[TR] Mount Curtis Gilbert - West Route 07/11/2020

[JasonG]

Trip: Mount Curtis Gilbert - West Route

Trip Date: 07/11/2020

Trip Report:

The catch up from last summer continues.....We're in early July at this point.  Most all the federal lands are back open, the snow is melting fast, and the high alpine is calling!  And, of course, there are still Smoots to be ticked.  Luckily for me @Juan Sharp isn't too picky so it didn't take much arm twisting to get him to make the drive way south to the Goat Rocks and Mount Curtis Gilbert.  We opted for the short and sweet approach via the Snowgrass Flats TH, thence to the PCT and Cispus Basin.  It was all very short and civilized with great weather and views.

First look of Gilbert (R) and Goat Citadel (center)

Klickitat from the hike in

Juan crossing a scenic stream just before Cispus Basin

The man, the myth, the Juan at camp.  The blown out hulk of Loowit to the south (R).

We kept it Covid friendly and slept in two tents.  Shortly after I took this picture, I busted the filter and ring on my go-to lens.

Oops. Both my lens, and wrist, though unrelated to one another.

 

The next day dawned clear, earlier than either of us would have liked, and so we had no excuse to stay in camp, starting the engaging slog/scramble using goat paths and steep snow to the mellow area near the summit.  Crampons, axe, and helmet kept it reasonable, but there was certainly a lot of loose rock and steep snow to keep your attention.  And the views!

A rare photo of me (R), thanks Juan!

Without too much trouble or head scratching we reached the summit in a few hours, having it to ourselves this glorious day.  Views were expansive, from well north of Tahoma way down past Wy'east into central Oregon.  It was a great day to tick a Smoot with a good friend.  I can't really say much more.  Maybe because it was 6 months ago and my memory isn't what is used to be!  We must have descended and hiked out at some point, but my memory of the details are hazy.  Suffice to say that it was smooth and we got home all in one piece. Another great weekend in the Cascades!

 

 

 

Gear Notes:
crampons, axe, helmet

Approach Notes:
PCT to Cispus basin. Good camps above and below the trail

[Alisse]

Lovely as always, sorry about your camera parts (and your wrist -- but surely that looks different by now). Excellent flower pics, good choss shots. I came close to hauling my skis up to Old Snowy in early November...I guess it'll be better to do that much earlier in the year 

[KaskadskyjKozak]

we gave this route a try in october but ran out of time with a mile to go to the summit (we were deep in the scrambling up high).  We ended up bailing at sunset.  next day we got Old Snowy and Ives, and now I have to go back for Gilbert. 

[olyclimber]

I busted a filter on a $2000 lens before. due to the amount of glass there, that looks like a $$$ lens.  When you first see it, you crap your pants, and then remember oh yes...there is a filter.

thank you Jason.  maybe i'll go climb Little Si i'm so inspired.    but seriously inspiring to see people getting out when i've been huddled in  my cave for too long. i'm gonna start moving again. i know this is from last year, but i'm finally getting to it, and so its new to me.

[JasonG]

35 minutes ago, olyclimber said:

When you first see it, you crap your pants, and then remember oh yes...there is a filter.

EXACTLY

Let me know when you are looking to get out this year @olyclimber.  Would be fun to get out!  I need Mt. Anderson still.....

[KaskadskyjKozak]

On 2/5/2021 at 4:56 PM, JasonG said:

EXACTLY

Let me know when you are looking to get out this year @olyclimber.  Would be fun to get out!  I need Mt. Anderson still.....

#100?  woot!

I'm hoping to bag Anderson myself this May-June.  Hope you guys get out there too!

 

[JasonG]

13 minutes ago, KaskadskyjKozak said:

#100?  woot!

No, I have Anderson, Carrie, Tamanos, and Alta yet  to do.  I haven't exactly been putting it very high on my to-do list. 

It might take me a few more years at the rate that I'm going!

[KaskadskyjKozak]

1 hour ago, JasonG said:

No, I have Anderson, Carrie, Tamanos, and Alta yet  to do.  I haven't exactly been putting it very high on my to-do list. 

It might take me a few more years at the rate that I'm going!

I have Carrie left too.  I'm excited for both Anderson and Carrie (and Clark, Deception).  The Olympics always deliver!

[olyclimber]

On 2/5/2021 at 4:56 PM, JasonG said:

EXACTLY

Let me know when you are looking to get out this year @olyclimber.  Would be fun to get out!  I need Mt. Anderson still.....

If I can get in good enough shape to keep up with you, i'm working on it.  I'm mostly planning on re-climbing some of my favorites this summer:  Mt. Stone for the 4th or 5th time (hope to tag Skokomish while I'm there), maybe the South Brother again,   maybe finally go down and climb Ellinor and Washington which I've never went for, I've done pretty much all the other east edge peaks.  Also planning on hiking up to the lookout at Desolation with the guy who own Easy Street Records and perving on that view.  I don't have lists like you guys, i just want to be up in the alpine scrambling around, especially in the little peaks in the Olympics.  I remember when me and my little brother tried to climb Carrie in winter, I think there may even be a trip report on here about that...we just ran out of day light but it was a great memory.  Try to find the ruins of that old cabin back up in there, wonder if a trace is left?  I also want to hike the Skyline Trail of on the south west side, never done that either. Also want to do this:  DD2 - Royal Basin to Constance Pass - Climbers Guide to the Olympic Mountains (climbersguideolympics.com)

[JasonG]

4 hours ago, olyclimber said:

Also planning on hiking up to the lookout at Desolation with the guy who own Easy Street Records and perving on that view

Good plan @olyclimber, it is worth the struggle to get there!