SkiSickness

On Monday Jake and I decided to try a bit of alpine climbing. Jake had his eyes on climbing Yak Peak, a big granite peak in the Coquihalla. Yak Chek is an easy/moderate 12 pitch climb with some super fun pitches. Although this peak isn't completely remote, I was excited to get a taster of what alpine climbing is like. I learned that not all granite is as super solid as in Squamish and that at 2000 m it can get COLD despite weather forecast predicting 26 degC down in Hope.

(I stole this picture from Wikipedia since I forgot to take one myself). Yak Chek goes up to the second smaller peak.


Jake and I decided to climb our route in blocks. He climbed all the pitches on the lower half and I took over the steeper upper pitches.

Jake on the 2nd pitch.


Jake on the 3rd pitch and the view to the top.


Jake still leading. He was excited to get to lead since this is still newish territory for him.


We're just over half way up and I took over leading.


I stopped taking pictures soon since the wind started howling and it was just too cold. All I could think of was get to the top fast. We bumped into two parties as well with an Aussie and a Kiwi and they were being comic relief.

I must say it was a pleasant experience and I'm not more prepared for my weekend trip with Ryan to Cathedral Peak - some real alpine stuff finally! Woop! Thanks Jake for the day.

Nice pictures. Looks like Louie got to this one first. I never did climb Yak. Isentropic expansion strikes again! Nothing about the amazing powers of a windshirt?

That's cool with Louie.

Something strange has happened to me since my visit with Sky in New Mex. 30 feet of coarse Rio Grande basalt, a scramble up ancient Tres Piedras granite adorned with fluorescent green lichen, and suddenly I'm thirsting for splitters.