Western Chugach - Mt Gilbert
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 11:21 pm
If you will indulge, I have a recent adventure to share:
Ten days ago, I was the only one at the Birchwood airport changing from wheels TO skis on a beautiful 55 degree spring day. But, I had just returned from work and some other travel and had a climbing goal in mind that involved ski flying - Mt Gilbert in the western Chugach
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7238/139 ... b0d4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3589"></a>
There were some notable firsts associated with this adventure. First ski flying with the Maule! (It has taken me almost 4 years to finally get it on skis.) And, it was the highest elevation (7300') that I have ever landed on skis, in the deepest snow, and with the largest load.
With the ski strip melting fast, a couple buddies and I made two sorties to the high coutnry to test everything out and do a little recon on the peak we wanted to climb. Then, on Saturday, 19 April, I loaded up two climbers and a whole bunch of gear for our Mt Gilbert attempt. [Gilbert dominates many of the views from Prince William Sound (PWS) and I've looked at for years while kayaking.]
First, though, we had to shovel snow in front of the plane just to get to t]he ski strip and I pretty much knew taking off that we would have no snow to return to.
<a><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2921/139 ... eb98_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3545"></a>
About 40 very scenic minutes later we landed at our destination - high on a glacial rise below the imposing summit block of Mt Gilbert.
<a><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2932/139 ... 9d9e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7038"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/139 ... 8316_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7102"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7190/139 ... 7cb6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7366"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2930/139 ... 15c2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3557"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5203/139 ... f52d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3551"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5043/139 ... 962a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3602"></a>
It was almost tempting to stay in camp it was so pretty. Airplane camping is the best and we had all the goodies!! Dinner both nights we stayed on the glacier was caribou fajitas with stewed chiles and a local IPA to wash it down. Cheesecake for desert.
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/139 ... 483e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7603"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2914/139 ... 8e8f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3595"></a>
Rather than stay in camp and get fat, though, we figured we better do what we came to do and attempt the peak and we broke trail on Saturday evening to a col overlooking PWS which was about a 3/4 mile ski and 1000 vertical feet above and was the start of the "real" climbing. Unfortunately, Sunday (which was forecast good wx) decided to get skunky with snow and high winds and kept us pretty much in camp that day. The plane rode out the winds no problem with two deadman anchors per wing and spoiler equipped wing covers.
Monday, the front had passed and it was severe clear and calm at 0600 when we stirred. Two hours later, we had our skis on and were on our way back to the top of the col.
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/139 ... a437_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3601"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7187/139 ... 4926_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3610"></a>
The first 1000 feet of climing was steep but straight forward. Good snow and some ice and we were abloe to protect and climb it safely - although a bit slow. High up on the shoulder where the slope lessened, however, was a different story. The high winds from the day before had loaded those slopes and the summit ridge with a whole bunch of unconsolidated snow. It was so loose and deep that we had to crawl through it! We reached our high point about 300 vertical feet shy of the summit in front of a beautiful sharp ridge that, given the right conditions, would (will) have provided a dramatic finish to the climb.
<a><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5046/139 ... 0213_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_3620"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7441/139 ... d489_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3622"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7275/139 ... f4ae_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3632"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7387/139 ... 9d18_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7707"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7250/139 ... 1081_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3641"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7084/139 ... 3784_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3648"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7189/139 ... f368_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3618"></a>
We turned around about 4:00pm and managed to get back to the plane by about 8:00pm. With functional daylight until about 10:30pm, we decided to break camp and head for home. While I pre-heated teh plane and dug out the anchors, my two climbing buddies reworked the "runway" and took down the tent. Throttle was full in at 9:30pm and the Maule broke ground and started flying down glacier in about 700-800'. (I couldn't have been happier with the performance at that altitude, load, and conditions. Horsepower is a good thing!) Simply great airplanes and sure fit my mission well.
We flew back to Birchwood with surrounding alpenglow in the Chugach mountains and then, rounding the corner from the Knik River valley, a deep orange vista toward the Alaska Range. There just isn't anywhere more beautiful to live and fly!
<a><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2906/139 ... 781e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7766"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7230/139 ... d760_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7759"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2920/139 ... a8c1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7774"></a>
Landing at Birchwood was the last little bit of excitement left in our adventure. As expected, the ski strip was completely gone. There were pockets of snow, grass, and water in the median between the main runway and the taxiway which I had been envisioning as an alternate LZ. I had hoped for a little more snow but no other choice...I had to take it and hope the landing was uneventful. I touched down in about 4" of slush which quickly transitioned to grass, more slush, then a swamp, more slush, and a stop in about 6" of water. I powered up and was able to manuever us to the edge of the taxiway where we delicately walked the skis to reach dry land.
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7258/139 ... ed23_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7776"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5232/140 ... defc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3654"></a>
My lovely wife met us on touchdown and gave us a ride back to my truck which we used to pull the plane out of the swamp, install the ski dollies, and pushed in to the nearest tie-down where we then proceeded to unload the mountain of gear in the back. By this time, of course, cold beers were also in hand and, even though the summit of Gilbert had eluded us, we still felt very satisfied to have given it a good go and returned safely.
End of this story. Sorry so long but hopefully entertaining (or at least diversionary) for someone.
Cheers,
Paul
Ten days ago, I was the only one at the Birchwood airport changing from wheels TO skis on a beautiful 55 degree spring day. But, I had just returned from work and some other travel and had a climbing goal in mind that involved ski flying - Mt Gilbert in the western Chugach
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7238/139 ... b0d4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3589"></a>
There were some notable firsts associated with this adventure. First ski flying with the Maule! (It has taken me almost 4 years to finally get it on skis.) And, it was the highest elevation (7300') that I have ever landed on skis, in the deepest snow, and with the largest load.
With the ski strip melting fast, a couple buddies and I made two sorties to the high coutnry to test everything out and do a little recon on the peak we wanted to climb. Then, on Saturday, 19 April, I loaded up two climbers and a whole bunch of gear for our Mt Gilbert attempt. [Gilbert dominates many of the views from Prince William Sound (PWS) and I've looked at for years while kayaking.]
First, though, we had to shovel snow in front of the plane just to get to t]he ski strip and I pretty much knew taking off that we would have no snow to return to.
<a><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2921/139 ... eb98_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3545"></a>
About 40 very scenic minutes later we landed at our destination - high on a glacial rise below the imposing summit block of Mt Gilbert.
<a><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2932/139 ... 9d9e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7038"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/139 ... 8316_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7102"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7190/139 ... 7cb6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7366"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2930/139 ... 15c2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3557"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5203/139 ... f52d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3551"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5043/139 ... 962a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3602"></a>
It was almost tempting to stay in camp it was so pretty. Airplane camping is the best and we had all the goodies!! Dinner both nights we stayed on the glacier was caribou fajitas with stewed chiles and a local IPA to wash it down. Cheesecake for desert.
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/139 ... 483e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7603"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2914/139 ... 8e8f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3595"></a>
Rather than stay in camp and get fat, though, we figured we better do what we came to do and attempt the peak and we broke trail on Saturday evening to a col overlooking PWS which was about a 3/4 mile ski and 1000 vertical feet above and was the start of the "real" climbing. Unfortunately, Sunday (which was forecast good wx) decided to get skunky with snow and high winds and kept us pretty much in camp that day. The plane rode out the winds no problem with two deadman anchors per wing and spoiler equipped wing covers.
Monday, the front had passed and it was severe clear and calm at 0600 when we stirred. Two hours later, we had our skis on and were on our way back to the top of the col.
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/139 ... a437_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3601"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7187/139 ... 4926_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3610"></a>
The first 1000 feet of climing was steep but straight forward. Good snow and some ice and we were abloe to protect and climb it safely - although a bit slow. High up on the shoulder where the slope lessened, however, was a different story. The high winds from the day before had loaded those slopes and the summit ridge with a whole bunch of unconsolidated snow. It was so loose and deep that we had to crawl through it! We reached our high point about 300 vertical feet shy of the summit in front of a beautiful sharp ridge that, given the right conditions, would (will) have provided a dramatic finish to the climb.
<a><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5046/139 ... 0213_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_3620"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7441/139 ... d489_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3622"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7275/139 ... f4ae_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3632"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7387/139 ... 9d18_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7707"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7250/139 ... 1081_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3641"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7084/139 ... 3784_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3648"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7189/139 ... f368_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3618"></a>
We turned around about 4:00pm and managed to get back to the plane by about 8:00pm. With functional daylight until about 10:30pm, we decided to break camp and head for home. While I pre-heated teh plane and dug out the anchors, my two climbing buddies reworked the "runway" and took down the tent. Throttle was full in at 9:30pm and the Maule broke ground and started flying down glacier in about 700-800'. (I couldn't have been happier with the performance at that altitude, load, and conditions. Horsepower is a good thing!) Simply great airplanes and sure fit my mission well.
We flew back to Birchwood with surrounding alpenglow in the Chugach mountains and then, rounding the corner from the Knik River valley, a deep orange vista toward the Alaska Range. There just isn't anywhere more beautiful to live and fly!
<a><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2906/139 ... 781e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7766"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7230/139 ... d760_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7759"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2920/139 ... a8c1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7774"></a>
Landing at Birchwood was the last little bit of excitement left in our adventure. As expected, the ski strip was completely gone. There were pockets of snow, grass, and water in the median between the main runway and the taxiway which I had been envisioning as an alternate LZ. I had hoped for a little more snow but no other choice...I had to take it and hope the landing was uneventful. I touched down in about 4" of slush which quickly transitioned to grass, more slush, then a swamp, more slush, and a stop in about 6" of water. I powered up and was able to manuever us to the edge of the taxiway where we delicately walked the skis to reach dry land.
<a><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7258/139 ... ed23_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7776"></a>
<a><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5232/140 ... defc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3654"></a>
My lovely wife met us on touchdown and gave us a ride back to my truck which we used to pull the plane out of the swamp, install the ski dollies, and pushed in to the nearest tie-down where we then proceeded to unload the mountain of gear in the back. By this time, of course, cold beers were also in hand and, even though the summit of Gilbert had eluded us, we still felt very satisfied to have given it a good go and returned safely.
End of this story. Sorry so long but hopefully entertaining (or at least diversionary) for someone.
Cheers,
Paul