ewhack Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 Trip: Challenger, Crowder, N Despair - Eiley Wiley to Thornton LakesTrip Date: 08/09/2020Trip Report: This trip was an apex experience preceded by years of planning and dreaming. We took nine days. Thanks to Steph, Tom, and Jason for all the trip reports. Thanks to Eric and Jason for the beta. My climbing partner conceived the idea of our abbreviated traverse. The plan seemed favorable, but included two major unknowns. The first was our plan to climb over Crowder. Others had descended our climbing route (in general) and reported it as not recommended. The second was the descent from N Despair. Climbing Crowder was adventurous, loose, and included a couple pitches of 70 degree heather/moss climbing. Perhaps there is a deluxe solid line we did not find. We took the path of least resistance. I would not repeat it. The descent form N Despair was much less difficult than we imagined. Downclimb to the first notch south. One short rap, downclimb rock, then snow. Any less snow in gully would probably make it more tricky. South side of Challenger Southern Pickets and Crowder Crowder Spectre! Departing Jasper Pass for North Despair Triumph! Gear Notes: (2) 30m 8milApproach Notes: Oof! 3 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rad Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 Great shots of a great adventure! Looks like you missed the quintessential wet weather of the Pickets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewhack Posted January 18, 2022 Author Share Posted January 18, 2022 Thanks! We were fortunate to have fair weather. It was unseasonably cold, but to our benefit. -Ethan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Great pictures! thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonG Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 Oh yes!! The long awaited TR, thanks for sharing! I can imagine that Crowder was unpleasant, I do not think you missed the obvious solid line. That is probably the most scenic part of a very scenic range. Definitely one of the harder traverses to pull off as well. I remember being quite tired each day. I will have to look how you exited via Thorton....that is an interesting variation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonG Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 5 hours ago, ewhack said: Departing Jasper Pass for North Despair You know, the funny thing is I don't think I have a photo looking this way from Jasper Pass. D'oh! I guess we were so fixated on looking ahead to figure out our way around Pioneer Ridge. Thanks for the photo, I am not sure if I will make it back to look south. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonG Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 oh, and did you see anyone? We didn't for 7 days and that alone was so great! But really, hats off to you guys for embarking on a trip with TWO major unknowns. That alone is pretty unusual. Way to commit!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewhack Posted January 19, 2022 Author Share Posted January 19, 2022 Thanks Jason! We saw one guy near Thornton Lakes on our last day. Other than that, we had it to ourselves. I know what you mean by mostly looking ahead. I tried to be mindful of taking in where I'd been. The view from Crowder is outstanding. Getting around Pioneer Ridge from the top was tricky. -Ethan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manninjo Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 Awesome trip, thanks for posting. Dig the quality photos. Sounds like a full value traverse! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonG Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 6 hours ago, ewhack said: We saw one guy near Thornton Lakes on our last day I meant that we didn't see anyone on the off trail portion of our trip, sounds the same for you. So great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trent Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 A rarely done traverse! Looks to be a fun adventure! I thought the N ridge on North Despair was a classic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom_Sjolseth Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 Excellent photos. The views from N Despair with the Pickets laid out in a panorama are some of the most scenic views I think you'll find in the range. I don't think there's an easy way up Crowder from Pickell Pass. The other way I've descended in the past was a better descent, but would be a more difficult climb. Another remarkable Roger Jung solo excursion. Thanks for the memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Posted January 30, 2022 Share Posted January 30, 2022 That shot just below the Crowder photo, a fang against the red sunset, was mighty good. Thanks for posting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewhack Posted March 1, 2022 Author Share Posted March 1, 2022 Thanks for the feedback. Tom, your trips provided great inspiration. I agree on the N Despair views. I am contemplating various routes to Jasper Pass to climb it again. Jim Nelson said he came up Bald Eagle Creek, but it doesn't look trivial. I think I read in the Crowder register that Roger came up the N rib as well and wrote something like "no rope, no problem". I might be confusing that with another summit, but regardless, he did some incredible trips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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