Ken's first homecoming since the big move to New York provided a rare opportunity for us to knock off another classic ridge traverse in the Wasatch Range. Previous adventures across rarely-trodden trail-less ridges had provided us with opportunities to mingle with the herds of Mountain Goats on Thunder Ridge, surf talus-flows off the north end of Timpanogos Ridge, glissade the snowy steps of Sunrise Peak and battle heat, dehydration and impassable scrub oak on the Parley/Mill Creek Ridge.
For this trip, we would tackle the infamous Cardiac Ridge, a twisted complex of colliding plates of the earth's crust that forms the divide between Cardiff Fork and Mineral/Broads Fork in the Big Cottonwood drainage.
So while the hoards filled the parking lots for the traditional hikes up to Lake Blanche, we clambered up to to Cardiff Pass following a pair of slightly annoyed Mountain Goats and started on another excellent adventure.
Ken (in the foreground) and Mike on the approach to Mount Superior, which is blocked from view by Little Superior. Part of Cardiac Ridge can be seen to the right of the tree.
Mike and Ken on the top of our 11,000 foot friend, Mount Superior, a frequent stop during many of our ridge traverses and backcountry ski trips.
Looking down the Stegosaurus' back from Superior. Our destination is Kessler Peak at the end of this meandering knife-edge of crumbling rock.
Mike laying back with good hands and minimal feet near the start of Cardiac Ridge: we now have a better appreciation for the name! Superior is in the background.
Mike resorted to straddling the parts where there was no room to stand. Whatever scratches the itch!
Wait up, Ken, you feak'n Mountain Goat! Typical up heaved plate of the earth's crust in the Wasatch leaves unstable ridges with big exposure
No comments:
Post a Comment