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High Alpine Skiing w/ Rock Climbing
- Stugie
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17 years 8 months ago #181958
by Stugie
High Alpine Skiing w/ Rock Climbing was created by Stugie
I've been a climber far longer than a skier, much less a skier of PNW mountains. In light of iluka's post of
Unicorn Peak
, and seeing various other tempting areas, I guess I'm somewhat "fishing" for some beta of good climbing areas in the Cascades that can be assaulted in winter to get good lines as well as summiting. I have the Becky guides along with several others, but I'm looking for more first-hand knowlege. I threw in a couple thumbnails to stir imagination/make inquiries. The first is of Crystal Lakes Basin (Crystal area) looking S at the headwalls. 2nd is of a massive cliff on the N? side of Table Mtn (Baker). I'm really interested in these two for sure. Any info?
The cliff in question is the one just to the left of Table Mtn, it looks as if it runs off Table Mtn's flanks...or I guess Table Mtn. itself.
In question here are two as well...the main cliff on the face of Crystal Peak and the headwal to the left of the saddle leading into sheep lake basin (smoka peak area)
Here's a close-up of the last headwall mentioned...
The cliff in question is the one just to the left of Table Mtn, it looks as if it runs off Table Mtn's flanks...or I guess Table Mtn. itself.
In question here are two as well...the main cliff on the face of Crystal Peak and the headwal to the left of the saddle leading into sheep lake basin (smoka peak area)
Here's a close-up of the last headwall mentioned...
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- jdclimber
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17 years 8 months ago #181959
by jdclimber
Replied by jdclimber on topic Re: High Alpine Skiing w/ Rock Climbing
The main issue is choss, and much choss at that. For the most part volcano=choss. I would be suspect of Rainier, Baker and proximity.
Once of my favorites is the Tooth after work, in May, which has become a May 10 tradition for the 2 years past, might well be a July 10 endevour this year for obvious reasons. Trip reports can be found here on TAY.
Last weekend, had a fine time skiing Chinook pass in the AM and climbing at Royal Columns in the afternoon.
North Ingals would be another fine ski/climb trip, though easy rock climbing. Boston Basin offers much good climbing, and skiis could add to the fun, although they would have to be carried a couple thousand feet.
Washington Pass could be a great combo, for another couple weeks anyway.
Many options, no big secrets revealed here.
Once of my favorites is the Tooth after work, in May, which has become a May 10 tradition for the 2 years past, might well be a July 10 endevour this year for obvious reasons. Trip reports can be found here on TAY.
Last weekend, had a fine time skiing Chinook pass in the AM and climbing at Royal Columns in the afternoon.
North Ingals would be another fine ski/climb trip, though easy rock climbing. Boston Basin offers much good climbing, and skiis could add to the fun, although they would have to be carried a couple thousand feet.
Washington Pass could be a great combo, for another couple weeks anyway.
Many options, no big secrets revealed here.
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- Lowell_Skoog
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17 years 8 months ago #181961
by Lowell_Skoog
Dan Hilden called that the Crystal Lake Wall. See his account of climbing its north face in 2006 on the following page of the Northwest Mountaineering Journal:
www.mountaineers.org/NWMJ/07/071_Shorts4.html
If you broaden your scope to spring, you might enjoy some of the classic high level ski traverses in the North Cascades. On these trips you travel significant distances on skis, have opportunities to drop your pack and take ski runs, and also can climb summits. Typically you won't bring much technical rock gear on these trips, so the climbs would be class 3-4ish, but they can be a lot of fun. Look at the following areas in the Beckey guides and start day-dreaming:
Ptarmigan Traverse (Cascade Pass to Dome Peak)
Isolation Traverse (Snowfield to Eldorado)
Backbone Ridge Traverse (Little Devil to Eldorado)
Inspiration Icecap (Eldorado to Primus-Tricouni)
Logan High Route (Rainy Pass to Cascade Pass)
Buckindy Range Traverse (Green Mtn to Snowking)
Ragged Ridge Traverse (Easy Pass to Diablo Lake)
Replied by Lowell_Skoog on topic Re: High Alpine Skiing w/ Rock Climbing
Dan Hilden called that the Crystal Lake Wall. See his account of climbing its north face in 2006 on the following page of the Northwest Mountaineering Journal:
www.mountaineers.org/NWMJ/07/071_Shorts4.html
If you broaden your scope to spring, you might enjoy some of the classic high level ski traverses in the North Cascades. On these trips you travel significant distances on skis, have opportunities to drop your pack and take ski runs, and also can climb summits. Typically you won't bring much technical rock gear on these trips, so the climbs would be class 3-4ish, but they can be a lot of fun. Look at the following areas in the Beckey guides and start day-dreaming:
Ptarmigan Traverse (Cascade Pass to Dome Peak)
Isolation Traverse (Snowfield to Eldorado)
Backbone Ridge Traverse (Little Devil to Eldorado)
Inspiration Icecap (Eldorado to Primus-Tricouni)
Logan High Route (Rainy Pass to Cascade Pass)
Buckindy Range Traverse (Green Mtn to Snowking)
Ragged Ridge Traverse (Easy Pass to Diablo Lake)
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- blitz
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17 years 8 months ago #181962
by blitz
Replied by blitz on topic Re: High Alpine Skiing w/ Rock Climbing
I had friends who skinned up to Liberty Bell at Washington Pass, climbed the Becky route and skied back down just a couple weeks ago. They said they will never hike it again and that the skiing was really fun. There are lots of more challenging things up there too, but the Becky is pretty stable and reliable.
JD is right though - could be really dangerous when the snow is JUST melting out because a it IS a big tallus field and things will be settling, and from the bottom up.
JD is right though - could be really dangerous when the snow is JUST melting out because a it IS a big tallus field and things will be settling, and from the bottom up.
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