Zach Posted December 30, 2004 Posted December 30, 2004 Climb: Chair Peak-NE buttress Date of Climb: 12/22/2004 Trip Report: Dan and I climbed the NE Buttress Chair Peak last week during perfect weather. We left the Alpental parking lot at around 12:30 on Wednesday and set up camp in the bowl bellow the peak. There was a really good boot track most of the way up which was good because our packs were effin heavy. Heres the view from our camp. With the approach out of the way we settled in for the night, All 14 or so hours of it. Heres a picture of the route at night. Waking to quite cold temperatures and blue skies at 7, we headed up the to the gulley on the left. It looked steeper and more fun. heres a pic of me leading the first pitch. Unfortunately thats the only picture we took on the climb. The batteries in Dan's camera were too cold. Dan followed this pitch with one mountaineering axe and occasional help from ascenders (he was too cheap to buy or rent tools). This pitch is over 60 meters to a good tree belay right now. We simulclimbed snow and some easy mxed terrain to a rock belay below the waterfall which was really fun. I placed one crap screw in aerated ice at the bottom and one clipped with a screamer just below the crux. Dan followed on ascenders off of my harness (sucky). The next pitches we swung leads through styraphoamy snow and barely covered rock in places. could't really find any good pro though so we might as well have simulclimbed to the col where we unroped ate, drank and scrambled to the top. Heres a pic of the summit scramble. (it's not as steep as it looks, really) The descent was eventful. First we had to deal with a stuck rope. Then we realized that the rap stations were about 35 meters apart. I bootied a biner near the top of a steep chute and promptly left it clipped to a pin I fixed 30 meters down. Do not trust this pin it is not a good placement! But it did get us to the next rap station. The descent gully had some steep ice and may have made a good ascent route. This picture is at the top of the aforementioned gulley. We broke camp and hiked out under an almost full moon. Back at the car by 7pm. A great trip and a fun climb. Gear Notes: 2 tools, 4 short screws, 4 pins, stoppers, and 6 cams should have brought 4 tools and pickets or flukes. Approach Notes: boot track, hard consolidated, bare Quote
Bug Posted December 30, 2004 Posted December 30, 2004 Sounds fun. Thanks for the TR and great pics! Quote
jonah Posted January 10, 2005 Posted January 10, 2005 We did the approach to Chair Saturday, Jan 8. It was a hellish 5 hour wallow through waist deep powder. And that was with snowshoes. But there is now a nicely packed trail up to the ridge. Get on it while the approach is still chill. Quote
Ade Posted January 10, 2005 Posted January 10, 2005 We did the approach to Chair Saturday, Jan 8. It was a hellish 5 hour wallow through waist deep powder. And that was with snowshoes. But there is now a nicely packed trail up to the ridge. Get on it while the approach is still chill. Sounds like avie conditions were bomber. Quote
kurthicks Posted February 4, 2005 Posted February 4, 2005 BUMP. any word on current conditions? Quote
klenke Posted February 4, 2005 Posted February 4, 2005 After today, probably a little snowier. Dumpage expected. Quote
specialed Posted February 5, 2005 Posted February 5, 2005 Doubt its been cold enough for any ice to form. Quote
Chad_A Posted February 11, 2005 Posted February 11, 2005 I'm wondering if Chair has gotten any better? Thinking about heading up there sometime early this next coming week. If anyone has any info, let me know. Thanks! Quote
leif Posted February 14, 2005 Posted February 14, 2005 Anybody make it up there this weekend to see conditions? Or any forecasts for next weekend? Quote
underworld Posted February 14, 2005 Posted February 14, 2005 i was up there yesterday and it is no good. swimming in snow thru the upper basin area waist deep. climbed up 90' of the 1st pitch and the snow was knee+ deep powder full depth to the rock - no consolodation or ice. bailed from there... Quote
leif Posted February 14, 2005 Posted February 14, 2005 Anyone know of comparable routes that are in right now? Quote
leif Posted February 16, 2005 Posted February 16, 2005 Anybody know climbs a little closer to the Tacoma area. Thanx anyways Dru maybe when school isnt kicking my ass I'll get up there. Quote
Alex Posted February 16, 2005 Posted February 16, 2005 I think your best bet is the Beckey Bible at this point. Quote
JayB Posted February 17, 2005 Posted February 17, 2005 The routes on Lane Peak in the Tatoosh might be worth checking out. Quote
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