Trip Report

We chose Diamond Peak for our Climb School's "Graduation Climb" and had a great turn-out of strong and enthusiastic climbers. Everything about this trip and this group was great except the weather. The rain showers we drove through as we traveled to the Pioneer Gulch Trailhead turned to snow as we arrived. The hike up the N.W. Ridge took us through progressively deeper and softer snow, but a large willing group makes a good trail and we forged on until stiff breezes, freezing fog, blowing ice pellets and virtual white-out conditions called a halt to progress at the false summit. It was another climbing lesson to see, as we turned to retreat, that the blowing snow had completely covered the tracks of even our large group in a matter of minutes. We were now dependent on the compass, and the now obscured wands we had left, to find our way back down the windswept ridge and into the relative quiet of the woods below. Despite not quite reaching the summit, this was a fun and successful trip. Many thanks to all who came along and especially the Obsidians who helped at both the School and with the climb. Participants were George Baitinger, Marsha Barr, Gary Blair, Sherrill Blodget, John Cox, Jason Gangle, Steve Gibson, Dan Hagen, Jennifer Herd, Miles Hollander, Ken Horton, Virgil Lamb, Larry Liedtke, David Mason, Peggy Lee Mathes, Juli McGlinsky, Kristine Nelson, Brian Roddy, Kim Sawyer, Mark Slipp (assistant leader) and Doug Nelson, leader.