Trip Report
Winter Scramble - Commonwealth Basin
The summit is optional.
Krzysztof Ostrowski
- Fri, Jan 28, 2022
- Winter Scramble - Commonwealth Basin
- Commonwealth Basin
- Scrambling
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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Snow very hard and icy. We used crampons all the way. Creek crossings covered by solid snow bridges. Some wider like the one below, some less so, but crossing in general posed no issue, and there were ample opportunities to do so along the way.
The initial objective was the summit of Guye Peak, but a medical issue, compounded with a gloomy prospect of eating a cold sandwich at the summit, prompted us to adjust the plan.
Started shortly after 8am from the Summit West parking lot, initially just in boots, but we put on crampons after 15 minutes or so since the snow was very hard and icy. We carried showshoes for the return trip, but they never came off our packs. We have done multiple creek crossings, most along wide snow bridges, one downclimb that could have been avoided by walking a little further. In general, whether on the flats, uphill or side-hill, with the packed snow, travel was pretty efficient, and posed no difficulty. We did veer a bit off our GPS track, but it didn't really matter.
On the way back, we saw some determined skier thinking outside the box, trying to skin their way up a low-angle ice route. Hopefully they made back home safely.
Due to the change of plans, it ended up being a slightly shorter, but nevertheless an enjoyable day on the mountain.