
Trip Report
Alpine Scramble - Bedal Peak
Whiteout, and challenging bergschrunds in V-notch.
- Sat, Jun 10, 2017
- Alpine Scramble - Bedal Peak
- Bedal Peak
- Scrambling
- Successful
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- Road rough but passable
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6/10/17 (high snow year). Did NW route (starting at Merry Brook).
Road 4096 (alongside Merry Brook) pretty good conditions, although gravel getting rather loose - one front-wheel drive vehicle had tires spinning in spots and almost didn't make it. AWD recommended.
Climber's trail in good condition for a climber's trail. Which means lots of deadfalls.
Snowline at 4,600'.
Very challenging trying to cross V-notch (above Nels Lake) in 4800-5000' range. A couple ramps up the E wall of the gully used in the past would not go, due to bergschrunds / moats. Had to improvise a different way up the E wall at a very challenging spot. Would suggest that there is a narrow window during the year when my preferred ramp at ~5000' is inaccessible - after time when snow bridges are solid, and before time when snow has melted enough for moats to vanish.
Whiteout conditions in snowfield on N side of peak. Because snowfield is broad & gentle, and this route is not a simple "keep going up till you reach the top" (Bedal is the last & highest of multiple summits on the ridge), recommend being prepared for this with GPS & compass.