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5 Worst Routes in PNW


Dru

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What were the 5 worst routes you've done in the PNW? Don't just make a list, tell us why they were bad.

 

Mine:

1) South slopes of Silvertip. This is an unredeemed slog. At least we got to glissade the top half. The bottom consists of steep sidehill bushwacking with a canyon below and rotten cliffs above. I think we got stung by wasps too.

 

2) Echelon, Squamish Chief. More vegetation per pitch on this than any other Chief route I have done. all the good pitches are now clean and part of Ultimate verything anyways.

 

3) Salmon Stakes. Ford creek, slog up frozen talus, all for 190m of low angle WI2 with one short WI3 blip.

 

4) BS, Domestic Dome. A pitch of sand covered slab. Even Peshastin isnt this bad!

 

5) Whatever chimney used to be behind Positive Vibrations at Vantage. The only route I have ever climbed where you could feel the chimney changing size when the wind blew. I think half the holds on the back wall I used fell or were pulled off. Nearly killed 3 sport climbers and one dog passing underneath with all the bombs I was dropping.

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1) The route up the ridge on the peak next to Slesse. It looks just like the route on Slesse when there is low cloud cover and we climbed it by mistake. Right about the time I thought I was going to encounter the 5.10 pitch, I topped out. That is called an anticlimax.

2) The descent from the peak next to Slesse. We got higher on the descent than we did on the ascent and had to third class manky wet brush.

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I've done lots of forgetable and crappy single pitch routes (Exit 38 and Vantage come to mind), but those aren't very interesting to talk about.

 

So.....

 

I doubt these were the WORST, but certainly disappointing:

 

Kangaroo temple, SW face I think, Kitty litter. Redeeming features = cave and views

 

NE Ridge Triumph. I built this climb up in my mind as a gem and was disappointed with the acutal article. Very little technical climbing, so-so rock. Redeeming features = PICKETTS VIEWS!

 

NR of Baker. 1.5 pitches of somewhat steep climbing. Don't I get to lead a pitch!?!?!? WTF? Nice views and a great alternative to a snow slog, just don't expect lots of ice climbing.

 

Sky Ridge, Smith Rock. Cool position, but uninteresting climbing on crappy rock.

 

Mt. St. Helens, Butte Camp Route (I think?), in August. Two steps up, one slide down. Epic sunburn. What the hell was I thinking?

 

Liberty Ridge, Rainier. This is also in my "favorites" list. I have never come so close to dying while climbing. Dangerous rockfall. Redeeming features: obvious.

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Wy'East, Mount Hood, July. Included a chimney requiring climbing through a literal waterfall on vertical volcanic toothpaste.

 

Parking Lot Crack, Smith Rock. Just not very fun. Annoying unprotected offwidth at top.

 

BBQ the Pope, Smith Rock. Annoying meandering slab climb with unnecessarily dangerous fall potential.

 

Emmons Glacier, Mt. Rainier. What a boring route for all the work and time. Felt like a lab rat. Didn't have skis.

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1. Mt. Thielsen: ca. 6 miles (? it's been awhile) of hiking to an interminable scree slog followed by a brief flurry of 5.0 free moves? Please!

 

2. "That .10d Route" at Smith ... bolted, but not cleaned. Sweet! Dig that friable tuff!

 

3. .12ish route at Rattlesnake in the cave/cathedral feature with chipped holds and glued-on pieces of rock for holds, the latter of which are so coated in glue that they are frightfully slippery. A new pinnacle of lameness.

 

4. Barbecue the Pope: A whole pitch of sharp, greasy, insecure micro-nubbins and crimps -- rad! thumbs_down.gif

 

5. Flight of the Patriot Scud Blaster: Three bolts worth of climbing, consisting of a 5-easy ramp, three moves of sharp, awkward thrutching, and a 5-easy ramp! A standout classic!

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1) Unicorn Peak (Tatoosh) -- zillions of dinner plates on upper "slopes"; amazing no one was maimed or killed

 

2) Johannesburg, NW Buttress (or was it NE? luckily memory is fading). Plenty of near-vertical brush and heather topped off by unprotectable slushy swimming near the top. Only 13 hrs up (and only 13 hrs down via a different route). Truly a test of patience.

 

3 - ...) Any volcano before I learned to tele.

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5) Whatever chimney used to be behind Positive Vibrations at Vantage. The only route I have ever climbed where you could feel the chimney changing size when the wind blew. I think half the holds on the back wall I used fell or were pulled off. Nearly killed 3 sport climbers and one dog passing underneath with all the bombs I was dropping.

 

Tammy Fay's Dildo.

 

I didn't think it was that bad. Plenty of pigeon poop, though.

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East ridge of Welch - downsloping greasy rock with lots of crap on the ledges. South Ridge is way better.

 

North ridge of Knight - If you like long approaches to loose and sketchy scrambles, this one is for you!

 

SW ridge on Larrabee - Only bad if there are other groups on the route. All groups go through the same narrow gully down low - and due to the angle you can't see the narrow part from the top, and vice versa. Lots of loose stuff guarantees rockfall...

 

East ridge on Tricouni - only bad if you've carried a rope 'n gear all that way. Confident scramblers will feel cheated.

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1. West side, South Sister (slag heap)

2. Narrow Arrow, "regular route," Index Town Wall. (I think that is the one - a dirt covered corner system of terrifying loose rock)

3. North Face of Mount Maude (you call THAT an ice climb?)

4. Saber, Castle Rock (harder than advertised, awkward, mildly scary, and you don't get the full Castle Rock exposure)

5. Luna Creek approach to the Pickets (WTF???)

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1. Mt. Adams - south side slog. the worst piece of shit i've done round here. millions of tourons on the trail, half a million camped below the false summit. at first i was willing to forgive all this after getting smoked down by complete strangers at the false summit, but then my anger came back w/ a vengance when i saw my puff perch was 12 inches from a pile of human excrement.

2. mt washington, north ridge. i downclimbed this and can't imagine anyone having hte patience to go up it. shitty rock. full fledged annoying scree pile to get up to it.

3. anything on hood after the summer's turned the snow to a slush-slog

4. broughton's classic crack...burnished slippery shitty basalt crack.

5. i regret to say i havne't climbed that many bad routes.

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