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Dodging the Bullet

Statistics

  • Date - 11/29/2020
  • Elevation - 10,800'
  • Route - Dodging the Bullet (Pitch 1)
  • Miles - 4.0
  • Elevation Gain - 2,000'
  • ACME Mapper - Link
  • CalTopo - Link
  • Partners - Brian Kooienga, Nick Quesnel

Description

We didn't fully complete our objective, but we salvaged the day with one pitch of backcountry ice.  I can think of worse ways to spend a morning.  Bullet and Dodging the Bullet are located about 300' above the southwest corner of Emerald Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.  The approach took me 1.5 hours at a fairly causal pace.  (This just means I am slow.)

The ice blob that generally forms on the traverse from the top of the ice pitch over to the base of the mixed pitch of Dodging the Bullet was nonexistent.  More skilled climbers could certainly make the traverse without the ice blob, but none of us were feeling it.  The feet looked solid; however, without the blob, pick placements and protection looked challenging.  As a result, we each led the ice pitch for fun and called it a day.

Photos

Emerald LakeEmerald LakeEmerald LakeJames JustJames JustJames JustJames JustBrian KooiengaBrian KooiengaBrian KooiengaNick QuesnelNick QuesnelNick QuesnelLongs Peak