Jump to content

[TR] Mount Clark - Standard 08/09/2021


KaskadskyjKozak

Recommended Posts

Trip: Mount Clark - Standard

Trip Date: 08/09/2021

Trip Report:

 

We attempted Clark back in June as part of a three day trip, which included a summit of Mount Deception and two nights at Royal Lake.  After cancelling our plans this weekend (Terror Basin, with advanced permits) due to "meh" weather we opted for a cleanup trip, and allocated Monday for it, C2C.

 

We drove up Sunday night and slept in our cars at the trailhead, setting alarms for 5:30 am.   After breakfast and packing up we headed up the Upper Dungeness trail at just after 6:30.  Overall we kept a decent pace and summitted Clark without issue at around 1:45, took a quick break and headed back down.  The only snow we encountered was in Surprise Basin, which made for a nice break from tedious boulder hopping (the snow was continuous in the basin).  The snow at the summit block back in June was totally melted out.  The first part of the final block was loose and a bit unsavory class 3.  The finish is a nice crack that pushes the limit of class 3 - it's quite steep but has great holds.

Mount Deception looking a lot more melted out than it was in June.  Glad we did this with snow coverage!

IMG_8526.jpg.4200484b615f593cb99fc1831c5d48ac.jpg

View towards Clark from the tarn in upper Royal Basin:

IMG_8527.jpg.bb58a4ac4686f944df49622d02d66358.jpg

View towards upper Royal Basin from the base of Surprise Basin:

IMG_8530.jpg.116d0caa465d2021642f05f0946852a0.jpg

Continuous snow in Surprise Basin:

IMG_8531.jpg.113f1ca55cb41596650e69b0a97ef67e.jpg

Traversing on the east side of Clark.  This exposed section is one of two 'attention getting' parts.  (great holds)

IMG_8542.jpg.4a98320e8b8b30936fe9353cae0b8f16.jpg

Summit Stoke:   91/100 for me, 40/100 for my son (Smoots)

IMG_8535.jpg.0245a0c2683fe2b7e9a4b0119aea4a0b.jpg

Royal Lake as viewed on the way out:

IMG_8549.jpg.d1ddddbdea2647d0dade4da44dd9d84a.jpg

Here's to another one in the books!  Prost!

IMG_8551.jpg.600cb229220ac100db4b882c83c1ea84.jpg

 

Gear Notes:
Light crampons, approach shoes

Approach Notes:
Trail in excellent shape - no blowdowns. Snow free except for Surprise Basin.

Edited by KaskadskyjKozak
  • Like 1
  • Snaffled 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Kuato said:

I was up in that area this weekend doing Mount Mystery.  Clark was looking really nice.  Deception wasn't looking so nice, kind of like a pile of loose rock.  What was your total travel time to the summit and back?

7:15 cars to summit.  14:10 C2C.

(18.70 miles, 5780' gain)

Edited by KaskadskyjKozak
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been wanting to go up Clark for a long time. I've heard there is good rock there. Thank you for the excellent photos!

However, peak bagging is not a numbers game. It is an experience game, as I'm sure you know.

Edited by Otto
redacted possibly inflammatory comment about smooting
Link to comment
Share on other sites

18 hours ago, Otto said:

I've been wanting to go up Clark for a long time. I've heard there is good rock there. Thank you for the excellent photos!

However, peak bagging is not a numbers game. It is an experience game, as I'm sure you know.

There is plenty of loose rock, but it is solid in the two most exposed spots, where it was most welcome.

as for the peak-bagging, I'm well past the "experience" threshold so it is a lot more about numbers for me as well as important factors to determine when and if to go (seasonal variations depending on time of year and snowpack/glacier conditions, weather, amount of daylight, access, fires, my fitness level, availability of partners, time off work, etc).

 

Edited by KaskadskyjKozak
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...