"’The secret of this kind of climbing,” said Japhy, ‘is like Zen. Don’t think. Just dance along. It’s the easiest thing in the world, actually easier than walking on flat ground which is monotonous. The cute little problems present themselves at each step and yet you never hesitate and you find yourself on some other boulder you picked out for no special reason at all, just like Zen.’” (Kerouac, Jack.
Dharma Bums. New York: Penguin Group, 1986, Pgs. 64-65)
This is the base of the “false pass” or first headwall that must be climbed. As you can see there is a trail, but then it becomes more of a scramble up rocks. The rocks are not fun at first, but like the quote above, you do get used to them and start to just get “in the zone” with them.
Looking back. This is really the first time that you can see a lot of elevation has been climbed over this long canyon.
Looking off to the left of from the last picture of Horseshoe Canyon. Avalanches do happen back here during the winter.
It takes anywhere from 20-40 minutes to continue along in the canyon. This is looking back.
At this point one continues a little further and the drainage continues off to the right. That is where I will continue next time. A few years ago a family was skiing back here in May. One of the teenagers got stuck so his father tried to climb to where he was to help him out. The father then fell to his death.
Nature does not play by rules!
