Threading the film…
Threading the film…
Crossing a river should be straightforward but I could tell by the amount of conversation given to the subject that it most likely would not be. Just give me a nice log or some well placed boulders. It’s not a request I often hear myself muttering in the early morning hours. But here we were wandering up and down the river bank, discussing the merits of each piece of fallen detritus. Trying to imagine ourselves crossing a log, or hopping with an unusual spring in our step from one landing pad to another. All the while, our frustration growing by the moment until finally the will to stay dry is broken and we surrender ourselves to the river. This was the first challenge of climbing and skiing Eldorado. The next spirit crushing moment is soon to follow. When it comes to trails how steep is too steep? You’ll soon find out as you begin to strain your achilles and hamstrings in a 2000ft high stepping exercise. Not to worry, you’r vertical lunges will soon be rewarded with a full body workout in the boulder field. Like Sisyphus your interaction with the boulders will feel endless but you will not be rewarded with eternal life when this obstacle comes to an end. When your hands are done handling the cold stone your attention will now turn to the new task of pole planting, plodding and skidding your way across the glacier and up to Elderado Peak. Now you get to go down. We extended our skiing by taking the fall line down Inspiration Glacier and then climbing back up to Torado Needle. Then it was a mixture of corn and sloppy mush all the way back to the infamous boulder field.