Trip: Selkirk Crest - High Traverse - The Beehive to Harrison Lake
Date: 7/19/2008
Trip Report:A few of us (Brian, Ted, Bob and me) did the "Selkirk Crest High Traverse" on Saturday. The Beehive was by far the funnest part. From the road about a quarter mile back from the Harrison Lake TH, we bushwhacked through thick brush and found an animal path that cut through a soggy meadow. Part way through the brush we had to cross the Pack River via a convenient set of boulders and a large log - semi-easy crossing. More wet meadow then a slog up a slabby creekbed to the base of the dome. It looked like there were several fun ways to attack it. We opted for a line going up the right hand side where we found solid class 3/4 up to a clump of trees about halfway up. From there, we did a short traverse left to the center of the face then found some sporty 4th with a bit of avoidable 5th. There was no pro to be found but the climbing was easy enough. The granite heated up quickly and I was glad to reach some shade at the top.
From the top, we continued westward along the ridge for about 1500 feet vertical in a mile and a half to the main crest, topping out on peak 7374. At this point, the route north consisted of some class 4 downclimbing then fun scrambling past point 7353. From here, we were unable to maintain the ridge so we dropped off on the east side and travered a snow field over to just below point 7167 (The Fin).
After a long lunch, Brian and I roped up to climb The Fin. Regaining the ridge involved an extra pitch of low 5th. I topped out with a step up from a car-sized slab that moved slightly from its perch. I let Brian know to avoid it then belayed him up. Brian took the next pitch, a short 4th class and neatly exposed traverse around the west side of the ridge. The next pitch started with a 20 foot walk across a 2 foot wide edge - pretty cool...and puckering. At the end of the walk-across, I placed a .75 cam up high and stepped/swung around a blind corner to the right onto a narrow shelf. Another 25 feet up got me to the top of the pitch where I struggled to find a suitable anchor. Everything was detached blocks but I did manage to find a spot for a hex that looked like it would take take body weight without levering. I yelled down to Brian that I wasn't comfortable with the anchor and couldn't find anything else close by. I decide to downclimb to a bush and bring Brian up to collect the gear and regroup from a more suitable spot. The downclimb kinda frazzled me and I lost all enthusiasm for the last pitch above, which appeared to be more lichen and loose blocks. We bailed off to the east then finished the traverse east of the crest dropping down to Harrison Lake and back to the trailhead.
We weren't fast but fast enough to complete the route well within 11 hours including one long lunch break and screwing around on The Fin. After the shakey downclimb off the top of the 3rd pitch, I convinced myself that the Fin was a lichenated pile of crap and not worth finishing. My opinion still holds about the quality of the feature but I'm already scheming to get back and tag the top anyway
The traverse on the whole was very enjoyable, particularly the Beehive and the views down both sides of the crest.
Gear Notes:Small rack to 3"
Approach Notes:Hike Pack River road .25 miles south of the Harrison Lake TH to the clearing on the west side. Bushwhack through the meadow, cros the river, then follow the smooth granite creekbed that goes up to the center of the dome.
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