PNC240
August 2002
Day 7: Wednesday, August 21
Leader
|
Navigators
|
Cooks
|
Hydrologists
|
Architect
|
Naturalist/Sweep
|
Medic
|
Kelly
|
Jimmy
Jenn
|
Matt
Wen
|
Elena
Mark
|
Zoey
|
Jody
|
Mac
|
Highlights:
Wake up to Leader Kelly singing. Over breakfast, Zoey asks, "If
the course were to end today, would you be satisfied?" Pretty much
everyone says, "not really". We decide to climb Wallaby Peak before
heading over the ridge to the Grandstand. The climb to the saddle
(with full packs) is challenging but we make it by lunch (more bickies,
etc.). Over lunch Kelly brings up some issues with trail etiquette
and safety. We are joined by James, the assistant course director (?),
who goes ahead to catch up with Matt (who is scouting out whether we need
fixed lines). We leave our big packs and start up. The peak
ascent is hard, with lots of scrambling over rocks and dealing with scree
but when we reach the peak, it is amazing!!! Everywhere we look, there
are more mountains, and Jeff tells us the names of most of them. We
get a peak treat from Jeff (Snickers bars) and make James take group pictures
with each camera. We have five minutes of silence and then a bead ceremony
to dedicate a bead (blue, red or magenta), and this peak ascent, to someone.
The descent is also challenging, as we slide down the scree, maneuver
over rocks, and try to beat the twilight. When we get down to the saddle,
we pick up our full packs and need to decide where we are going to camp.
We can see the Grandstand but aren't sure where there is water. We
head for the Grandstand, going straight across the ridge which is all scree,
talus and some snow. Once we make camp, Matt leads Mark, Elena and
Jimmy back out, in the dark, to get water. With Wen as one of the cooks,
we eat well - dinner is 'garlic-infused' pasta with fried tofu and chicken.
Over dinner and during circle, we discuss the plan for the next day.
We decide to forgo an alpine start but plan to climb the Finger and
also do the King Rappel before going out on solo. We don't get to sleep
until after midnight.