A big mountain just outside Sun Valley, Rock Roll peak offers easy access.
- November 20, 2004
- Trip start 6:30am
- Hike start 10:30am from ~7100'
- Summit: 10,495' @ 2:30
- Team: Bob and John
Note: click images to see a larger version in a new window
Bob has a huge 4-wheel van with a pop top for camping. I've decided it should be christened "Moby" and he "Ahab" for his pursuit of the Great White. Unfortunately, there was a dearth of snow for late November, so Ahab set his sights on bagging a peak instead of snowboarding. Mountains are mountains, after all, and we needed a dose. |
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We followed an old mine road, that turned into a trail. Then the trail got into the snow. We used snowshoes for a while, but the terrain became too steep. The postholes weren't too deep. |
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The trail crossed a pass and went on the east side of the summit ridge. Followed long enough, this trail eventually finds itself near Trail Creek Summit. We took a left off the trail and headed up this subsidiary ridge. Rock Roll indeed. |
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As we got closer to 10,000' the ridge became more fully snow-covered. The road in the bottom of the valley is Trail Creek. |
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During our steady ascent, we had been watching snow plumes flying off the summit ridge. I feared being blown to the heavens. We "battened the hatches" and marched onward in fairly solid snow (only plunging through when there were trees beneath the surface). |
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| The wind wasn't too bad, and the sun was out. This peak offers a wonderful view of the Pioneers and Boulders. We summitted about 2:30. |  |
| The Pioneers were under some cloud, but you can see Devil's Bedstead West just behind and above Bob's head. |  |
| We had gotten a late start, and it was a long way down. We took a shortcut down the west face, starting on a ridge, then following a steep snow gully. We got back to the car at about 4:45 and headed for KB's where you can get a burrito as big as your head. |  |
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