"After the first glass, you see things as you wish they were. After the second, you see things as they are not. Finally, you see things as they really are, which is the most horrible thing in the world."
--Oscar Wilde on Absinthe
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Dean - Aug 21, 2009 6:28 am - Voted 10/10
Great reportOne of the best I've seen for Granite and your pics are really helpful in telling the story. Congratulations on completing the lower 48.
cp0915 - Aug 21, 2009 9:38 am - Voted 10/10
Excellent TRThanks for the stoke!
chicagotransplant - Aug 21, 2009 10:20 am - Voted 10/10
CongratsCongrats Kevin! Great way to finish the lower 48 and a great TR and pics to tell the tale!
HokieJim - Aug 21, 2009 10:38 am - Voted 10/10
Awesome...pics as always Kevin! Congrats on a successful trip!
musicman82 - Aug 21, 2009 11:30 am - Voted 10/10
Well doneThis is the definitive SP trip report for Granite - nice work!
maddie77777 - Aug 21, 2009 11:59 am - Voted 10/10
Awesome reportAnd fantastic pictures. For some reason, I thought people went over the top of the snow bridge. I didn't realize you have to tackle it from the side. Great pictures which will help me plan for this one......at some point in my life...
shknbke - Aug 21, 2009 2:41 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Awesome reportMaddie:
From the pics I have seen, most years the snowbridge is totally dried out or not a factor in Aug and you can walk across the top of it. I think I read somewhere that MT was well above average in snowfall last year, so the bridge isn't going to melt out this summer! It was so high this year that if you walked on the crest you would have to downclimb 10-15 feet of near vertical snow at the end of it! There was a huge moat carved out by the wind.
BigRob - Aug 21, 2009 11:47 pm - Voted 10/10
CongratulationsVery cool report and excellent photos. Makes me want to call a road trip. I grew up in SE TN not far too far from Clingman's Dome. Funny you mentioned it. My dad used to take us to Cade's Cove all the time.
TimW - Aug 22, 2009 9:54 pm - Hasn't voted
Good report/photosWas wondering if you guys would tackle the Tempest/Peal ridge. Could be doable, but would take awhile. Sounds like the N side of Peal is as junky as the SE slopes.
TLP - Aug 23, 2009 8:33 am - Voted 10/10
CongratsNice job on Granite, and completing the lower 48 Highpoints! Something to be proud of.
wyopeakMike - Aug 23, 2009 12:51 pm - Voted 10/10
great reportCongrats on the lower 48 highpoints, are you going to Denali? A great TR for an amazing peak I hope to get to some day. Your report was very helpful for more info on the peak.
shknbke - Aug 23, 2009 3:47 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: great reportThanks for the comment, Mike. I'm shooting for 2011 for Denali. I still have a lot to learn with camping on snow, so I'm hoping to improve in that area over the next couple winters!
Moogie737 - Aug 23, 2009 5:45 pm - Voted 10/10
Nice reportJoe and I made it to Granite's summit on the 14th, but we came from the southwest and used the southwest couloir. We had only three small snow squalls but 35 mph winds to deal with the entire summit day. Nice going on your adventure and good report with good pics.
climber555 - Aug 23, 2009 10:35 pm - Hasn't voted
nice reportGood job on the climb. Glad you guys had nice weather. Looks like a fun climb.
Tracy - Aug 23, 2009 11:17 pm - Voted 10/10
great TRI have to echo what the other commentators said re: the pictures and the narrative.... A great trip report that helped me visualize what is really involved!
Luciano136 - Aug 24, 2009 1:25 pm - Voted 10/10
Camp :-).Sounds like you enjoy camping as much as I do ;-). Pretty chilly for August! Congrats and when is the last highpoint?!
Tbacon251 - Aug 24, 2009 3:33 pm - Hasn't voted
Great job and great report!Proud of you. I made the summit on June 27th, 2009 (other side). I attempted your route a couple times, but was turned around due to weather. I am so happy that you made it....GREAT JOB!
JDrake - Aug 25, 2009 6:34 pm - Voted 10/10
Great TRJust a great read through and through.
tmbass - Aug 26, 2009 11:52 am - Hasn't voted
Goat Vandalism!Great trip report and congratulations. Just a bit of trivia for you... Goats are always looking for salt in their diets and will chew anything that may have sweat or salt residue. They are even known to rush over to where someone has urinated to get the dissolved salts excreted. I guess your trekking pole was collateral damage on a great climb.
shknbke - Aug 26, 2009 1:23 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Goat Vandalism!Yeah, I was aware of their attraction to salt. I put the tips of my poles in a crack between two rocks so that goats or marmots couldn't get to the handles, but they were able to knock one down. One goat was on my pee within about 5 seconds after I finished once at camp!