Baboquivari
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Anybody been up Baboquivari this season? I was wondering if it will be free of snow/ice... Also, anyone know the deal with permits? I've heard some say they are necessary (if so, where do you need to pick them up?), and others say they aren't... |
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I climbed Babo via the SW face a little over a week ago. There is no snow at all on that side of the mountain (including the SE arete) or on the western approach, but there was a lot of snow and ice on the Forbes route descent. In particular, the ladder pitch and the fourth class section were covered with ice. I imagine most of that has melted off by now with the warmer weather. We ended up doing two rappels from trees that are skier's right of this section, which worked out fine. Another party descended the icy sections with a belay (?), which took a long time, but they made it. |
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Patrick Pfeifer wrote:Anybody been up Baboquivari this season? I was wondering if it will be free of snow/ice... Also, anyone know the deal with permits? I've heard some say they are necessary (if so, where do you need to pick them up?), and others say they aren't... Thanks, PatrickI did Babo on Saturday, April 3rd. We went up the South East Arete, which was great. Like Patrick said, there was A LOT of snow on the decent of the Forbes route. The Ladder Pitch was iced up and running water, which turned my rope into a muddy mess. We didn't need any other raps other than the three to get back to the saddle. I have always gone in on the East side, no permit is necessary.
I have GPS locations for parking in the East Approach, the Saddle, and the start of the South East Arete if you want them. I have a very messy track that I am cleaning up for the decent down the Forbes route. It will get you into the main gully, which is key, after that, it goes really wacky since Babo is blocking the south sky. If you want them, just let me know. |
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Here is a letter from Jolene Lewis, the Baboquivari District secretary, regarding permits on the west side of Baboquivari: |
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That is the most awesome form I have ever seen. Seriously. Mostly the waiver section. |
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Pete Hickman wrote:That is the most awesome form I have ever seen. Seriously. Mostly the waiver section.They obviously didn't have a lawyer write it. I wonder why they single out Lions... :-) |
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i think it is because the Liger hasnt been seen in the area in a while. |
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John Farrell wrote: They obviously didn't have a lawyer write it. I wonder why they single out Lions... :-)Because there are tons of them. When I was there in 96, we camped on the west saddle, and had a mountain lion roam thru our camp. We were not surprised, after pulling into the parking area on the west, and seeing nothing but, "Beware of Mountain Lions". |
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Thanks for the weather update, as well as the permit information. Awesome form! |
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Shiloh wrote:i think it is because the Liger hasnt been seen in the area in a while.That's pretty much my favorite animal in the world. From personal experience, the Lion's Ledge should be renamed to the Skunk's Ledge then. Patrick, send PM your email to me, and I'll get you that Babo Waypoints and Track. |