Saddleback Slide and other points

[RTSpoons]

Finally able to get another slide under my belt. Saddleback (McComb does not count as a slide climb) is only my second real slide. Slide climbing provides great views and a nice way to improve your tan. I am still a long way from feeling comfortable on the openness of slides but after a few more that feeling should start to past. I started around 2800 feet, where the trail comes next to the slide. I mostly stayed to the right hand side of the slide, moving from the center to the right. It was a decent climb and a short bushwhack to the summit of Saddleback.
I was thinking about going to the slides on Basin but will leave that for another day. Instead I climb Gothic via the cable route. In my opinion the cable route is steeper than the Saddleback slide. It was a wonderful day to hike so after Gothic I moved on to Armstrong and Upper Wolf Jaw, eventually looping back to the Garden.
As I left Gothic I became some what disoriented by the way the trail drops, I thought I might have missed a turn or something. I have not been on Gothic in the summer for quite sometime it sure looks different than several of my winter trips to this summit. The drop off Armstrong to UWJ is also quite different in winter.
Eventually I reached the junction for the valley and trip out to the car. It was really a great day to be out. Pictures to follow in next thread.

[RTSpoons]

The pictures of Saddleback slide, Gothic, the slides of Basin, and various views. https://picasaweb.google.com/RTSpoons/20120808

[NorthBay]

Nice pics RT...That is tentatively the start of my next climb too. Can't wait to get there.

Steve

[masshysteria]

Great pictures Ron! Did you take the left or right fork at the top of the slide?

[RTSpoons]

Originally Posted by masshysteria

Great pictures Ron! Did you take the left or right fork at the top of the slide?

I went up the right fork. From the bottom it looked like it might curve left at the top but it didn't.

It's funny, the place I left the slide was the same location others have left. A slight path is developing, you can see broken branches, footprints, etc. It funny how the terrain funnels people.

[mudrat]

Love the shot of the dead pine sweeping in unison with the slide track! IMO, the cable route is steeper than Saddleback slide too.

[Gregory Karl]

Originally Posted by RTSpoons

It's funny, the place I left the slide was the same location others have left. A slight path is developing, you can see broken branches, footprints, etc. It funny how the terrain funnels people.

Sorry we couldn't do this one together. If one goes straight up the headwall—I did so using the long dike near the left side (see pic), I'm pretty sure it is steeper than the cable route.

https://picasaweb.google.com/curugro...38426159520994

I take it you exited somewhere on the right side of the slide?