TR: So Cal - Jepson Peak 04/30 - 05-01 2005
After a 3 day trip up to San Gorgonio two weekends ago, I decided to jump in on Bodhi's permit this weekend and head back to area with him, wtp, Dutch MArcOS, KB, my dog Bailey and Bodhi's dog Dude for some turns off San G's neighbor, Jepson Peak. What Jepson lacks in elevation (it rises to 11,205' while San G rises to 11,490'), it more than makes up for in sweet lines. All along Jepson's ridge are sweet line after line after line...
Anyhow, pictures speak more than words so here ya go:
Saturday: standard "scenic view" shot except you can't really see San G back there.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic39757.jpg
Saturday: The first avy path that crosses the trail.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic39758.jpg
Saturday: Crossing the avy debris off Charlton Peak.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic39759.jpg
Saturday: Dutch Marc skinning up
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic39760.jpg
Saturday: Another avy path off Charlton Peak
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic39761.jpg
Saturday: After setting up camp, we headed out for a late afternoon run on the North face of Jepson. Our original plan was ot hit one of the bowls lookers left in the photo but it started getting late and we ended up descending the face straight ahead (just above us in the picture). This ended up being the nightmare descent of the trip. One by one, we descended, made 1 or two turns at the top, then proceeded to lose an edge and butt slide on this icy 40 degree slope. I think wtp and I butt slid the furtherst, sliding at least 400 feet, if not further, on our asses. It was sketchy too because after sliding 30' or so, there was so much ice being kicked up that our goggles were covered and we were basically sliding w/o visibility. After that little adventure, we regrouped at the bottom and had a fun run down the avy path back to camp. It was also on this face that Dude cut up the pads on his feet pretty bad. Bad enough for Bodhi to take him out first thing the next morning.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic39762.jpg
Saturday: Dutch Marc shows his skinning steeze. While the rest of us opted to put the crampons on and boot, Marc skinned up as far as he could, but finally put his crampons on about 3/4 of the way up.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic39763.jpg
Saturday: Pack at camp and checking out Sunday's destination: the east face of Jepson Peak.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic39764.jpg
Sunday: Kelly (booting), Marc and Joe, heading up out of the trees and up to the heart of Jepson.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic39765.jpg
Sunday: My dog Bailey with the west ridge of San G on the left.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/blpic39766.jpg
Some More Photos (From Jepson on Sat)
