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Mammoth Trip, 2018

September 16

Lookout Peak

Meanwhile I ease myself into a very loose, steep narrow chute, where everything I touch moves, slides or rolls down the hill. I gingerly move back out, but after discussing with Bill and Stella, who is in a similar position, I realize there isn't much choice but to take this chute down to a much larger but more gradual one. Stella is in the same chute and when she sees me, I move out of her line of fire so she can descend to this position in the photo.

This was all pretty scary, especially not knowing for sure what was around the next bend. Would it get worse? Would we have to do something risky, or attempt to climb back up? Just staying focused on doing what we needed to do kept the fear under control. -F.



I attempted to follow Bill, but I couldn't make out the route he took. I found myself descending down rock that became steeper and looser, and appeared to end at a cliff. This wasn't good. The only way out was to move left, toward the big sandy chute, and try to make it go. I was scared, and I knew it was rational to be scared. -S.