Go Alaska! Vancouver 2010

Holly Brooks

 

James Southam

 

Holly

Alaska Range Aerials

I joined my Dad on a photography assignment for Conoco Phillips Shared Services aviation department.  We photographed two 737 jets from a smaller jet with the Alaska range as the backdrop.  It was an incredibly unique experience, something I will never forget.  The pics turned out pretty good too.

Check out a few more here:  http://picasaweb.google.com/alaskabackcountry/

December backcountry

 

 December around Anchorage has been pleasantly mild.  We have plenty of snow, and the backcountry is excellent at elevations above the rain crust.  The high country of the Kenai mountains is ripe for some big descents. 

This little cornice chunk was kicked loose by some skiers on the ridge.  It was a good size for testing the slope.

Cody skiing the south face of Tincan.

Paula hiking up peak 3 on a balmy inversion afternoon.  Temperatures at the top were probably in the high 30s with single digits in town.

Bird creek packrafting

We faithfully followed Cody up to the lower canyon of Bird Creek. It was the last week of October, getting cold but perfect conditions for a low water run. Everyone nailed the drops. Zero swims with 4 people.

New Zealand

The pinnacles, Coromandel

We flew over to Auckland from Sydney and spent the remainder of our trip on the North Island. Rain was certainly a factor: our plan to climb mt. Taranaki was completely foiled. We saw some new and beautiful parts of the country. The incredibly unhelpful information center staff tried to convince us not to do the Tongariro crossing, so we did the more difficult Ngauruhoe climb instead and had a perfect day in the mountains. We discovered that Karangahake gorge makes for a perfect packraft whitewater run, and explored some of the coastline with our boats. Overall a fantastic trip south.


Tongariro trail with Ngauruhoe


Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, and Ruapehu


Steam vent on top of Ngauruhoe


Ruapehu, tallest mountain on the N. Island


Ohinemuri river


Ohinemuri river
video of our paddling here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEun1_WH7No


Bridal veil falls near Raglan


Cathedral cove

Down under

Australia was short but sweet. We spent a few days in Sydney before being chased away by the dust storm. We took refuge in the Blue Mountains for a few days hiking around the spectacular national park.


Sydney dust storm


Bridal veil falls


Hiking in the Grose valley


local


steep!


Blue Mountains national park

Tetons

The Tetons

Paula on Baxter's pinnacle

Paula and I spent about 10 days around Wyoming and Montana climbing and hiking.  We climbed Baxter's pinnacle and the Exum ridge on the Grand Teton.  The Wind River mountains were amazing but wouldn't let us climb due to unsettled weather.  We will be back!

The Exum ridge follows the prominent sun/shade line to the top

Leading the crux pitch on the lower Exum

Paula on the summit 13,770 ft.

Paula on the rappel to get off the summit