Gregory Karl
07-25-2007, 01:43 PM
I was looking for a relaxed day of spontaneous exploration, beginning with the Kilburn Slide, other goals to be set along the way. Started at 7:45, arriving at the base of the slide around 8:30. There is a downside to starting early on a sunny day, as one ends up ascending directly into the sun. I climbed slowly and spent a long time on photography, mostly for the sake of savoring the experience. There are steep sections at the begining (chimney climb), middle (2500ft.), and at the very end. I bailed after getting halfway up the last steep pitch, deciding to ascend a gully to the right of the slide instead. From there it took about 15" to the wooded summit, where I lunched in a quiet hollow amidst the ferns and moss and moldering logs.
On the spur of the moment I decided to whack down to the col between the slide peak and Kilburn. The going was quite thick, but that seems not to have discouraged a fair amount of traffic; probably folks wanting to see the slide and ascend Kilburn on the same day. From the col I wandered down among the various rivulets that were converging to form the main Kilburn brook, staying E of the brook to 2500, and then crossing to the W side so as not to miss my turn at 2250. I turned right toward the top of the ravine where the slide resides, climbed the cliffs on the S side, and then looped down to the base of the slide before heading back to go. The trip took five hours, leaving plenty of time for some much needed yard work. Huzzah!
On the spur of the moment I decided to whack down to the col between the slide peak and Kilburn. The going was quite thick, but that seems not to have discouraged a fair amount of traffic; probably folks wanting to see the slide and ascend Kilburn on the same day. From the col I wandered down among the various rivulets that were converging to form the main Kilburn brook, staying E of the brook to 2500, and then crossing to the W side so as not to miss my turn at 2250. I turned right toward the top of the ravine where the slide resides, climbed the cliffs on the S side, and then looped down to the base of the slide before heading back to go. The trip took five hours, leaving plenty of time for some much needed yard work. Huzzah!