Mummy Snow Climb (20 miles NW of Las Vegas)

Elevation peak ~11530'.

Harlan W. Stockman
Saturday, May 21, 2005

It was 102 F in Vegas that day. We could see the hot sun reflecting off Circus-Circus… what a contrast! We hit sporadic snow soon after we parked the car at ~7800'.

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GPS trace of route

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On the North Loop Trail at ~9700'.

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At ~10300', we stop to put on crampons.

 

 

 

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View S. Raoul, Luba and Steve near the top of the talus slope. Alda is behind the trees.

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View W. From the top of the talus, we head E.

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The mountain above Luba was the origin for the January 2005 avalanche at the ski area. Snow-covered Telescope Peak (CA, the other side of Death Valley) is faintly visible on the skyline

 

 

 

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Charleston Peak is visible in the background.

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Show of hands: who thinks Harlan should wear brighter clothes? (Photo courtesy Steve N.) View NE to last cliff band.

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The 4 intrepids approach the cliff band.

 

 

 

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Raoul approaches last chute.

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Alda models her fashionable footwear.

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On top, Luba leads us in readings from the Tao.

 

 

 

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I was running late, so I chose to fly in. (Self-portrait)

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It was a stretch, but we all made it.

 

 

 

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Looking NE up the chute, as the crew prepares to descend.

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View SW at the bottom of the chute, as Steve shows off his combination self-arrest device / club.

 

 

 

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A few postholes.

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View NE to the cliff band, as Alda does the crampon dance.

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Alda heads toward Griffith Peak.

 

 

 

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We took off the crampons and came down the exposed rock. View E.

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Alda practices the "Calgary luge". Surprisingly, descent of the talus slope took less time than the ascent.

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Now we're back on the Trail Canyon Trail, with air temps in the high 70s.