Photo of the Day: The Evolution Traverse

Sunset while on the summit of Mt. Mendel

With 21 years of climbing memories in my head, there is one experience that truly stands out; Climbing the Sierra Nevada’s Evolution Traverse in 2002.

For me, the photo I have chosen is all about beauty, all about a great experience with a good friend, and all about being in the mountains doing what I love.

Late one fall day, David Melkonian and I set off to traverse Peter Croft’s long, long ridge traverse. How long in distance I don’t even remember, how long in hours I do – 17 in our case. Our 3pm alpine start guaranteed we wouldn’t get far before darkness, so we carried a light sleeping bag each and hoped for warm nighttime temps on the 13,406 foot Mt. Mendel summit. As the sun went down, the sky erupted in color and golden light. Dave and I were able to enjoy the solitude and beauty from the top of one of the Sierra’s best viewpoints. Moments later we were huddled in our sleeping bags anxiously awaiting the sun’s return.

The next day is a blurred memory of focused movement traversing miles of granite. The ridge is a defined line drawn out ahead of the climber, always forcing more effort until the last summit and the long descent to the Evolution Basin far below. We were successful in finishing the route, soloing all but the chossey rappel from Darwin’s summit and one tricky spot getting to Mendel’s summit.

In the end we were spent. We slept another night out beneath the stars, but this time in the dry grass of Evolution Basin. I remember laying in my sleeping bag with aching hands, hungry, exhausted but not wanting to sleep, only to take it all in, knowing I had just gone through a great experience.