Re: [pct-l] Wrong way shortcuts

[Jeffzclimb@aol.com]

Greg, That was a very fine account of the September 12, 1978 day
we climbed Mt. Ritter. Even now I remember that day well, The 
morning was warm (as far as September Sierra mornings go) and 
it looked like a great day to climb  Mt. Ritter, And the day was 
going well until we decided to leave our accent route and descend
over a series of rock ledges with melting snow cascading over the 
rocks. Wow Greg, I guess we were young and dumb.

It seemed with relative ease Greg and I descended the vertical rock 
ledges. As we reached the bottom, our plan was to jump back
on the snow, but the distance between the rocks and snow  would
not allow us to reach the snow field below. So at that moment
we realized theres only one way to go and thats to climb back
up the way we came down.

As Greg and I climbed up to were we jump down on the decent,
This would be most difficult section, smooth vertical rock with 
melting snow rolling over, anyway just for a split second I thought
that I might not be able to go any farther up then were I stood, but
then another split second later the thought was there was no such
thing as not making it. I just focused on climbing up and reaching 
the top, and after a few minutes I looked up to see Greg's helping 
hand reaching down and then I knew it was only a few more feet 
to go. Greg described this so well in his letter that I need not write 
anything more.

So to sum it all up one mistake not only could screw up your trip 
but could cost you your life. After that experience my one rule was
always descend the same route unless I was absolutely sure of an 
alternative route. When I hear or read of people falling this climb 
always comes to mind and I think of just how Greg and I pulled
this one off.

Jeff Zimmerman
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