GLISSADING DOWN GLACIERS INTO ANDREW'S TARN ALONG LONG'S PEAK, ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, COLORADO

In a week of climbing mountains daily, "bagging" up to three peaks in a day on good days (which always seemed to end with a "slog" out in a heavy downpour, alternating with ferocious summer hailstorms) Reg Franciose and I had hiked the Never Summer Range and a series of Continental Divide Peaks.

We decided to add a bit of snowcap to our adventure and picked up instructions and rented ice axes to climb the peaks adjacent to Long's Peak, the only Fourteener north of the Interstate 70 that divides Colorado. We decided to take the short way down--a full glissade down the glacier into Andrew's Tarn. It was wonderful fun. We then had to make our way out of the snow fields across roaring runoff from the glacial lakes. OK, now, let me see what I remember from the Exum School about a lateral traverse, and self arrest with an ice ax. That we both returned to walk in good health among herds of curious elk means that I managed to remember, and possible even to instruct, in the classic professional "See one, Do one, Teach one" sequence, with well-executed traverses across high exposure. It is still good fun, and the best fun is being able to discuss it after successfully recovering from the kinds of trouble that inexperience can lead one into that could be avoided by a less skillful but smarter climber!