over Summit Pass again, with our grand ice cream cone looking a bit like a melted single scoop in the distant background:
Finally we had gravity on our side once again. We made some nice turns down the bowl, followed by a sometimes arduous traverse back through the low lakes to our waiting cars (and beers) at Virginia Lakes. The low angle sun cast a beautiful light on our surroundings.
We reached the cars in just under 12 hours after leaving them. All I could think about was stuffing down a burger and a soft serve ice cream cone at Walker Burger on my way home. Unfortunately they were closed when I rolled through. I guess a guy can only have so much ice cream in one day.
Here's a few really cool pano's put together by Abe on this trip:
In case anyone wants a good head on view of Whorl Peak with the climbing route, the 3 gullies and the chockstone noted:
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Thanks Abe!
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