JasonG

Boom! Just look at that proud face! (at least I hope that is your buttress on the skyline)

My guess is downclimbing from the WR Terror col in early July might be the ticket.

I could be convinced to go in there and check it out. It has been long enough since I approached the north side of the Southern Pickets, obviously!

Well done getting all that done solo, and safely, in a few days!

Wait. There were THREE parties on the West Arete of Eldorado in one day??! I would be surprised if it got climbed 3 times in one year. Interesting. That is a crazy fast amount of climbing in a few days!

Yikes! Well done keeping things from going bad, and thanks for the honesty. Beautiful country to be in, if nothing else.

So great that you could check in @Martin Volken, this is the kind of first hand info and history that makes keeping the lights on around here worth it! Please dig around the site and add some more history and beta!

Great TR Nick! I especially liked the asides about the first ascensionists. I think you captured the yin and yang of that route perfectly. What a line though....

@Phil K and Rod above the snow arete 2006 (check out the glacial differences from the photos above): Looking down from near the top onto the glacier: Strong work @JonParker!!

Good to see folks getting on this one! If you want to see photos and a description of the descent down the South Face, here is a TR from way back with my friend TJ (RIP) and @therunningdog.

Let's do it @geosean!

Keep the MRNP minor peak TRs coming @Fairweather! Another good looking one for me to put on the list....so many great options that aren't THE Mountain.

uh. DAMN. You basically compressed most of my north cascades 25 year career into one trip. I should take up knitting.

Trip: Markhor and Needle Peak - Traverse Trip Date: 07/07/2025 Trip Report: I am too behind on everything right now to write much, but I figured some of you may be interested in a lesser known romp across the valley from Yak Peak off the Coquihalla. It is quite the scenic and reasonable outing for the mature mountaineer, but I think most would enjoy the lovely ridgeline between Markhor and Needle Peaks. It starts with a steep grunt up the climber's trail up Markhor, with expanding views of Yak Peak across the way: Within an hour or two, the summit of Markhor comes into view, with nothing more challenging than some exposed class 3 standing between the car and the summit: The view expand greatly, with the shapely Needle peak beckoning across a kilometer (we're in Canada, eh) or two of ridgeline: The bugs were a bit on the bad side so I didn't waste much time picking my way down Markhor to a rap station and fixed line which greatly aided the descent down a slabby section. I wrapped a prusik around the thin line which was a nice hand hold as I slid it down and scrambled lower. Here's looking up at the slabby bit below the summit of Markhor after clearing it: And then the really good stuff lay ahead. Always scenic, often exposed, sometimes a bit on the kitty litter side, it was nonetheless "distinctly alpine and a pure joy" to quote Fred from some peak or other in the North Cascades (Logan?). It was usually pretty easy, although a few sections edged into exposed 4th class where a fall would end very badly: I caught a glimpse of another couple behind me as I scrambled along: And soon was on the summit of Needle, alone with the festive summit register: The bugs here were terrible as well so I didn't stay long, mosying down the well trod Needle Peak trail that was very scenic the entire way. Yak Peak on the left and Markhor on the right: Partway down there was a nice viewpoint where I could take in the entirety of the Markhor to Needle ridge traverse: And soon was spit out at the well marked Needle Peak trailhead: I think it took me about 5-6 hours for the loop, including stops, which was a bit longer than the drive, thankfully. The only bummer is that it isn't longer! Gear Notes: helmet and approach shoes. Brought a 30m RAD line to rap but fixed line in place on slab downclimb Approach Notes: Park at Needle Peak Trailhead and find flagged route up Markhor to the east, starting in pipeline swath. Descend well marked Needle Peak trail after traverse

Quite the difficult adventure climbing way back in there @JonParker, way to keep it safe and somewhat sane! Less sane is solo broken ankle dude. To say he won the lottery is putting it mildly. Good on you guys for helping redeem what likely would have been a very bad outcome.