Trip Report
What comes around...a life trip report
Tuesday August 7, 2012 3:12am
So it goes, one goes into the mountains to seek solitude and a little peace of mind, at least that's what this trip was about. A little Background....last September i was fortunate to spend a week in the Meadows climbing with an a Woman who i believe is the most amazing person in the world, we spent that week ticking off classic peaks in the area like Cathedral and the North Ridge of Conness, mixed in with a little relaxation as well...

Fast forward to October, Hanging out in the North Pines campground after climbing the Royal Arches...
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My buddy Mark near the top of Royal Arches..
My buddy Mark near the top of Royal Arches..
Credit: adikted
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Myself tryin to hold halfdome
Myself tryin to hold halfdome
Credit: adikted
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The next day was the longest day ever, we were climbing near The Falls when i get a call from the lady, not a good one, she needs her space and is going to go climb with out me. It doesnt sink in until the drive back to Tahoe, Devastated i decided to take a break from climbing all together and concentrate on the snowboarding season...which turns out to be kind of shitty.

January rolls around and my friend Ben calls and wants to climb since the snow sucks so bad, He pitches doing snakedike in January, it didnt take too long for me to agree and us to head down...Besides, how often do you getta climb Halfdome in January. Unfortunately i cannot find those pics so ill post another time.

Months go by without any climbing, the little snow we got we attempted to salvage until about April Making one last ski trip into the High Sierra.
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Aaron hiking into the Sawtooths for a little spring ski
Aaron hiking into the Sawtooths for a little spring ski
Credit: adikted
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snoooowwww
snoooowwww
Credit: adikted
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Since we came here to ski...we might as well ski....
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sweet tracks in a sweet setting
sweet tracks in a sweet setting
Credit: adikted
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love it
love it
Credit: adikted
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Once the snow started to melt the fire to climb started to burn, and burn it did,i started bouldering alot and eventually that led to a blown right middle finger, damn, another little bit off of climbing....seems as though that would happen, but none the less the fire still burned and while i was recouping i started to think of ways to become more at peace with myself and the mountains that i have grown to love, plus thoughts of her still rang heavy on my soul, so i decided that it was time to do a little soul searching of my own, thats when i decided to do a Solo Traverse of the Cathedrals, the version that's found in the Croft guidebook. it Seemed perfect A great day in the mountains plus it had the allure of being the last route i did with Her......I wanted cathedral...and then some..

So on a brisk July morning i found myself pulling into the trailhead at about 5:30am and heading toward Budd Lake..
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see you this afternoon
see you this afternoon
Credit: adikted
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getting psyched
getting psyched
Credit: adikted
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I found myself at the base of the route by 7:00am and was the first one there, so i put on my shoes and head up the stone...roughly 40 mins of classic moderate climbing got me to the summit..

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celebration shot on the summit of Cathedral...with no one around
celebration shot on the summit of Cathedral...with no one around
Credit: adikted
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Headed back down i was back at my pack by 8:15am where i was greeted by a couple people gettn ready to head up. felt good to go fast. Next up was Echo #3..

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on the way to the Echo's
on the way to the Echo's
Credit: adikted
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Sooo Prettyyy
Sooo Prettyyy
Credit: adikted
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My Entry for Echo #3 register, (the only one i found that day)
My Entry for Echo #3 register, (the only one i found that day)
Credit: adikted
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lookn back at the echos
lookn back at the echos
Credit: adikted
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Such a fun ridge.....only a little mildly annoying hiking...heres some of the goods.
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Myself with Matthes Crest in the background
Myself with Matthes Crest in the background
Credit: adikted
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the whaleback of Echo Ridge.....
the whaleback of Echo Ridge.....
Credit: adikted
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The High point of the climb, summit of Echo ridge <br/>
The High point of the climb, summit of Echo ridge

Credit: adikted
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Classic Ridgeline Awesomeness
Classic Ridgeline Awesomeness
Credit: adikted
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The Cockscomb gave me the most diffaculties for the day...it took me three trys to finally figure out how to get to the summit, just to find out that i was right the first time i went up...DOH..none the less it was an awesome summit...No summit pics though. At this point the fatigue started to set in but i decided that i was too close to stop now, i grabbed my pack and took off toward Unicorn.

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Looking back on The Cockscomb
Looking back on The Cockscomb
Credit: adikted
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The hill seperating Cockscomb and Unicorn sucks..but once its done its only a short 4th class scramble to the top of Unicorn, i dropped my pack in the shade and took off for the summit...

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Battle shot from the final summit!!
Battle shot from the final summit!!
Credit: adikted
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Lookn Back!!
Lookn Back!!
Credit: adikted
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After scrambling back to my pack exhausted i indulged in a much needed High Sierra power nap..
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Nap never felt so good...
Nap never felt so good...
Credit: adikted
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Feeling parched and delerious i decided it was time to find some water since i ran out before Unicorn so i followed the sound...it was OOOO soo goooood!

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Sweet Nectar of life....
Sweet Nectar of life....
Credit: adikted
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I scrambled down to Budd lake and enjoyed a nice alpine swim, i was greeted by a group of hikers who watched me scramble down from Unicorn and they asked where i had come from, i was all i could do to not Smile from ear to ear...That lake never felt so refreshing...
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Credit: adikted
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LIFE IS GOOD
LIFE IS GOOD
Credit: adikted
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So i hiked back down and made it just in time for the grill to close... oh well, i was greeted by great friends who invited me to join them for burritos...love me some burritos...so i don't know what i learned about life or anything for that matter but i did have a great time, and for a while there i had not a care in the world, nothing besides myself and the beautiful Sierra, what more could one ask for?

  Trip Report Views: 2,692
adikted
About the Author
adikted is a boulder climber from Tahooooeeeee.

Comments
Slinky00

Trad climber
Carson City, NV
  Aug 7, 2012 - 04:07am PT
Thanks for sharing! Looks like a day well spent.
Karl Baba

Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
  Aug 7, 2012 - 04:37am PT
Nice!
SeanH

Trad climber
SLC
  Aug 7, 2012 - 06:21am PT
Way to go on the Croft Cathedral link-up. On my list for sure!
Rockin' Gal

Trad climber
Boulder
  Aug 7, 2012 - 10:40am PT
"...not a care in the world..."
That's where I want to be, if only for a few moments. Thanks for the inspiration.
10b4me

Social climber
Lida Junction
  Aug 7, 2012 - 12:03pm PT
Hoping to head up there soon.
Tfpu
JEleazarian

Trad climber
Fresno CA
  Aug 7, 2012 - 01:51pm PT
Very nice pics and TR, from one of my favorite areas. Thanks very much.

John
this just in

climber
Justin Ross from North Fork
  Aug 7, 2012 - 02:09pm PT
Great report and pictures, thanks for posting down.
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Aug 7, 2012 - 05:13pm PT
Good for you!
Thanks
nutjob

Sport climber
Almost to Hollywood, Baby!
  Aug 7, 2012 - 05:22pm PT
Life is what you make of it, and you be makin' it good!
adikted

Boulder climber
Tahooooeeeee
Author's Reply  Aug 8, 2012 - 02:44am PT
I appreciate the kind words...its such a beautiful place, the meadow's and the state of mind.....im lookn forward to more High Sierra adventures soon..
Dirka

Trad climber
Hustle City
  Aug 8, 2012 - 12:35pm PT
Great TR!
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
  Nov 26, 2012 - 06:01pm PT
Nice pics and TR. Bump!
micronut

Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
  Nov 26, 2012 - 06:17pm PT
Good stuff for the soul. Proud send. Great write up and glance into the mind of a fellow climber. Time heals the heart bro. The perfect gal may be just around the next bend, or waiting for you at The Meadows Grille the next time you come stumbling out of the hills after a magnificent day on the rock. Let the old one go and be ready for ms. right when she shows up. Until then, the hills will never let you down.

Scott


Man, Tuolumne Trs never get old do they....
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
  Nov 26, 2012 - 07:48pm PT
That's the stuff! Channeling life into climbing and back again!
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
  Nov 26, 2012 - 08:18pm PT
Btw, you promised photos from snake dike!
Captain...or Skully

climber
Boise, ID
  Nov 26, 2012 - 08:18pm PT
Glorious TR, adikted. I can dig it.
Fab shots, too. TFPU!!!6!!
Johnny Duke

Sport climber
Fayetteville, Wv
  Nov 26, 2012 - 08:38pm PT
Micronut said it^. Well said.
Larry Nelson

Social climber
  Jun 28, 2016 - 01:41pm PT
Bump for another TR gem.
Did the Cathedral Traverse with a buddy about 6 or 7 years ago. Started at Unicorn but we skipped Cathedral Peak due to crowds and time.
TFPU
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
  Jun 28, 2016 - 01:53pm PT
Micro is right. Tuolumne TRs don't really get old.
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