Muir’s East Buttress
In a way, I wished I’d never seen it. I was having a nice, easy backcountry skiing season, perfectly fine, and I didn’t need any trouble. I didn’t need to do anything special. I didn’t need to be special. I didn’t need to be obsessing about hanging snowfields and massive, dead-drop cliffs. And I especially didn’t need to start a war between who I thought I was and who I wanted to be (more…)
13 Responses to “Muir’s East Buttress”
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Bill says:
Nice job Andy. Line 3 on the list that I’ve always wanted to try that you have now gone out and done. I’m jealous but happy to see you knock these lines off.
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Gary Kleiger says:
Wow, that is just a superb trip report and what a killer line! Congratulations.
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Matt says:
Wow. My palms were sweaty just reading this. Congratulations, even though I hope my own sickness never reaches that point
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Dan Conger says:
What a fantastic report. I love the way you document things like this in photographic detail. Only thing missing was your helmet cam. Would have loved to see the steepness as you skied down, linking turn to turn. What’s next?
This is the 2nd report I’ve read where you ignored the little voice that told you about imminent death (Lone Pine Peak was the other). You two are nuts … but clearly love the adventure.
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Dostie says:
Well done! I resigned from that pay grade years ago, prefer the vicarious version these days. Thanks for the ride!
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Steve Bellamy says:
What a spectacularly chronicled journey…great climbing, skiing, mountain, writing and feel!
Have now read it twice!
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Trevor Benedict says:
Nice work!!!……great to read that you got back up there and put that puzzle of a route all together.
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Jeff S says:
Amazing! Congrats Andy!
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Chris says:
That may be my favorite piece of writing (and skiing) from you yet. Nice job!
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Robert K says:
Wow. Just… wow.
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Jake A says:
Amazing and Congratulations! Thanks for sharing such a mind blowing adventure. As usual, your trip reports allow insight into what is possible…when you want it bad enough.
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Howie says:
Andy, as always, a brilliant and honest account of a grand ski adventure in the High Sierra. You and Dave are like the Don Quixote and Sancho Panza of Sierra ski mountaineering. I love it! You So Cal boys have proven that this “unskiable” line on a 14′er is… well, unskiable. Nice to read about it and bummed not to run into you guys this season here in the mountains. Cheers!
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Joseph says:
Andy, the photo on page 1 photo #3 “The East Butress” is positively stellar…
Garmont Radium
North Peak - North Couloir
Shasta - Avalanche Gulch
Langley - Northeast Couloir
Birch - Southeast Face