Exum Guide Brenton Reagan embarks to Alaska to attempt the Cobra Pillar. In this video he expalins how he's preparing for the trip and goes through the gear he's planning on bringing. Brenton trains with Mountain Athlete in Jackson, WY to prepare for this trip and to keep in shape as a guide.
Here is Brenton's own summary of the trip:
“60 days in the hole”
by Brenton Reagan
What is it about being 2 months away from an Expedition that when I hit the number 60 I really start to get ready.
Exum Mountain Guide Brenton Reagan and the elusive local Teton Valley legend Tim Cohn will be headed to the Alaska’s Ruth Gorge this year in an attempt to climb the famous “Cobra Pillar”. Will arrive in the gorge on May 19 and stay until June 10. The route is 2,750 and has about 23 pitches of climbing up to 5.11. We intend to climb the route in a single push without a bivy. There is a lot of day light in Alaska that time of year which will enable us to climb for a few days straight if necessary.
The Ruth Gorge is located south east of Denali. The Ruth Glacier cuts right through the gorge leaving behind huge walls of rock coming out of the glacier. Imagine Yosemite, except no roads or rivers just one huge glacier and a lot of snow. The Ruth is famous for having some of the greatest alpine routes in the world. Tests have shown the glacier ice to be more than 3000 feet deep. Legendary climbers that have visited before are the likes of Tackle, Donini, Lowe, Stump, Gilmore, and Mahoney. There are other routes in the area we will attempt also and will have a Rock, Ice and Ski kits along with us. Stay tuned for training and packing videos.
We will be giving updates via sat phone so stayed tuned to www.marmot.com for trip reports. I have included a photo courtesy of Nat Patridge.
