An Ohio State Alum and a Penn State Alum Walk Into a Bar – Kelso Ridge

Normally I try to stick to 2 criteria when writing a trip report: 1) Write about a peak that isn’t well traveled, and 2) if possible, try to keep it timely. Well, I guess I’m throwing protocol out the window on this one. 🙂

That said, if you’re still here, thanks for reading and at the very least you’ll like the pictures!

Mat and I scrambled up Kelso Ridge on Torreys at the end of April as a snow climb. It was a great day out in the hills on a new route for both of us and the first of 5 or so mountain outings we’d do this spring.

I’ll preface this TR by saying that as an accountant, tax season gave me a good ass kicking this year. I had a few more outings this winter than the norm, but in all reality, my last big day out was in January on KC with Natalie. I wouldn’t call Kelso Ridge a big day, but it sure was a fun day, an excellent mountain therapy session with a great partner, and an outing that helped me quickly remember why we do what we do out here.

Peak: Torreys Peak (14,267′)
Route: Kelso Ridge
Date: April 25, 2016
Trailhead: Bakerville exit off I-70 (9,800′)
Distance: 12.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 4,500 ft.
Participants: Mat Ballay, Dillon Sarnelli

If you’re wondering, Mat is the Ohio State alum and I am the Penn State alum. The title in it’s entirety would actually go something like, “An Ohio State alum and a Penn State alum walk into a bar. Which one has a job?”. The joke was funnier on the approach before Mat finally landed a job a few weeks ago. No more Ohio State jokes. Penn State jokes are too easy. I get it.

Having never done this route in summer, I can’t really talk specifics on the pros and cons of hitting it with snow vs. it being dry. Like anything else, I’m sure there are a few sections of the Class 3 scrambling where bootpacking up the snow is easier and safer, while ice may make a few other sections a little more difficult. On this day we were happy for the snow, and lots of it.

Initially the game plan was for me to descend the G&T saddle, while Mat skied Dead Dog, but after talking it over on the summit and with it being later in the day than anticipated, we both headed for the saddle. I got a head start down while Mat sat back and found a good spot to drop in.

We then rendezvoused in the basin below the saddle before Mat skied off into the abyss. 5 miles and an hour behind I arrived at the car just off I-70, wet, sunburned and thirsty. Both chairs out, Mat lounging in one, ice cold Happy Camper in hand, with another on deck for me. Some quick but quality daydrinking ensued. It was a fitting end to a solid day in the mountains. Not to mention, Mat had just skied to within 10 feet of the car from the saddle. Chalk that one up in the win column.

Lessons learned: Skiers and snowshoers can still coexist, the winter TH adds 6 miles and 1,400 vert, that shady dude who parks next to you in the big empty parking lot and never gets out of the car is probably going to eventually chop you up, and don’t bring Mat a coffee in the morning… Ever.

Thanks for a great day out there buddy. Bring on summer!

Cheers and thanks for reading all!