TR: Kitling Tour

[ski_photomatt]

This an interesting loop around Kitling Peak, the high point of the ridge between Easy Pass and Mesahchie Peak. Kitling Creek is the first major drainage west of Easy Pass emptying to the highway. Mesahchie Col between Kitling and Mesahchie allows easy access to the Mesahchie Glacier at the head of Panther Creek. The loop ascends to Easy Pass, across to Mesahchie Col, down the glacier, up to the pass at the head of Kitling Creek and out to the highway. The traverse to Mesahchie Col is steep and at times somewhat exposed; we found it easiest to ascend nearly to the top of Pt. 7690 and traverse the corniced ridge. There was 6+ inches of new snow over the old crust making the steep sidehilling somewhat difficult. With ski crampons it would have been easier and safer, but we didn't have them.

 

The descent of Mesahchie Glacier was very nice, stable, dry powder higher up and corn at the bottom. The 'schwack out Kitling Creek wasn't bad at all. We didn't see anyone else except for the climbers on Graybeard (nice job guys! ).

 

The weather - unstable air with periods of strong snow and whiteouts alternating with sun and clearing clouds - only added mystery to the unfamiliar route. As we skied the Mesahchie Gl during a sun break, a dark, ominous cloud moved up Panther Creek, dropping hail on us shortly after reaching the bottom. Good times!

 

[Kyle_Flick]

We skied up and off of Easy Pass a month ago on a scouting trip for Graybeard. It looked like a great tour with a lot of elevation and distance. Good job. Did you do it in a day? How long car to car? I thought we spotted boot prints over our snow shoe tracks on the way out last night.

[dberdinka]

Tell us about Greybeard!?

[ski_photomatt]

Kyle, we did use your snow shoe track in the beginning where there wasn't enough snow for continuous skiing. We were wondering about you throughout the day, especially later in the afternoon when the sun came out and started to heat things up. Good to hear you made it out safely

 

We were about 9.5 hours highway to highway (then a mile or so of highway walking back to the car). I think it broke down something like: 2:15 to Easy Pass, 2.5 to Mesahchie col, maybe 1 hour down the glacier and up to Kitling pass and 2.5 hours out (including finding a log to cross Granite Creek), plus breaks. We moved slow across to the col and more than once spent time waiting for breaks in the clouds to navigate. We also had to wait a bit at Mesahchie col for a break in the weather to descend. In clear conditions or with knowledge of the route, one could do it quite a bit faster, if one were so inclined. It's a very reasonable day trip.