After my climb of the northwest ridge of Spider, I am hustling to get back to my Koolaid Lake camp so I can try for Magic and 'S' (Hurry up) directly from the lake and get back down before dark. I catch up with the party of 4... the ones watching me going up the northwest ridge of Spider. I had seen them roped up and strung out heading across the upper glacier toward the Spider-Formidable Col and I supposed that they were already down past the col heading for Yang Yang Lakes and well on their way to completing the Ptarmigan Traverse.
They explain that the doctor didn't like the looks of the steep glissade down from the col so thay have turned back and will abort their Ptarmigan Traverse attempt. We are just getting to the Red Ledge which means it will be slow going if I have to wait for all of them to get through this tricky section. But they graciously step aside and let me pass. I may 'get' Magic and 'S' today after all thereby keeping up my record of climbing all nine peaks along the route of the classic Ptarmigan Traverse. And I got a bonus peak - Sinister - to make it an even ten if I get Magic and 'S'.
More later.
