Longs

Climbed Longs up/down the Cables with Bill W. Bill had biked up Evans in the morning (which explains the slower pace for this outing), so we didn't start up until 1:49 pm.

Used the approach variations that have become common for us of late. On the Jims Grove trail, we were informed by a party that we passed that a hiker had just died on the Ledges of the Keyhole route. Hard for me to put that out of my mind.

This party also bailed off the Cables route due to snow and ice. We'd brought only a 30m rope, harnesses, and a few slings, but I didn't worry as I had Bill along to get us up it.

We continued up to the Boulderfield, anxious to get a look at the North Face. Didn't really look too bad, so up we went. Stopped to don more clothing and our harnesses before entering the cold shadows of the North Face.

When we got to the Cables pitch, it didn't look too bad from the bottom. However, the top part had a dusting of snow covering the polished slabs, which was pretty exciting for Bill leading, and me following, in just approach/running shoes. With the 30m rope, we had to simul-climb a bit, as the pitch is probably around 40-45m.

Stashed the rope and packs above the Cables pitch and continued to the summit. Back down at the Cables, I rapped 30m, which allowed me to barely reach the eye bolt near the lower crux. I put a sling on the bolt and used that to help me down climb a few feet to a good stance, then down climbed from there. Bill rapped 15m, down climbed a bit, rapped another 15m, and I think that got him down the pitch.

Hiked out to the Jims Grove trail, from where we ran much of the remaining descent.

0:00 - trailhead
15:46 - hitting the main trail after the initial shortcut trail
3:04:58 - Longs summit
5:20:57 - trailhead

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