Ptarmigan and Curtis Ridge pics from today

[Fairweather]

Mowich Lake Road opened earlier this week so the kid and I hiked up Observation Rock today. In case anyone is interested, I took a couple of pics of the upper mountain that may help anyone considering. Ptarmigan (traditional route) looks like it is in good shape once it cools down. (HOT today!)

 

Both pics taken today 5/28 from the top of Observation Rock.

 

Ptarmigan Ridge:

 

Curtis Ridge:

[icegirl]

Thanks for the picts!! looks like a big styrofoam mountain

[Kraken]

Oh Rainier, how I miss you!

[Alex_Mineev]

Did you guys hike thru Knapsack pass?

How much snow is left? How much time did it take you to top Observation Rock?

 

nice pics

[Fairweather]

Only about 20% snow to Knapsack and melting fast. None of it steep...you could do it in tennis shoes if you had to. Crossing over the Spray Park area is still about 75% snow covered. Lots of ski tracks. We hiked out via Spray Park Trail on the way down and it is snow free all the way to the top of the switchbacks right to the lower edge of the park. This was my son's first trip out this season, so we were a bit slow @ 5hrs to the top of Observation Rock.

 

Tried out my new LaSportiva Trango EVO's. VERY comfortable, but definitely NOT waterproof in wet snow.

[Alex_Mineev]

Thanks! How was the snow/ice wall on the north face of Observation? I think going there tomorrow. So far everything sounds very promising

[Fairweather]

Observation face looked soft and easy. Even skiable. We joked about sledding down it...good runout too.

[knelson]

Same side, different day, different angle...

 

I was going to post this for those wondering what the north side access routes looked like and figured I'd just tag it onto your shots. Family outing to Summit Lake on Friday May 27th...

 

 

If you want the high-res image, you can find it here...

 

http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/plab/show...=500&page=1

 

Did you have (or WISH you had) snowshoes? I'm guessing you were postholing pretty bad without them.

 

-kurt

[Fairweather]

Snowshoes weren't necessary. Ankle deep on the way up at worst. Shin deep on the way down in places. A boot track exists. Snowshoes wouldn't be worth their weight.

[ivan]

oleg, mtnhigh and i climbed ptarmigan this weekend. the snow's actually still quite deep and soft up high. we'll do a TR later today. here's the good shit for now:

http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/plab/show...user=6323&=

[sweatinoutliquor]

Hey Ivan, when were you up there? Chriznitch and I hit Ptarmigan this weekend. TR coming soon as well... I didn't see any tracks, but could have used a few on the upper part through that soft snow!

[ivan]

sweet, that must have been you we saw heading up the right variation 'round noon on saturday - you might have noticed us coming up the lower ridge to the bivy early saturday morning. we went left at the major rock cliff where you went right. thanks for the tracks on the lower part.

[sweatinoutliquor]

Yeah that was us... We were looking down at you guys from that spot for sure, but thought it was a party of hikers who said they were going to that spot. We could hear you talking and stuff. Pretty cool! Bummer you guys didn't hook on to our tracks on the upper part of the route. How was the ice gully? We were 50-50 as to which way to go, but that exit gully sounded neat enough to give it a try. It was all iced over when we got to it, so there was no chance of rock moves. Got absolutly hammered with spindrift (in my friggan ear) but managed to get through it without much of an incident. Upper slopes were ruthless in that snow. I was pooped by the time we made liberty cap. Chris is going to post a TR and some pics, and I'm looking forward to seeing yours. What a fun route, eh? Sorta wish there was a bit more ice and less postholing though.