by Shawn B » Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:40 am
Fred can you create a section for ice conditions since I don't think Joe is updating on his site anymore. Would keep the info better organized rather than jumbling through all the posts.
Parlee on dec21...the upper canyon is starting to get good. Lots of ice to toprope and a few lines including blue pillar leadable by the right person. That said I wouldn't call any climb "in". The lower canyon routes are starting to form at the top but look pretty lean if any ice at all on the bottom. Will be tricky with this snow to know whether there is rock or ice under it. And speaking of the snow...not a lot of people around here think about avalanche possibilities. If the snow is behaving in parlee like it was on my truck this morning there will be definite potential in the ravine. It is avalanche terrain. And the worst part about the ravine is that it wouldn't take much snow to slide to bury a person walking in the bottom or carry them over the icefall from the top. Pay attention to what is above you if you are walking in via the bottom with extra concern below 3 amigos, sunbake and kf gully. If walking around the top from the rap route to TR blue pillar roping up may not be a bad idea. A small slide there with you on the slab will have bad consequences. You may feel safe amongst the trees but they are too spaced to provide adequate anchors for the snow.
Safety third!!!