pzack Posted April 8, 2004 Share Posted April 8, 2004 I'm heading out to do the Ellinor/Washingonton Traverse this weekend. I'm hoping to find a route that has one or two pitches of class 4 or low class 5 and isn't totally contrived. Any suggestions? One person mentioned that you can climb "A" Peak for a little bit of class 4. How is the traverse on to Mt. Washington if you stay high? Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPOly Posted April 8, 2004 Share Posted April 8, 2004 The ridge between Ellinor and Washington is sharp in some spots. Be careful of cornices up there. You could drop down into Big Creek Basin here and there to avoid nasty parts of the ridge. There's plenty of class 4 rock up there to mess around on. "A" peak is a very short climb that's along the traverse. Have fun and be safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattp Posted April 8, 2004 Share Posted April 8, 2004 CP is right that the ridge between Ellinor and Washington is sharp in "some places." Especially with cornices and such, it would be a pretty good feat to stay on the actual crest the whole way. If you simply want to connect the two peaks, I think it is preferable to drop into Jefferson Creek than to traverse the "front" side. You won't get your couple of pitches of class 4 that way, though, except the summit block itself on Washington may resemble class 4 for a very short bit at this time of year. Here's Ellinor as seen from Washington, a little later in the Spring. (from Eric's Basecamp site) And here's looking back the other way: In both pictures, you can see the open snow slopes in Jefferson Creek that connect the two peaks via short gullies at either end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzack Posted April 8, 2004 Author Share Posted April 8, 2004 Thanks Again, You're right - it's probably corniced on the ridge... but if not, that ridge traverse looks like a good line with lots of exposed scrambling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPOly Posted April 8, 2004 Share Posted April 8, 2004 Keep in mind that you're going to find a lot more snow than rock this time of year. But when all the snow has melted out you're right, it is a very fun and exposed scramble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweezer Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 There are some good pics of Ellinors current conditions on summitpost.com just go to mountains and search ellinor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzack Posted April 13, 2004 Author Share Posted April 13, 2004 Thanks again everyone. We ended up dropping down a somewhat steep chute to get to the South side of Washington (5300') and then climbed via route 1. We found a little bit of class 4 on "A" Peak. The weather was awesome this weekend! We rappelled down the centeral, wider gully to the left of the cornice. Some climbers might forgo the rappel and simply downclimb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPOly Posted April 13, 2004 Share Posted April 13, 2004 Nice work Pzack, sounds like a great time. I was up on Jefferson Peak on Sunday enjoying the weather as well. How was that catwalk on Washington? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzack Posted April 13, 2004 Author Share Posted April 13, 2004 Nice work Pzack, sounds like a great time. I was up on Jefferson Peak on Sunday enjoying the weather as well. How was that catwalk on Washington? Actually, I stayed below on Washington while some folks went up (this was part of a class/fieldtrip). They said the catwalk was exposed, but easy to walk across. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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