Terror Basin, 11/29/02 - 12/1/02

With no snow and clear skies forecast, Phil and I looked for a suitable adventure for Thanksgiving weekend.  Why not the Pickett Range?!  Figuring the lack of snow would provide some late season climbing, we set our sights on the west ridge of West McMillan Spire.  We made great time on the approach via Goodall Creek (no bushwhacking, despite what I'd always heard) but as soon as we got above the treeline we started post-holing in deep sugary snow.  The traverse to our camp right at the beginning of Terror Basin suddenly became quite arduous.  The next morning we began a slow tedious struggle through the hip deep snow but it quickly became apparent we wouldn't be able to do the climb with the available daylight.  So instead we made our way up to the ridge above Azure Lake and enjoyed the views and good weather.  


The snow free massif in the center is Inspiration Peak.  



Mt. Triumph across the valley.



Inspiration left and McMillan spires right in the morning light.  



Azure Lake was frozen over, but an avalanche swept down and put huge cracks in the ice.  Cool.  



A 900 foot wall above Azure Lake.