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MOUNT RUSSELL


Pictures of the ascent of Mount Russell, via the South Face, Right Side (Class 4), with René Renteria

June 19, 2005

(Click image for larger view)


June 17, 2005 - Iris Slab, Rock Creek


1. René leads Easy Skankin' (5.5)

 
2. I'm leading Concrete Jungle (5.7) (René photo)


3. More of Concrete Jungle (5.7) (René photo)

4. Placing gear on Welcome to the Iris Slab (5.8) (René photo)

5. Welcome to the Iris Slab (5.8) (René photo)

June 18, 2005 - The Approach to Iceberg Lake

 

Timeline:

- Departed Whitney Portal: 8:10 am.

- One hour nap at Lower Boyscout Lake, one hour stop at Upper Boyscout Lake.

- 2.5 hours from UBS Lake to Iceberg Lake.

- At Iceberg Lake camp: 4 pm.


6. Approaching Lower Boyscout Lake.

7. We have just passed the Ebersbacher Ledges. (René photo)

8. Above Owens Valley.
 

9. Upper Boyscout Lake.

10. Resting and eating at Clyde Meadows/Upper Boyscout Lake. (René photo)

 

11. Nearing Iceberg Lake - René extricates himself from a delicate situation


12. Nearing Iceberg Lake - René extricates himself from a delicate situation

13. In camp above Iceberg Lake. Keeler Needle is behind René.


14. In camp above Iceberg Lake.

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15. Camp.
16. Shirley. 


17. Camp.


18. Lone Pine Peak and René.

19. Mount Whitney (r) and the Needles at sunset. (René photo)

June 19, 2005 - The Climb

 

Timeline:

- Departed camp 7:50 am.

- At base of South Face gully: 9 am.

- Summit of Mount Russell: 1 pm.

- Depart summit: 1:30 pm.

- At top of South Face gully: 4 pm.

- Back in camp: 6 pm.


20. Mount Russell - The Fishhook Arête to the left, South Ridge in the Middle, and most of the East Ridge. (René photo)


21. Getting ready for the hike up the South Face gully.

(René photo)


22. On the way.

 (René photo)


23. The Fishhook Arête and the summit of Russell.


24. On the way up the South Face gully.

 (photo)


25. On the way.

 (René photo)


26. At the top of the gully, getting ready to climb the headwall.


27. Mount Whitney and Mount McAdie

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28. Looking down the gully.

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29. The headwall and a possible way to the right that might be easier without snow (we went left over 4th class terrain).

30. Mount Williamson.
31. The East Summit of Mount Russell from East ridge.


32. The West Summit of Russell, from where the South Face route tops out on the East Ridge.


33. Looking West. Milestone, Midway, Table and Thunder Mountains are visible on the horizon. (René photo)

34. The East Summit and René - from where the South Face route tops out on the East Ridge. (René photo)
35. On the East Ridge. (René photo)

36. On the summit, 1 pm.
37. On the summit, 1 pm.

 

38. Summit of Mount Russell.

39. The register box and René.


40. Mount Whitney from the summit of Russell.


41. Shirley on the Fishhook Arête.


42. Mount Williamson from the summit.

43. On the East Ridge.


44. On the East Ridge.

45. On the East Ridge.
 


46. Rappelling down the headwall.


47. Pointing at Radek and Shirley on Fishhook Arête. (René photo)

 48. Radek and Shirley, one or two pitches from the summit.

 

49. Looking back up the gully.


50. Lower portion of the Fishhook Arête.

51. Fishhook Arête. (René photo)

 
52. Descending. (René photo)

53. Mount Russell. (René photo)

54. Staring down at Iceberg lake and camp from a window in the Russell-Whitney saddle.
55. Back in camp, at 6 pm. (René photo)

June 20, 2005 - The Return

 

Timeline:

- Departed camp: 8:10 am.

- Stopped at Lower Boyscout Lake for 1/2 hour.

- Back at Whitney Portal: 12:30 pm.

56. Packing up camp.
57. Descending from Iceberg Lake. 

58. Lone Pine Peak. (René photo)
59. Approaching Upper Boyscout Lake. (René photo)

60. Posing in front of Whitney and the Needles.
61. More posing.

62. Even more posing.

63. Glissading to Clyde Meadows.
64. Glissading. (René photo)

65. The way up to the East Ridge of Russell.
66. Clyde Meadows. (René photo)

67. At Lower Boyscout Lake.
68. Lower Boyscout Lake - a break. (René photo)

 

69. Resting at Lower Boyscout Lake. (René photo)

70. Back on the Ebersbacher Ledges.		  
71. Ebersbacher Ledges. (René photo)

72. René on the ledges.
73. Crossing the raging stream. 
 
74. Man on the ledges.
75. Man on the ledges (contd.).

June 20, 2005 - Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest

76. The Palisades from the White Mountains

77. Sierra view. 
78. Sierra view.

79. Sierra view 
80. Sierra view.

81. Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
82. Bristlecone Pines on limestone ground

83.  Bristlecone.
84. Enjoying.

85. "Una Gran Sierra Nevada".

86. Dead tree. (René photo)
87. Dead tree.

88. Running in the 11,000ft air. (René photo)
89. Dead tree and me. (René photo)

91. Barely alive.
92.

93.
95. Limestone.

94. How many millennia?
 


90. Back at the car. (René photo)
96.
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