Grand plans with a view!

photo copyright Kobus Barnard

Long before the "Lemon Scheming" incident, Craig has had a hankering to climb the 2,000 foot Lotus Flower Tower (pictured left).  It is a fabulous piece of granite just below the arctic circle, & listed in the top 50 Classic North American Climbs.  For those who don't rock climb, this peak demands efficient, delicate, & athletic movement and some of the most gorgeous vistas in the world (if you like sparkling jagged mountains and electric green meadows with the compliment of an azure lake or two).

One main challenge presented by the Lotus Flower Tower, and many other barely touched granite spires in the Cirque of the Unclimbables, is the remote location.
When you google a direction search from Estes Park, Colorado to Finlayson Lake (the closest driving point to the actual Cirque), the results "Suggested Route" takes you 1 day & 20 hours, is 2,370 miles, and the little blip lands you in a lone section of the Northwest Territories of Canada.  From there, if weather conditions allow, a privately chartered float plane lands you on a glacier lake near the Cirque.  The completion of the journey requires a 7-10 hour jaunt up a loose scree filled slope.  Sounds exciting, eh eh?  Don't forget we need to carry all necessary gear and food for the next 3 weeks on our back!!!  A helicopter drop off option directly into the Cirque is a known possibility, but at twice the amount of money of an already expensive adventure, we have decided to grunt and hoof it.  For more details and awe inspiring photos of the Cirque, please visit this well put together website; George Bell and the Cirque!

Once you meet Craig, you will understand his enthusiasm and vigilance, hence a trip like this coming together.  The numbers listed above pale in comparison to the amount of miles he will cover on his bicycle just getting to the Cirque and beyond.
Yes, bicycle.
Beginning in early April, Craig will begin the roughly 5,000 mile journey from Florida to Alaska, arriving in Denali National Park sometime in August, hoping to get a few hikes and adventures in.  This is not Craig's first bicycle ride, a few years back he got a hankering to pedal the 887 miles and 14, 500 foot of elevation gain from Death Valley, California to Mt. Evans, Colorado.

In Watson Lake, Canada, Wes and I will meet up with Craig, gather the rest of our supplies, strap the bike on the VW van that Wes and I will have driven up from Colorado, and head out on the long gravel road to Finlayson Lake.

Once in the Cirque, aside from climbing the Lotus Flower Tower, we will attempt to free existing aid lines and ultimately, establish a route never done before.

As of now, the trio is headed to Sedona, Arizona later this week to train for the Cirque by scaling sandstone spires and devouring mint chocolate s'mores!!!