Goals

[172Recon]

It seems that every season, I set some unrealistic and unattainable goals for my BC season. My best intentions are often compromised by family commitments, injury, unreliable partners, etc. This years is different. None of those factors, so far, have come into play. This year has brought forth a new variable...NO SNOW.

With that said, I have decided to plan a trip to OG or GG. Does anyone have any input as far as if it would be worth the effort to head into OG this year? I know it holds snow late in the season, but I'm skeptical about this season. I was thinking possibly in late April when temps get a little milder.

As far as GG is concerned, I was thinking about dropping in from the Auto Road in May when it opens, but I have never dropped into a gully that I have never climbed at least once before in Winter. Any input about dropping Airplane or Pipeline blindly?

Lastly, who would be interested in either of these?

[RR]

...As far as GG is concerned, I was thinking about dropping in from the Auto Road in May when it opens, but I have never dropped into a gully that I have never climbed at least once before in Winter. Any input about dropping Airplane or Pipeline blindly?...Not for the soloist but a trio or duo...no prob for real talent to drop in. Go earlier this year, a lot earlier; like this week or next.

A word of advice: zip your pockets and pack flaps before you drop in or somebody will be finding your leave-behinds... :doh:
;) ;)

[jdw]

Not for the soloist but a trio or duo...no prob for real talent to drop in. Go earlier this year, a lot earlier; like this week or next.

A word of advice: zip your pockets and pack flaps before you drop in or somebody will be finding your leave-behinds... :doh:
;) ;)

(insert standard cautions about the GG here. We're all big kids. No one's making you do anything here...)

you can scout Airplane and Pipeline from the Autoroad. From the bottom of Airplane you can get a great look into the bottom of Pipeline. Airplane's a lot more forgiving (in a relative sense) as a first run.

WRT to Oakes, I find one of the best ways to find out how the conditions are is from the people who have been up there, namely photo trip reports at, say, www.viewsfromthetop.com :) Look for trips up Mt. Field and Willey, Jackson, etc., and hope they took pics of the southern presidentials. (Or, if you're lucky, someone went up Isolation)