Cliff & Redfield Across Flowed Lands at the Gathering (3/1/14)

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Beautiful hike on a perfect day. Temp about -15 Fahrenheit in the parking lot when DobyBear and I started at 4:30 am. Daybreak by the time we got to "Flowed Lands". The trek across Flowed Lands is awesome during the winter with views of Mount Colden, Avalanche Cliffs, and the surrounding countryside. It was still very cold. I was wearing two light polyester layers, a thin shell top, soft shell pants. I had my Tubbs' Flex Alps on all day (perfect choice).

Flowed Lands (across the ice) only cuts off about 0.2 miles one way. However, some have reported that the summer route around Flowed Lands is nasty, buggy, muddy, rocky, full of PUDs, and adds significant time. Alcohol was involved in both the sending and receiving of these reports.

Cliff has a very steep and icy section of about 500 vertical feet, but the trail is very narrow with plenty of handholds. A traditional mountaineering axe was found on this day to be horrible hindrance, as it caught on every low branch and blow-down. However we did discuss the use of an ice climbers axe such as: http://www.bentgate.com/shop/black-d...-ice-tool-3846. Also Big&Booktime has suggested a "Whippet" http://www.backcountry.com/black-dia...rrest-ski-pole

The walk up Redfield was a straight forward walk-up. Moderate grades with nice views (though windy) at the top. Back to the car by 4:00 pm. I did some back tracking, hence the distance could be better estimated as about 18 miles.

Photos and GPS track on Wikiloc: http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=6253716

How long were you able to stay awake at the party ?

Not long, I think I was sound asleep by 8:30. Woke up in the morning with a half glass of scotch next to me, sacrilege.

John

What size Flex Alps do you use 24" or 28"? I'm thinking of buying a pair.

Jazzbo

Jazzbo said:

John

What size Flex Alps do you use 24" or 28"? I'm thinking of buying a pair.

Jazzbo

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The 24's. I never had any complaints about the MSR's, but I do think the Tubbs Flex Alps are roughly $30 better.

Thanks for the trip report. Long day but sounds like you had a good time. I'm assuming you drank the half glass of scotch the next morning.

Hey John, Good to read your TR and see you are still out there. Tom W

RollingRock said:

.... I'm assuming you drank the half glass of scotch the next morning.

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Brushed my teeth with it.

Hillwalker said:

Hey John, Good to read your TR and see you are still out there. Tom W

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Good hearing from you again Tom. Really missed you on the ATC. Not nearly as much fun, so I quit.