Mark Renson
New member
After the alarm ignited in the dark wee hours of the morning, I hemmed 'n <BR>hawed about going to Tuck's. I'm tired .... it won't be that great .... is <BR>it worth all of that driving? I convinced myself by saying that if I <BR>didn't go, I'd be kicking myself for staying in the Flatlands as my plans <BR>for climbing had fallen through. <BR> I arrived early, but took my time. I started up and immediately ran into <BR>a winter camping friend that I had not seen in a long while. He remarked <BR>at how cool it was in the ravine and how the ampitheater quality of it <BR>reminded him of the Coliseum with people cheering when somebody biffed. <BR>"Hmm, so when someone biffs, it's the equivalent of a Christian getting <BR>eaten by a lion", I lamented. <BR> I resumed my slog up and encountered a few showers and I turned glum, <BR>thinking that I had been burned by the weather. Snow and ice was present <BR>on the trail in earnest at the upper bridge. When I got to HoJos, I hung <BR>out for a while, counting on a change of weather. I relaxed for about an <BR>hour and observed fog and gloom on top and realized that plans for spending <BR>a mellow day on the East Snowfields was probably doomed. I became restless <BR>and picked up my gear and then looked dead in the eye at a familiar face <BR>that was about 2 feet away from me - Plaid Matt Reagan! <BR> I headed into the bowl and fog/gloom started to disperse, giving way to <BR>glimpses of sun. At the bottom of the bowl, rangers and the MWVSP <BR>recommended that we got to the rocks under the Chute/Left Gully due to the <BR>high danger of ice falling onto the Lunch Rocks. Some people did hang out <BR>on the rocks, including someone who played the flute (or was it clarinet - <BR>I dunno', I ain't a musician) which created a soft mellow feel all day <BR>long. I still took my time, revelling in the cool temps which I knew would <BR>be in contrast to the near record heat experienced in the Flatlands - you <BR>actually needed a jacket, especially since the sun was in and out of the <BR>clouds. Chute was skiable and if you wanted to risk crevasses and ice <BR>fall, the Lip into the Bowl was doable. Right Gully was half open. <BR> Incidentally, so was the top half of Hillman's Highway. <BR> I slowly assembled and put on my crampons and grabbed my ice axe. Some <BR>think of this as overkill, but going to Snow School makes me do it, plus it <BR>makes the climbing much easier and an enjoyable part of the experience - <BR>yes, I'm climbing for the enjoyment, not clinging for dear life. I slowly <BR>climbed up Left Gully and savored the experience. As I neared the very <BR>top, I paused and observed glisse enthusiasts being fired through the crux <BR>headwall like shots out of a cannon. Even though temps were well above <BR>freezing, there was some rough hardpack to negotiate in addition to a small <BR>crevasse where the snow was separating from the top. Occaisionally, <BR>someone would rip the crux ... many more struggled and then a succession of <BR>4 got hammered. I analyzed the situation and though of an electrifying run <BR>I had here in 1994, dropping in the top after skiing on the snowfields at <BR>the top. Been there, done that a few times before which made me realize <BR>that I did not need the extra 50-75 feet of vertical. So, I took my trusty <BR>ice axe and chopped out a platform from the soft snow on the steep headwall <BR>(below the crux) so that I could assemble for a descent. <BR> The downhill skiing was fantastic after I negotiated some hardpack at the <BR>top. Sweet steep skiing on one of my favorite runs and great spring snow. <BR> My Tua Excalibur Mito's really sprung to life and for the first time, I <BR>truly got a great feel for them! I ran into Matt who was climbing and <BR>snapped an action shot of me and continued to the bottom. <BR> The run was so great, I went for another and hoped for a third. Again, I <BR>made a mellow, deliberate and enjoyable climb up to my now well worn <BR>platform which I had to touch up with my trusty ice axe. This time, the <BR>descent was even better. On my first turn, I kicked off a load of spring <BR>snow which triggered that classic "Presidential effect" where you kick off <BR>a load of loose snow that sparkles from the sun and you wind up turning and <BR>surfing in it. The descent was wonderful ! <BR> As I neared the bottom, I felt my energy evaporate. I stopped for a long <BR>period of time, and observed much action and how great a place the ravine <BR>truly is. I watched 3 naked snowboarders make some fantastic turns in the <BR>Right Gully and into the Bowl, getting a standing ovation from the crowd. <BR> I completed my run and rather than get a third, headed for some stuff I <BR>had stashed and ate some badly needed food. It was getting late in the <BR>afternoon and I noticed nobody heading towards the Left Gully. Being alone <BR>and getting tired, I decided to call it a day and made some sweet easy <BR>turns to the very bottom of the bowl to the hiking trail, realizing that my <BR>season was sadly coming to an end ..... one more big turn in front of a <BR>patroller, where I sadly blurted out "that's it for the season". <BR> I hiked down to HoJos when thunder rumbled and the related clouds created <BR>a feeling of impending doom. I hung out under the roof 'til the short <BR>storm subsided and I resumed my hike downhill. At around the intersection <BR>with the Huntington Ravine Trail, thunder announced itself and rain fell <BR>like it always does in the North Country - unannounced and steady. I was <BR>too lazy to pull out my rain jacket and I realized that the temps were <BR>rapidly increasing with my descent, so I got a good soaking. Of course the <BR>rain stopped when I made ot to my truck at the bottom. <BR> Great day !!! It was mellow, but I still got in 2 great classic Tuck's <BR>runs and experienced a nice day !! .... but I'm still a bit blue as it <BR>looks like my season is over at Day 49. <BR> <BR>Mark