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[TR] Colchuck / Dragontail - Ridge Traverse 4/12/2


zoroastr

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Trip: Colchuck / Dragontail - Ridge Traverse

 

Date: 4/12/2008

 

Trip Report:

Yesterday's freaky nice weather prompted me n' EJohnson to head over to the other side o' the Crest for some early season slogging. We actually tried to snag this traverse last Saturday, but got seriously slowed by deepish powder en route to Colchck Col. Our trax were perfectly preserved between weekends, and we were able to slip back into them yesterday for a quick boot up to the start of the traverse.

 

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Nice shot of the gully route we did in a longish day on Argonaut a few seasons back. After topping out on Argo, we followed the connecting ridge to Colchuck and dropped from Colchuck Col. The route is classic moderate couloir climbing, culminating in a single low-5th roped pitch and an airy traverse across the upper snowfield. On the earlier climb of Argo, I only had one of those crappy disposable cameras that used something called "film." I left a shot of Argonaut's terminal snowfield on SummitPost that year:

 

http://www.summitpost.org/image/53273/152581/a-steepish-traverse-to-the.html

 

 

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After some brief snackage on top of Colchuck, we booted back down the the Col prior to heading up the gully on the right to gain the ridge on Dragontail.

 

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In order to avoid a descent of Becky's 55-60-degree recommended slope, we exited the gully for a scramble along the narrow and spectacularly exposed ridge.

 

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Though the impulse to linger on the exposed ridge is strong, lengthening shadows argue for an accelerated pace...

 

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The ridge itself goes quick; no need to lose altitude, as the traverse to the summit is straightforward.

 

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Summit shot on Dragontail, with the ridge route in the background...

 

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Preparing to drop down to the Enchantments; descent to the lake requires only a quick hour's drop via Aasgard...

 

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Gear Notes:

Day gear...stick, 'pons, Pop-Tarts, MP3's.

 

Approach Notes:

Approach trail to the lake is packed concrete, but kinda wanders a bit. Three or four-mile boring road section still gated and mostly covered with slush.

Edited by zoroastr
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