Alpine Scramble - Rock Mountain
Sat, May 27, 2017
This was an excellent snow scramble (with a bit of rock) to a summit with beautiful views on a beautiful day.
This was an excellent snow scramble (with a bit of rock) to a summit with beautiful views on a beautiful day.
Winter approach and as usual, some attention getting issues getting around the Pineapple.
Students performed each of the three positions on a rope team for a Z-Pulley crevasse rescue. Direct Pull and C-Pulley demo were covered afterward in the clubhouse.
20 students and 7 instructors practiced the Z-Pulley setup with each student as Climber A, B, and C. Direct Pull and C-Pulley demo took place inside the clubhouse after that.
Stream crossing too high for safety. We still had a good trip.
As a result of the high avalanche warning issued for the weekend of the trip, the location was changed from Bean Basin to Beverly Campground. Students did not get to experience snow camping, but did have opportunities on Saturday and Sunday to attempt a snow scramble.
Changed destination to point 7135 north of glacier basin. Lots of loose recent wet avy tracks.
Three day trip, staying at Pyrites camp both nights and day hiking to Enchanted Valley on the middle day.
The Pineapple Pass Couloir has large car-sized snow cornice-block small dog's tooth to the base of the climb. Route is snow-free but for a few patches on scramble pitches.
Lecture birds: Presenter read bullet points. Lecture flowers: Too much, too fast.
Saturday morning we met at the Farmers Coop in Fairhaven at 7am and set on our way to get the permit. Left the trailhead at 10:40. The going was slowed by heavy snow well below the ridge but we arrived at High Camp at 3:40pm.. We actually left camp at 1:45 and arrived at the base of the summit pyramid at 5am. There was a lot of postholing at lower elevations but firmed up closer to the top. After some discussions with everyone in the group about the snowpack and all the other climbers up there (26 total)we decided to bail. It took an 1 hour and 45 minutes to get back to High Camp and another 4.5 from High Camp to the Trailhead.
Ticks !!! lots of ticks. All according to Mtners TR. Go 6.0 miles not 6.1.
Sunshine, snow, friends, fun and a nice ridge = mastiff.
We completed a loop trip on varied terrain. May is a good time of year for this peak.
Crew class training sail. Good downwind and strong up wind wind. Rafted up with Rhythm in Port Madison. Much food shared.
Bailed on the couloir due to avi conditions, scrambled to the colchuck glacier col instead.
Intended to do Reflection Lakes, but road was already plowed through to Lake Louise. Rangers recommended Glacier Vista as an alternate. Weather was beautiful and snow was still probably 15 - 20 ft in most areas on the Paradise meadow. A little mushy on the way down, but lots of fun.