Pickettclimber

Trip: Southern Pickett Range / Mt Degenhardt - Terror Creek/ Barrier / Crescent Basin Date: 8/10/2015 Trip Report: John Degenhardt 60, Silas Wild, 67 and Crispin Prahl via Goodell Creek trail, Terror Creek crossing to first camp on ridge top above Terror Creek. Water load 6-8 liters per man from Terror Creek. Very steep but the trail is evident. The approach to the Terror Creek crossing from the Terror Basin trail turn off, is marked with orange tape but intermittant. The next day via the Barrier game trail which stays close to the Barrier edge we passed through granite uplands above timberline. Here and there were shrinking puddles of usable water. We crossed the pass on the Chopping Block ridge and descended into Crescent Basin through rocks and boulders to the climber camp at the base of Mt Terror. Water is easily available. Smoke obscured some of the views but the weather was otherwise perfect in the morning and we went up directly to the ridge between Terror and Degenhardt, passing through a small ice field. Once on the ridge line we carefully picked our way through unstable rocks to the summit via a northern gully. Once on the summit I immediately called Tom Degenhardt via Sat phone and confirmed that our family plaque was still there from the 1991 climb, the 60th anniversary of the first ascent. We descended via two rappels and a belay to the ridge line and returned to camp.The afternoon was spent hiking out our approach route to a nice camp on the Barrier near timberline with great views. Out the next day to the group campsite and our VW camper, where the nice people camping there offered us ice cold beer. Perfect. Gear Notes: Ice field is best crossed with microspikes and or axe. Rope for summit descent and ice field. Approach Notes: Goodell Creek to Terror Basin turn off. From turn off due north thru gullies, streams and moss covered boulders for about a mile, following orange tape ties. Cross Terror Creek shallow, in sandles, and go downstream for a minute or two to find the trail up.