Hope Pass
Dominic and Kevin at Hope Pass before sunrise. To approach the Hopeful Couloir from Sheep Gulch one must go up and over the pass, dropping several hundred feet down into the basin at the head of Little Willis Gulch.
A pleasant, scenic snow climb
Dominic and Kevin at Hope Pass before sunrise. To approach the Hopeful Couloir from Sheep Gulch one must go up and over the pass, dropping several hundred feet down into the basin at the head of Little Willis Gulch.
Mount Hope's northeast face catching the first rays of sunshine. The left angling couloir that tops out to the left of the summit is the Hopeful Couloir, a moderate and aesthetic snow climb.
View down Little Willis Gulch from the basin at its head. Apparently the camping here is very nice, making a longer approach from the north worthwhile. Dave, Hoot, Matt, Shep & Kiefer chose this option and met Kevin, Dominic & I in the morning for the climb.
Dominic and Kevin making their way toward the base of the Hopeful Couloir while being pestered by spindrift. In June?
It was clear that this huge piece of rock recently broke loose from above and slid down the couloir, causing a small avalanche en route. The Hopeful Couloir is the line immediately left of center.
Kevin and Dominic slowly starting up the couloir as we wait for Dave and Hoot.
Dave at the beginning of the climb, happy to have found good conditions after a failed attempt last year.
Conditions were good and the views fantastic!
Hoot doing some nice axe plunging.
Dave, Dominic and Kevin about halfway up the couloir.
View down the couloir and Little Willis Gulch from near the top. The two lakes in the upper left are Twin Lakes.
Hoot leading the way up the steepest part of the couloir toward the direct exit. A cornice often threatens this finish but today it wasn't very threatening. The snow angle maxed out at about 47 degrees.
The banshees attack Kevin as he tops out onto Mount Hope's east ridge just a short distance from the summit. These were the strongest winds I've encountered so far in June.
Dave and Kevin chat on Hope's east ridge in front of a beautiful backdrop including Mount Oxford and Mount Belford.
Kevin, Matt, Shep & Kiefer beginning the descent of Mount Hope's east ridge.
Dominic on the descent of Mount Hope's east ridge.
Quail Mountain, the next objective for Kevin, Dominic & I.