Post #100: Sphinx Mountain Ice

With a big snowfall and some freezing temps, the ice climbing bug bit me hard. Sphinx gets some of the earliest ice in the NW so thats were I went ice hunting. Sam and I brought everything needed to climb the Lowe route but never got to touch the ice. We started way too late. We rounded the ridge onto the North face traverse at 2pm. The time constraint and a little fatigue found us backing off the face and just tagging the summit. "Taking the tools for a walk." The ice was in and then some! October 4th! It was still a beautiful day with a bunch of mini victories. Cant wait to go back and send that route! I hear the 3rd time is the charm....

These tracks tend to put a little extra kick in your step.

Could see the upper ice from the saddle!

Helmet mountain with the two other hikers up there that day.

Ice ice baby!

Cedar mountain from Sphinx.

Sam coming up the ridge towards the summit.

Sam walking the ridge over to the summit proper.

This lil guy wasnt up here last time I summited. 

On the way back down.

Whats the largest herd of mountain goats you have ever seen? Ill bet it wasnt 31 members strong!