[TR] Mt. Ellinor- Up the Winter Chute, Down the Summer Route 2/18/2006

[DCTransplant]

Climb: Mt. Ellinor-Up the Winter Chute, Down the Summer Route

 

Date of Climb: 2/18/2006

 

Trip Report:

Conditions were very clear and very cold over the 18th - 19th. Night on the 18th nearly froze me out - I'm used to 0-10 degrees in the bag I slept in. THe chute was extremely hard, glassy ice with only some of the summer being soft, kick-steppable snow. Glissading down most of teh summer trail proved to be not only expediant but also a cheap thrill - Hours up, minutes down, chilled dangly-bits. Snowpack was stable and deep, but the traverse to Mt. Washington looked treacherous. Perhaps with a rappel or great daring it would have been doable, but old-fart climbing partners and lack of technical gear ruled out the traverse.

 

Gear Notes:

Used: crampons, axe

Shoulda had: full-length rope (for traverse to washington)

 

Approach Notes:

Road is shut down about 1.5 miles from lower trailhead. Trails are well-traveled and fairly obvious. Descending summer trail, walk straight past the turn-off and continue down ridge (following footprints) for a significant shortcut to upper trailhead. Snowshoes not needed - it's hard packed, sun-baked and well-crusted.