[TR] Reynolds Peak- NW Ridge of South and North Su

[Snafflehunter]

Climb: Reynolds Peak-NW Ridge of South and North Summits

 

Date of Climb: 7/11/2005

 

Trip Report:

Climbed the NW Ridge of Reynolds Peak's South and North summits on 7/11/05.

 

We began hiking up Reynolds Ck trail at 5:30 on Monday morning and got to the pass (6875') at ~8:00. We then hiked up the ridge immediately E of the pass to gain the NW Ridge. We took advantage of running belays on the entire route and enjoyed very pleasant climbing on relatively sound rock throughout the duration of the climb. We topped out at 1PM and enjoyed spectacular views over to Bonanza and the Entiat range, the peaks of the Ptarmigan Traverse, South to Stuart, and as far North as Redoubt. We descended the SW ridge, eventually contouring around the West basin where the wildflowers were in full bloom (as were the 'skeeters). Back to the car at 5:35 for a 12 hour day.

 

On a side note, someone must be living off the land in the area of Reynolds Ck. We saw about a cord of wood chopped up and piled all nice and neat by a fire pit at ~5500'. Also, several trees had fresh axe marks with bark peeled away and there were strange Xs etched into the dirt about every half mile or so (not to mention rock cairns). We also heard gunshots. Must be hunting season in the Methow.

 

A huge thanks to Eric Hoffman (www.ericsbasecamp.net) who provided much of the route info for this climb. Beckey's 13 word route description in CAG doesn't say much, and without Eric's info we would have had to scratch our heads a great deal more than we did.

 

 

Summit shot:

 

 

Wildflowers in the basin SW of the summit:

 

 

The complete NW Ridge of the N summit:

 

 

sverdina on the NW ridge:

 

 

Gendarme on the NW ridge of the N summit:

 

 

sverdina high on the NW Ridge:

 

 

 

 

Gear Notes:

Rope, cams, stoppers. Used blue C6 camalot and blue BD stopper about 4 times.

 

Approach Notes:

6.6 miles to the pass. On the descent, walk down the SW ridge to ~6400' (class 2) then ascend back to the pass.

[goatboy]

On a side note, someone must be living off the land in the area of Reynolds Ck. We saw about a cord of wood chopped up and piled all nice and neat by a fire pit at ~5500'. Also, several trees had fresh axe marks with bark peeled away and there were strange Xs etched into the dirt about every half mile or so (not to mention rock cairns). We also heard gunshots.

 

Blair Witch?

[Blake]

Is that the "Horse Fly" route? Nice Job guys. When you look straight down Boulder Creek from the summit, you can see a bit of the Stehekin River and the Orchard.

[Snafflehunter]

I'm not familiar with the Horse Fly route, but going back up through the meadows SW of the summit you'd think it was the mosquito route! They were everywhere, and our only defense tactic was to keep moving. I would have loved to stay and take some more photos in the meadow over towards Tupshin and Devore, but the skeeters drove us bonkers.