skiinggiraffe
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Posts posted by skiinggiraffe
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4-ML-89311-ML-
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Thanks, fixed now.
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Trip: Mt Rainier - DC Route - ctc
Date: 8/25/2012
Trip Report:
Steve and I wanted to get out there over the weekend and decided to go for the most mountain we could do in one day; Rainier DC (cleaver north face indirect variation), car-to-car.
We started out from Paradise at 9pm Saturday night in perfect cool clear conditions. 11pm had us at Camp Muir where we roped up, got some food and water then headed out across the Cowlitz. This is the latest in the season I've climbed Rainier and was surprised how broken the Cowlitz is, even right at Muir. Still very passable, but definitely a few steps over gappers on the way to Cathedral Gap. By 12am we had negotiated the heavily broken traverse over the Ingraham to the base of the cleaver (well worn track straight up from the flats, then two ways to pick through 20+ foot cravases, one up and over, one following a narrow bridge a little lower), then promptly followed a path too far right and ended up on the North 'face' of the cleaver. From here we needed to get back on the crest through the fairly loose blocks and gravel, so we carefully picked our way up by scrambling 4th class in the dark. Finally at the top of the cleaver we were feeling the elevation and getting pretty tired so we sat down for a good 25-30 min break. At about 2am we took off for the summit, reaching the crest at 5am. With the wind already high (~30mph) and building, we started our descent maybe 15min later.
Ladder at ~13,000'
[img:center]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3OPDmwJ0Uyk/UD1FQOID9aI/AAAAAAAAF8s/4Pu6fo2m_cE/s576/Rainier%2520ctc%2520%252712%2520007.JPG[/img]
Traffic jam at ladder, luckily we were going the other way...
[img:center]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_Mx_7_XulAo/UD1FQLFADCI/AAAAAAAAF9E/x_vf_cra8kI/s800/Rainier%2520ctc%2520%252712%2520008.JPG[/img]
About an hour into our descent the sun crested the horizon and we witnessed the formation of a lenticular cloud just above us as the winds picked up.
[img:center]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2TnDusn7bBo/UD1FRUTlriI/AAAAAAAAF9U/lDk8WWx3IoU/s800/Rainier%2520ctc%2520%252712%2520049.JPG[/img]
[img:center]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-GdgwKx_a4bw/UD1FQEoiSfI/AAAAAAAAF8o/3orRG5F490E/s800/Rainier%2520ctc%2520%252712%2520010.JPG[/img]
[img:center]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4jwEAWVgVpM/UD1FRJbY-uI/AAAAAAAAF88/7pJhZ1zvD6c/s800/Rainier%2520ctc%2520%252712%2520016.JPG[/img]
[img:center]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-d-kVoXCb9BY/UD1FQy5vr6I/AAAAAAAAF80/teM5wOE61JQ/s800/Rainier%2520ctc%2520%252712%2520015.JPG[/img]
By 9:30am we were back down to greenery and were able to better see how much the weather deteriorated up high
[img:center]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DlCcsQP72Wc/UD1FRXH_bTI/AAAAAAAAF9M/Buj-xXd0rh0/s800/Rainier%2520ctc%2520%252712%2520048.JPG[/img]
On our way back down several guided parties and other groups had bottle-necked at the ladder, hopefully they were all able to get the summit and back out before the wind got too uncomfortable. As we passed back through Cathedral Gap, gusty winds kept knocking us over, making the going pretty slow and difficult to see with the blowing dust.
All in all, a long night and a lot of gain, but a good time after it's all said and done.
Gear Notes:
-Standard glacier travel/rescue gear
-Can-Do attitude
Approach Notes:
Timeline:
Leave Paradise - 21:00 sat
Camp Muir - 23:00
Base of DC - 24:00 sun
Columbia Crest - 05:00
Paradise - 10:00
[TR] The Tooth; Snoqualmie Pass - South Face 10/12/2013
in North Cascades
Posted · Edited by skiinggiraffe
Trip: The Tooth - South Face
Date: 10/12/2013
Trip Report:
Nash and I wanted to get out, even with the marginal forecast, so we decided on a technical hike. Neither of us had climbed the Tooth at Snoqualmie pass, but it's not a bad way to spend a day. One simul-climb pitch had us on the summit in much less time than it took us to pick our way through the deceivingly thin cover of snow on the boulder field approach. Had the route to ourselves, but don't think I'd do it again unless it included skinning to and skiing from the base.
'I swear-- there's a trail here in the winter'.
The Tooth; Just a couple bolder hops away.
Topping out.
Chair Peak poking out through a suckerhole.
SUMMIT!
Get down here, snowflakes! It's time to ski...
All in all, couldn't ask for more being only an hour from town. Pretty nice when you can sleep in, get to the Alpine and still go to a party all in the course of a day.
Gear Notes:
A nut and a few cams. Could probably just bring double length draws and clip the rap stations (if not crowded).
Approach Notes:
Wait for more snow...