Vacation Journals
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Written by Daniel Hienzsch
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Tuesday, 28 July 2009 |
 Lower Saddle Sunrise
June 27, 2009
Grand Teton National Park
Exposure, wicked cold, driving winds and ungodly views; but no summit. I slept until 3:30 AM, then awake immediately and laid in the tent, listening to the wind whipping. At 4 AM, I heard the alarm in the hut, followed by Darrent getting up, followed by a headlamp moving around outside. Then I heard hot water getting started. So, 15 minutes before Darren came to wake me, I knew we were going for it.
I kitted up in synthetic wool socks, base layer long johns, a standard wicking gym shirt, hiking pants, fleece vest, rain pants, gaiters, Kayland mountain boots, and a parka. In my bag: 160' rope, extra socks, rain/wind breaker, heavy/light duty gloves, first aid kit, signal mirror, my ice axe and my crampons. I brushed my teeth, drank some water, had a quick bite, grabbed my bag of snacks, donned my beanie and helmet and off we were at 4:45AM. Venus blazed in a dark, dark blue sky.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 21 December 2009 )
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Written by Daniel Hienzsch
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Thursday, 23 July 2009 |
 A Quiet Moment
June 26, 2009
Grand Teton National Park
I woke to the sound of rain on my tent around 5:30AM after fitful sleep. I drifted in and out for another two hours, hoping the storm would pass. At 7:30AM, I put on my raingear, got up and brushed my teeth west of camp and settled into the Guide's Hut. In about an hour, the women arrived and there we stayed as the rain became slushy big snow flakes. For three hours we were confined to the hut, sitting around until the sun finally popped out.
Darren and I went out immediately to run through snow school while the women did some simple top rope work ont he boulders around camp. Snow school consisted of self arrest techniques: sliding on your back feet first, sliding on your belly head first, sliding on your belly feet first, and the most disconcerting, sliding on your back head first as you might if you lost your balance with a heavy pack on. We practiced glissading (sitting and standing) as well as short rope technique while the women worked on their climbing calls: "ON BELAY", "CLIMBING", "CLIMB".
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Last Updated ( Monday, 21 December 2009 )
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Written by Daniel Hienzsch
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Thursday, 23 July 2009 |
 Fully Packed
June 25, 2009
Grand Teton National Park
I broke camp at Colter Bay at 7:30AM this morning and figured I'd take one last shower. Had a cup of coffee and a muffin, but could already feel my nerves. I was very, very anxious about the trek to Corbett High Camp. Finished up at Colter Bay Village and stopped to offer Emergency First Responder help to a group of people surrounding an elderly man that was laying on the ground. They said that EMS had already been contacted and he was already laying on his side with his head propped up and a jacket over the top of him to keep him warm. I would only be in the way. I drove to the trailhead from there and I and the other clients gathered at Lupine Meadows Trail at 10AM and first thing, Darren, my guide, handed me 10 more pounds of food! I jammed and stuffed it all in somehow along with my four "wag bags" and we headed up the trail at a nice slow pace to accomodate the three women where going up with their guide, one of which was feeling nauseous.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 21 December 2009 )
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Written by Daniel Hienzsch
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Wednesday, 22 July 2009 |
 Paintbrush Canyon
June 22, 2009
Grand Teton National Park
The name, "Paintbrush Divide" sounds so innocuous. The guide book said to expect snow, even in late September, so I went prepared: ice axe, crampons, wind/water proof jacket and overpants. Today, I needed every piece of gear, every ounce of strength and every bit of climbing knowledge I possessed to make it to, up, over and down the divide at 10,700'.
The hike up Paintbrush Canyon from Leigh Lake was unremarkable, as the
namesake Indian Paintbrush hadn't blossomed yet. It certainly didn't
have the same magnificent views as Cascade Canyon the day before. I
got on the trail at 8:45AM and hit the first snow bank at the end of
the first hour. By 10:30, the canyon floor had turned entirely to snow
and I began to really work my new mountaineering boots; what a
difference those rigid soles make!
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Last Updated ( Monday, 21 December 2009 )
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Written by Daniel Hienzsch
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Monday, 07 May 2007 |
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 Wasserturm |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 16 January 2009 )
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