The Rain in Hatcher Pass Falls Everywhere, All the Time
The opening of Archangel Road in our local climbing area is a yearly event that can never come early enough. First the snow has to melt, then whoever-it-is has to do maintenance to the road and fix things up a bit, and eventually the rangers decide when the gate opens and traffic can make it up to the end of the road. Of course we can't wait that long, so every year finds us hiking or biking up the road before it's opened.
This season we hit it on a great day. The weather in the valley where we live was stellar. Of course the weather on one side of these mountains says nothing about the weather on the other side. We made our gamble and started up the road on our bikes, toting our climbing gear in our packs and wondering what the other side of the mountain would have for us. We soon had our answer as we rounded a ridge line and the bright and dry sky turned gloomy and glowering in the distance:
Undeterred having mostly expected this based on our experiences here, we carried on. At length we reached our destination and geared up for some climbing. Tracy opted for the lead, so I got my flash wet as she prepped everything.
In the end, the soaking cold and slippery rocks proved too much for her, so I took off and led the climb, then shot her as she followed. I grew up climbing here, so even though it's always like this, for some reason it's always home to me.
Pinnacle Peak at one side of Archangel Valley gives us a five minute warning of impending weather. When it disappears, we know we're in for a soaker. For most of this day, the peak just drifts in and out of a light mist of drizzle.
We wrap up our climbing after one two-pitch route, and as we turn to head back down, we notice cars at the end of the road. Piled onto our already miserable weather conditions is the opening of the gate, sometime shortly AFTER we had taken off on our bikes and slogged our way to the top of the road! :rofl We have to laugh about things like this, or we'll just get horribly bitter and move south to the desert, or something equally crazy. :rofl
The next morning finds us again heading up to Hatcher Pass, this time with a friend and his jeep. A quick drive takes us to the end of the road, but once more the weather is moist and cold - in fact our Pinnacle Peak weather station appears to be taking on a layer of snow! With a few sighs we ditch the climbing gear and decide on hiking for the day to lessen the misery involved in our fun. The scenery around us is just at the start of greenup, with snow patches still melting and the crystal clear mountain streams and lakes drifting by as peacefully as ever.
We wander around leisurely enjoying the finer points of life, pausing to shoot the waterfalls and streams along the way.
This water is as cold as it gets. It hurts your whole body when you leave one foot in it long enough to get a few shots. :huh
A day in the mountains isn't complete without a jump across the creek. In this case we did it a few times for the pictures.
And that's it. With the opening of Archangel Road, it is now officially summer in Alaska! We'll have more for you over the rest of the summer, I'm sure!
This season we hit it on a great day. The weather in the valley where we live was stellar. Of course the weather on one side of these mountains says nothing about the weather on the other side. We made our gamble and started up the road on our bikes, toting our climbing gear in our packs and wondering what the other side of the mountain would have for us. We soon had our answer as we rounded a ridge line and the bright and dry sky turned gloomy and glowering in the distance:
Undeterred having mostly expected this based on our experiences here, we carried on. At length we reached our destination and geared up for some climbing. Tracy opted for the lead, so I got my flash wet as she prepped everything.
In the end, the soaking cold and slippery rocks proved too much for her, so I took off and led the climb, then shot her as she followed. I grew up climbing here, so even though it's always like this, for some reason it's always home to me.
Pinnacle Peak at one side of Archangel Valley gives us a five minute warning of impending weather. When it disappears, we know we're in for a soaker. For most of this day, the peak just drifts in and out of a light mist of drizzle.
We wrap up our climbing after one two-pitch route, and as we turn to head back down, we notice cars at the end of the road. Piled onto our already miserable weather conditions is the opening of the gate, sometime shortly AFTER we had taken off on our bikes and slogged our way to the top of the road! :rofl We have to laugh about things like this, or we'll just get horribly bitter and move south to the desert, or something equally crazy. :rofl
The next morning finds us again heading up to Hatcher Pass, this time with a friend and his jeep. A quick drive takes us to the end of the road, but once more the weather is moist and cold - in fact our Pinnacle Peak weather station appears to be taking on a layer of snow! With a few sighs we ditch the climbing gear and decide on hiking for the day to lessen the misery involved in our fun. The scenery around us is just at the start of greenup, with snow patches still melting and the crystal clear mountain streams and lakes drifting by as peacefully as ever.
We wander around leisurely enjoying the finer points of life, pausing to shoot the waterfalls and streams along the way.
This water is as cold as it gets. It hurts your whole body when you leave one foot in it long enough to get a few shots. :huh
A day in the mountains isn't complete without a jump across the creek. In this case we did it a few times for the pictures.
And that's it. With the opening of Archangel Road, it is now officially summer in Alaska!
We'll have more for you over the rest of the summer, I'm sure!
John Borland
www.morffed.com
www.morffed.com
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