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In July Fran completed her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at U of Colorado's Anschutz Medical Campus (thesis topic: "Modulation of Ionic Conductances at the Vestibular Type I Hair Cell Calyx Synapse"). Here are Fran and Martin after Fran's thesis defence. - View_from_meadow.jpg
Panorama of the Teton Range from Togwotee Pass. The Cathedral Traverse doesn’t look like much of a traverse from this angle, since Teewinot and Mt. Owen are right in front of the Grand Teton (high point left of centre). From L to R: John Christie, Kevin Smith and Martin. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Tweenot_Summit3.jpg
Summit of Teewinot, with the Grand Teton and Mt. Owen in the background. L to R: John, Martin, Kevin and Stewart. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Teton_from_Tweenot.jpg
N Face of the Grand Teton from Teewinot. In the background are the peaks we didn’t get around to climbing. From L to R: Nez Perce (and behind it Buck Mountain), Cloudveil Dome, Spalding Peak, Gilkey Tower, the Ice Cream Cone, and the South and Middle Teton. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Teton_From_Grand_Stand.jpg
Stewart starting the climb of the N Ridge of the Grand Teton, about five or six pitches of 5.7. It felt hard for the grade up at 13,000’ with approach shoes and big packs. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Storm_Coming_in.jpg
A parting view of the South, Middle and Grand Tetons, Mt Owen, and Teewinot under stormy skies. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Second_Ledge_Traverse.jpg
Rounding the N Ridge of the Grand Teton on the Second Ledge. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Owen_Summit_.jpg
Mt Moran, Jackson Lake and Teewinot fom the summit of Mt Owen. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Middle_Teton_from_Grand_Decent_.jpg
The Middle Teton from the Upper Saddle on the Grand Teton. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - IMG_9858.jpg
Hiking down Garnet Canyon, with the Middle Teton in the background. - IMG_9852.jpg
Looking back at the SW side of the Grand Teton from the Lower Saddle. From here there’s a good trail down Garnet Canyon to the valley floor. There was some loose talk of spending a third night out and completing the Grand Traverse, but without any food left no-one was keen on the idea. Just as well we didn’t, as the weather turned nasty a short while later. - IMG_9841.jpg
Mt Owen and Jackson Lake from the summit of the Grand Teton. - IMG_9840.jpg
Stewart, Kevin, John and Gordon at the summit of the Grand Teton. We continued along the Second Ledge to join the Owen-Spalding route, from where it’s a short section of easy 5th class and a few hundred feet of 4th and 3rd class scrambling to the top (with lots of company from guided groups). - IMG_9818.jpg
The Second Ledge on the N Ridge of the Grand Teton. From here the climbing is mostly scrambling. - IMG_9809.jpg
Starting the descent of the W Ledges of Mt Owen the following morning - IMG_9805.jpg
Martin at the summit of Mt Owen, with the N Face and N Ridge of the Grand Teton in the background. - IMG_9801.jpg
Kevin, John and Stewart at our first night bivvy site, just below the summit of Mt Owen. - IMG_9797.jpg
Descending from the East Prong to the Koven Col below Mt Owen. - IMG_9782.jpg
Stewart and Gordon at the col just below the summit of Teewinot, with the Grand Teton and Mt. Owen in the background. - IMG_1671.jpg
Gordon on the N Ridge of the Grand Teton, with the Teton Glacier far below. - IMG_1655.jpg
Martin approaching the Grandstand at the base of the N Ridge of the Grand Teton, with the W Ledges of Mt Owen in the background. - IMG_1642.jpg
We didn’t bring crampons and ice axes all this way in vain. Gordon climbing up to Gunsight Notch between Mt Owen and the Grand Teton. - IMG_1633.jpg
Looking down at the N Face of the Grand Teton from the bivvy site on Mt. Owen - IMG_1621.jpg
Traversing around the upper snowfield on Mt Owen. On the L is part of the N Face of the Grand Teton. - Day1_Sunrise2.jpg
Sunrise over Jackson Lake on the way up Teewinot. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Burritto_Bivy_2.jpg
Stewart, Kevin and Martin at our second night bivvy site, on the Second Ledge of the Grand Teton. By now we had hoped to have summitted the Grand Teton and climbed up and over the Middle Teton, but we made some route-finding errors and we weren’t moving fast enough. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Burrito_Bivy2.jpg
Sunset over Idaho from our bivvy site on the Grand Teton. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Below_1st_Snow_field.jpg
Hiking up the lower slopes of Teewinot. From L to R: Kevin, John, Martin and Stewart Middlemiss. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Above_Koven_Col.jpg
Teewinot, the East Prong and the Koven Col as seen from the lower E Ridge on of Mt Owen. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - P8113575.JPG
At De Hoop Nature Reserve. Back row: Guy Meredith’s daughter Laura, Guy’s mother-in-law Laura van Riet, Sandra’s son Steyn, Guy’s sister-in-law Sandra, Guy’s wife Berna, Martin, Fran, Guy’s father-in-law Steyn van Riet. Front row: Martin’s cousin Jan Hough, Jan’s wife Kim, Rick, Alex, Lindsay, Martin’s niece Olive le Roux, and Guy. - P8103439.JPG
Fran and Alex on the beach at De Hoop Nature Reserve, in the Western Cape - P8103416.JPG
Ismo and Simon bringing some Finnish style to the beach at De Hoop Nature Reserve - P8103411.JPG
Guy and Alex at De Hoop Nature Reserve - P8083376.JPG
Fran’s brother Guy and Alex on Chapman’s Peak drive, overlooking Hout Bay, near Cape Town - P8083373.JPG
Alex and Fran at Kirstenbosch Gardens, near Cape Town - P8063347.JPG
Alex at Groot Constantia, near Cape Town - P8013336.JPG
Katy, Nicole and Alex near Hartebeespoort dam. - P8013324.JPG
Fran’s nieces Nicole and Katy, their father Robin, and Fran and Alex near Hartebeespoort dam - P7283293.JPG
Pretoria at dusk from the grounds of the Union Buildings - P7283286.JPG
Alex, Fran’s sister Lindsay Godfrey, Lindsay’s daughter Nicole, and Fran picnicking on the grounds of the Union Buildings, Pretoria - IMG_9947.jpg
At Kirstenbosch Gardens after David le Roux’s memorial service. Back row: Ismo, Simon, Hannah, Bram, Jan, Robie Welch, James Welch, William Frater, David Kinghorn, Martin, Rick, Berna and Guy. Front row: Jack Lotter, Tate, Joachim, Olive and Kim. - IMG_9941.JPG
Martin in front of the S African National Gallery, Cape Town - IMG_9936.JPG
Rick on Table Mountain - IMG_9928.jpg
On Table Mountain, overlooking Cape Town: Bram, Olive, Tate and Rick - IMG_9922.jpg
At De Hoop Nature Reserve. Back row: Guy, Fran, Lindsay, Simon, Ismo, Martin and Bram (recovering from bronchitis). Front row: Tate, Alex, Rick, Olive, Joachim and Hannah - IMG_9921.JPG
At De Hoop Nature Reserve: Rick, Guy, Fran, Lindsay, Alex and Martin - IMG_9915.jpg
Humans and seagulls on the beach at De Hoop Nature Reserve - IMG_9910.jpg
At De Hoop Nature Reserve: Bram Schonveldt, Fran, Lindsay, Guy, Alex, and Hannah le Roux - IMG_9905.jpg
Ostriches at De Hoop Nature Reserve - IMG_9904.jpg
Watching the sun set over the lagoon at De Hoop Nature Reserve - IMG_9900.jpg
Rick and Tate at the British Museum - IMG_9897.jpg
The Great Court of the British Museum, London - IMG_1049.jpg
At Johannesburg airport: Bram, Olive, Hannah, Tate, Joachim and Rick - IMG_1045.jpg
Tate, Nicole, Rick, Katy and Carole at The Cradle - IMG_1041.JPG
At The Cradle restaurant, near Johannesburg: Frieda Hough, Robie Welch, David Kinghorn and Anna Ludlow - IMG_1036.jpg
Tate and Rick at Kololo Game Reserve, north of Johannesburg - IMG_1028.JPG
Martin, Rick and his girlfriend Tate Reed left for South Africa a week after Fran and Alex. We had a few hours between flights in London and were able to fit in some sightseeing. This is Martin on the London Underground. - STD_9670_stitch.jpg
The Spearhead range from our camp the Pattison-Tremor col (April 2012). From left to right the prominent peaks are Macbeth, Iago, Fitzsimmons, Benvolio, Overlord and Fissile. - IMG_9700.JPG
Martin enjoying some well-earned refreshment at Whistler ski area base after completing the Spearhead traverse (April 2012). - 36-P1000221.JPG
Alex, Martin, Fran and Rick at home for Christmas dinner. - 35-P1000184.JPG
Rick, Fran, Alex, Amber the cat and Martin at home on Christmas Eve - 34-P1000135.JPG
Fran, Rick, Alex and Martin at home for Thanksgiving dinner, about to tuck into deconstructucted pumpkin pie. - 33-IMG_9616.JPG
Kurt Mensch on the way to Sayre’s Benchmark (13,758’), near La Plata Peak (April 2012) - 32-IMG_9752.JPG
Kevin Smith near the summit of “Lone Eagle”, Indian Peaks Wilderness (July 2012). - 31-IMG_9888.JPG
Kurt Mensch on the hike down to Black Lake, Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park (August 2012). In the background are McHenry’s Peak and Arrowhead. - 30-P1000055.JPG
Our newly-remodeled kitchen (October 2012). - 29-P1000118.JPG
The Andrews Glacier and Loch Vale in Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park, on the way back from climbing the NW Gully of Thatchtop with Kurt Mensch (November 2012). - 28-P1000206.JPG
Long’s Peak (on the horizon) and Bear Peak as seen from a late afternoon scramble up Bear Peak, near Boulder, CO, on Christmas Day. - 27-P1000167.JPG
Alex and Rick at Mary Jane ski area on Christmas Eve. - 26-P1000150.JPG
“Campground Couloir”, near Silverton, CO, which Martin climbed with Kurt Mensch in December 2012. - 25-P9263621_01.JPG
In September Alex left for San Jose, CA to join the Santa Clara Aquamaids synchronized swimming team. Here she is with her “grandmother” Robynne, who she’s living with while she trains there. - 24-IMG_9884.JPG
Kurt Mensch near the summit of Spearhead after climbing “Syke’s Sickle” (August 2012). We had a memorable descent as one of my trail shoes had come untied from my harness halfway up the climb and tumbled hundreds of feet down the cliff. Fortunately I discovered it at the base of the cliff after hobbling down in one of my climbing shoes. - 23-IMG_9878.JPG
Kurt Mensch en route to climb “Skye’s Sickle” (5.9) on Spearhead, Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park (August 2012). We were there on what turned out to be the last warm weekend of the summer and luckily we had the climb to ourselves. - 22-IMG_9740.JPG
Kurt Mensch on North Apostle Peak after traversing over from Ice Mountain (13,951’), May 2012. We had just climbed the “Refrigerator Couloir”, the obvious snow-filled gully leading to the summit of Ice Mountain. Unfortunately 2011-2012 was a bad winter for snow and much of the snow had already melted from the gully, leaving patches of hard ice and unpleasant loose rubble. - 21-IMG_9724.JPG
John Christie after skiing down “Queen’s Way” on Apache Peak (May 2012). Apache is the summit on the right of the photo. Queen’s Way is hidden from sight by the rocky buttress in front of the summit. - 20-IMG_9716.JPG
John Christie climbing “Queen’s Way” on Apache Peak (13,441’), May 2012 - 19-IMG_9632.JPG
Kurt Mensch returning from Sayre’s Benchmark (April 2012). The “Grand Central Couloir” descends from the col just to the right of the summit. - 18-IMG_9628.JPG
Kurt Mensch skiing down the “Grand Central Couloir” on Sayre’s Benchmark (April 2012) - 17-IMG_9623.JPG
Kurt Mensch at the summit of Sayre’s Benchmark (April 2012) - 15-IMG_9695.JPG
On the second night of the Spearhead traverse we had the luxury of staying at an otherwise empty Himmelsbach hut. Here’s Paul Geddes leaving the hut in stormy conditions the next morning. - 13-IMG_9687.JPG
Skiing across the Ripsaw glacier, Spearhead traverse (April 2012). Unfortunately clouds rolled in a short while later and for the rest of the trip we were in near-whiteout conditions. - 12-IMG_9680.JPG
Paul Geddes at the Tremor-Shudder col, Spearhead traverse (April 2012) - 11-IMG_9671.JPG
Camp at the Pattison-Tremor col on the Spearhead traverse (April 2012) - 10-IMG_9654.JPG
Paul Geddes at the summit of Mt. Pattison (2,483m) on the Spearhead traverse (April 2012) - 09-IMG_9649.JPG
Paul Geddes at the Blackcomb ski area boundary, about to start on the Spearhead traverse (April 2012) - 07-IMG_9645.JPG
Martin and Paul Geddes at Whistler-Blackcomb (April 2012). We were there to do the Spearhead traverse, a multi-day backcountry trip that starts at the ski area boundary. Luckily the initial ascent is effort-free, thanks to the ski lifts. - 06-Palmyra_Panorama.JPG
Palmayra Peak, Telluride ski resort (March 2012). You’re allowed to hike up the right-hand skyline and ski down the gully that starts from the very top (13,319’). - 05-IMG_9585.JPG
Rick at Silverton ski area (March 2012) - 04-IMG_9531.JPG
John Christie and Gordon Laurens near Grace Falls, Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park (February 2012) - 03-IMG_9529.JPG
Gordon Laurens on the way to Grace Falls, at the base of Notchtop Mountain, Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park (February 2012) - 02-IMG_9488.JPG
Kurt Mensch on a snowy February morning on our way to do some ice-climbing near Ouray, CO - 01-IMG_9449.JPG
Martin leading the top pitch of “Whorehouse Hoses” near Silverton, CO (February 2012)