Colchuck Peak

[TeleRoss]

scrambled/climbed the N. buttress of Colchuck yesterday. We left Seattle at 4 am and made the TH at 7. Hoofed it up to Colchuck Lake and found the talus/brushy slope leading up to the N buttress. The lower section of the buttress has some interesting route options with some large blocks and exposed faces. We kind of wound around some of these and climbed others, making slow but steady progress up the ridge. Once around the last of several major obstacles the ridge, we were able to remain directly on the ridge crest and enjoy some nice climbing. There are some nice areas of exposure and although we chose to take an easy route, one could make the route as difficult as one wanted. Anyway we made the summit and enjoyed the view. Also were intrigued by a large colony(?) of ladybugs right on the summit. They were all under this one rock and in some nearby cracks all scurrying around in one large mat. Once our fascination with the lady bugs waned we began the arduous descent. We dropped off the South side of Colchuck and descended to Colchuck Col, from there made our way up the talus gully leading towards the summit ridge of Dragontail. Traversed around the S. of Dragontail and descended neve and talus to Asgaard pass. Descended to Colchuck Lake, where we became very tired and it began to get dark...(damn daylight savings time) So we had a fun time stumbling down the trail to the car under the failing light of one woefully inadequate headlamp. finally made the car at 6:30...and was fully caffeinated for the drive home by 7. Anyway, a great day in the mountains.

[klenke]

I was on Lookout Mountain SW of Cle Elum yesterday and there was a lady bug colony on the summit rocks on that peak too. That must have been the 10th summit in the last few years where I've come upon a lady bug colony in/on the summit rocks. I wonder if there is a scientific explanation for this.

Entomologists: speak up now.

[Gary_Yngve]

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klenke said:

I was on Lookout Mountain SW of Cle Elum yesterday and there was a lady bug colony on the summit rocks on that peak too. That must have been the 10th summit in the last few years where I've come upon a lady bug colony in/on the summit rocks. I wonder if there is a scientific explanation for this.

Entomologists: speak up now.

 

I've only seen them in May/June, which is, I assume, when the eggs hatch in Spring? Seems like the summit blocks get maximum sun.

[nolanr]

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TeleRoss said:

scrambled/climbed the N. buttress of Colchuck yesterday. We left Seattle at 4 am and made the TH at 7. Hoofed it up to Colchuck Lake and found the talus/brushy slope leading up to the N buttress. The lower section of the buttress has some interesting route options with some large blocks and exposed faces. We kind of wound around some of these and climbed others, making slow but steady progress up the ridge. Once around the last of several major obstacles the ridge, we were able to remain directly on the ridge crest and enjoy some nice climbing. There are some nice areas of exposure and although we chose to take an easy route, one could make the route as difficult as one wanted. Anyway we made the summit and enjoyed the view. Also were intrigued by a large colony(?) of ladybugs right on the summit. They were all under this one rock and in some nearby cracks all scurrying around in one large mat. Once our fascination with the lady bugs waned we began the arduous descent. We dropped off the South side of Colchuck and descended to Colchuck Col, from there made our way up the talus gully leading towards the summit ridge of Dragontail. Traversed around the S. of Dragontail and descended neve and talus to Asgaard pass. Descended to Colchuck Lake, where we became very tired and it began to get dark...(damn daylight savings time) So we had a fun time stumbling down the trail to the car under the failing light of one woefully inadequate headlamp. finally made the car at 6:30...and was fully caffeinated for the drive home by 7. Anyway, a great day in the mountains.

 

I was car bivied at the TH and trying to get myself woken up and moving around the time you guys got there. Probably saw you in the parking lot. I was just dinking around and ended up on Dragontail Plateau. Would've been a pretty easy traverse over to the summit but I figured there wasn't time w/ the time change. I was right. It was just getting darkish when I got back to the TH at 5:30. Didn't need the headlamp. There were a bunch of ladybugs over on S. Ingalls Peak, too, I was there on Sat.