salzburger spitzl | september 2011

Terry sets his GPS at the trailhead with a distant Salzburger Spitzl and Handwerk Peak beckoning in the distance.

When we arrive at base camp, we unload for the climb. I consult the map and appear to be a little pensive as we prepare to go on up. [Terry Patterson photo]

After making camp, we head up into the basin framed by Salzburger Spitzl (11,600) in distant left, the twin peaks of Kane/Goat (11,919/11,864) to the right of the saddle.

Terry peers up into the basin. Pioneer Cabin is in the meadow on the far horizon.

With the Spitzl in the backround, we pause at the lip of the basin and look back toward Pioneer Cabin. [Terry Patterson photo]

Yep, there it is.

I take off up the basin, aiming for a good line to the west ridge. [Terry Patterson photo]

Nice solid slabs as we work up into the back of the basin.

The beautiful alpine basin falls away below us.

The route is not well defined, but there's no mistaking where to end up: that rightmost knoll is the summit of the Spitzl.

Terry decides on a higher line, while I locate this gully that leads to the west ridge.

There's Terry...look carefully just to the right of the cliff.

Nearing the top of the gully,with only a boulder field between me and the west summit ridge.

Another "where's Terry?" shot. He's coming across that boulder field. We did a lot of boulder hopping this trip.

We take a short rest stop and Terry surveys the route ahead with Handwerk Peak as the backdrop.

It's just a slog to the top now. Florian's Nudl lies way back on the horizon.

We gain the ridge and can see the summit a few hundred yards ahead.

Looking back down the ridge into Long Gulch.

The gully I came up (and we later went down) is easy to see mid-frame, then the short bit to the ridge.

Done with the gully, I set my sights on the west ridge. [Terry Patterson photo]

Almost there...

Looking down the connecting ridge to the north.

Terry verifies that this isn't a false summit on his GPS.

Terry on summit of Salzburger Spitzl, 11,600'. Devils Bedstead East looms in the background. 4:30 PM, 9.26.2011.

Kane/Goat from the Spitzl. I made it to the south summit on the right. Terry continued the .2 mile out to the north summit, Kane Peak.

Goat/Kane across the canyon will be the next day goal. Florian's Nudl is like a shark fin on the ridge below.

Kane Lake (below) and Devils Bedstead East from summit of Salzburger Spitzl.

The way back down. Camp is just around the end of the meadow about three miles and 3,100 vertical feet away.

Up on the summit, with Goat Peak beyond. Florian's Nudl is just above my backback. [Terry Patterson photo]

Yeah, I get squinty but I've been told to take glasses off for photos. Just above my right shoulder is my high point the next day on Goat Peak. And Florian's Nudl juts out on the right.