The upcoming hikes thread

ghaznavid wrote:

Papa Dragon wrote:

Papa Dragon wrote: I want to walk in to BMC in the evening and then spend the following day on Sterkhorn, Turret and Amphlett. Probably end up overnighting at BMC again, just thought that it would be pleasant to use Cowl Fork campsite...

Anyone keen to join? Apologies if in the wrong place...

Didn't know you did technical climbing. Turret and Amphlett are fun - the move on Amphlett is easy (aside from the massive drop if you overbalance). The climb on Turret is pretty easy, but if you most certainly wouldn't want to down-climb that one!

Can't imagine carrying all the gear over Cowl Pass though - well, unless you wanted to climb Cathkin or Cowl (or both) while up there.

Hey Ghaz, no I don't technical climb. Understood from the post on Turret and Amphlett on this thread that Turret is a non-technical, do-able without gear? Please confirm? I didn't intend to summit Amphlett, just get as close as comfortable.. I would appreciate confirmation on Turret though...

Papa Dragon wrote:

ghaznavid wrote:

Papa Dragon wrote:

Papa Dragon wrote: I want to walk in to BMC in the evening and then spend the following day on Sterkhorn, Turret and Amphlett. Probably end up overnighting at BMC again, just thought that it would be pleasant to use Cowl Fork campsite...

Anyone keen to join? Apologies if in the wrong place...

Didn't know you did technical climbing. Turret and Amphlett are fun - the move on Amphlett is easy (aside from the massive drop if you overbalance). The climb on Turret is pretty easy, but if you most certainly wouldn't want to down-climb that one!

Can't imagine carrying all the gear over Cowl Pass though - well, unless you wanted to climb Cathkin or Cowl (or both) while up there.

Hey Ghaz, no I don't technical climb. Understood from the post on Turret and Amphlett on this thread that Turret is a non-technical, do-able without gear? Please confirm? I didn't intend to summit Amphlett, just get as close as comfortable.. I would appreciate confirmation on Turret though...

Although, if someone wanted to accompany and was prepared to show me, I wouldn't be averse to the idea.......

Sadly I didn't get photos of the moves on either. Before I give you details, be aware that I am a very scared climber, hence my lack of climbing achievements

Amphlett is the easier of the 2 - it has 1 D grade move, the rest is walking. The move reasonably simple. I don't recall why I didn't want to down-climb it, but I abseiled back down off the top. Most people wouldn't require a rope on this.

Turret is a very easy chimney to climb. There are good holds the entire way up, but it is wet and slippery. It would be tricky and probably quite dangerous to down-climb. There is a massive block to secure an abseil off, though. We joined a 50m and 60m rope to allow the team to ab down through all the steep grassy bits. By the bottom of the rope, the stretch from the dynamic rope was quite something!

intrepid wrote: The grade is only one aspect of a climb, so don't equate Turret's C+ to be easier than Amphlett's D.
That's pretty close grade-wise anyway, and an E in the Berg can often be scarier than an F1 as a further example. Amphlett's crux is extremely short, but the entire route has more exposure. Yet it can be down-climbed fairly easily. The risk of down-climbing Turret is definitely higher. And it's slippery as ghaz mentioned. If you can tolerate exposure, take rope for Turret but not for Amphlett. And unless you are a confident climber I would not recommend climbing Turret without placing protection.

Thanks for the response guys, I'll change plans unless someone experienced is along...

Alternative plan is to get to BMC in the evening, do Sterkhorn the following day, and descend. Either just stay at BMC again the next night, or go South and find a tenting spot, maybe Cowl Fork. Again, anyone keen?

Coming from Golden, CO I appreciate your sentiment! - Been after something similar myself. I also regularly do Keith Bush solo and always find many people there - so I don't worry about it anymore. Doing Organ Pipes - Bell Tower over the coming public holidays if you want to join a group.

PS Where in Cordillera Blanca? I've been twice, latest was last year doing Huantsan and San Juan.

Nice! Are you keen to go up this weekend Jon? We're going!







Mod Note: Moved from Snow Watch 2016 Thread

We will be going up Sentinel round 8 on Saturday (30th April), and come down on Monday... where are you guys planning on staying over... or will you see once you are up there?