Sean and I joined the Colroado Mountain Club (CMC) a few weeks ago in order to be able to get into a less expensive Avalanche course this winter. Being a member of the CMC has a ton of benefits outside of trainings- including access to the CMC library, tons of weekly trips organized by trained leaders and classes on all sorts of mountaineering subjects. We took our first trip with the club this weekend to James Peak via the St. Mary's Glacier. The pictures below were taken by another member of the club- our fully charged camera wouldn't turn on because it was too cold out...
That is the trip leader standing in the middle there. The rest of us are switching from snowshoes to boots before getting on the glacier.
Even with a group of 11 being on the mountain is a solitary experience
Beautiful day- but the 40mph winds made it seem much colder than 30 degrees!
This is called Jamaica because it is the only place between treeline and the summit where you get away from the wind for at least a moment
Jamaice on the way down
So much easier with the wind at your back- and the snow not hitting your face
All in all it was a good, quick day. We were the youngest ones there by a longshot, but it is always nice climb with veterans of the mountains...we always have something to learn and they definitely had some wisdom to impart.
