[Todd G]

Faith:
1 a : allegiance to duty or a person : LOYALTY b (1) : fidelity to one's promises (2) : sincerity of intentions
2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust

Mid-July is upon is. I haven't skied since June. Time to test my faith.


With all that water coming over the little headwall, there must be something up there.

Hope:
1 archaic : TRUST, RELIANCE
2 a : desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment <came in hopes of seeing you>; also : expectation of fulfillment or success <no hope of a cure> b : someone or something on which hopes are centered <our only hope for victory> c : something hoped for

It was 43 degF and raining on the summit at 0700 when I headed out on foot. Within an hour, I was guzzling Gatorade on the porch at Hojos under the bluest of skies. I watched a raven circling over the Boott Spur gullies, quorking as it swooped.



That's enough snow for some sliding, but I hope there's more than meets the eye.

Charity:
1 : benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity
2 a : generosity and helpfulness especially toward the needy or suffering; also : aid given to those in need b : an institution engaged in relief of the poor c : public provision for the relief of the needy
3 a : a gift for public benevolent purposes b : an institution (as a hospital) founded by such a gift
4 : lenient judgment of others

Climbing above the little headwall, I see that indeed, there is.



It's fairly heavily undermined -- severely undermined on the upper left, middle right, and central snout, but this patch generously serves up a few lines.



Twenty seconds of sliding, two minutes of awkward rock-scrambling in T1s. Repeat thirty times, as a turkey vulture glides silently over the waterfalls above.


Then head over to thank Hope and Faith for their perseverance.


Faith (the one in the middle) is steeper but badly undermined. Hope is in better shape, but is fading too. Both were good for a few kind turns. Still, these days, Charity is our best bet.

It's too nice to head back to work. Better to go for a stroll through our presidents. Mr. Washington:


Mr. Monroe:


Though clouds may shroud them, they will always be there, until they are carried away as the sand over which we paddle and surf.



Indeed, Mr. Monroe is already showing a seahorse over Oakes Gulf. (The "seahorse route" is more obvious in winter, particularly from Montalban Ridge.)



Not another human in sight up here. Just me, the alpine gardens, and the bugs.


The Gulf of Slides looks lower-angle from here.



Rocky ridges line up like gnarled knuckles of an ancient hand.



The Gulf's southerly kid brother doesn't want to be left out of the picture.



Glen Boulder, the size of a large lean-to, sits watch over the notch below.



Another beautiful day in the mountains. Hope, Faith, and Charity will always reward us -- if only we believe.

[nebcskier]

Very nice. Only a few more months before it starts filling in again.

Can't wait

[Bob T]

Beautiful photos Todd. Quite the little cache of snow there. Sounds like a really nice day.

[Shan]

Nice!

I once knew a trio of strippers named Faith, Hope and Charity.

[dana]

Think the slab on Sluice will hold until 1 August? (never made turns there in August before- might do it just for yuks if it's available.)

[Taiya]

Well said, well said!

[bcrider]

Good stuff Todd G!

I like the theme with the definitions. Cool touch.

I might also add one I thought of for you.

ded•i•ca•tion
1. The act of dedicating or the state of being dedicated.
2. Selfless devotion

[Kristin S]

wow.

[tele mark]

[dana]

[telemikey]

Are there any pics of this place during a full one winter? Just curious to see the difference...
_________________
White room,
pillow lines,
I rule

[dana]

[Todd G]

The snow arch is going fast. From 7/17/05:


Contrast 03/13/05:

[Brenda]

Nice way to represent from the East! Thanks!

I gotta get up there and climb Tux this summer--it's a terrific hike and fun to see what it's like without snow--sooo different.

[dana]