Ade Posted March 20, 2006 Posted March 20, 2006 Climb: Abiel Peak-North Face Direct (First Ascent) Date of Climb: 3/19/2006 Trip Report: So Kurt (wazzumountaineer) and I decided to check out Abiel Peak this weekend. This seemed like a good idea given the snow conditions and good reports from another TR a few weeks back. Fantastic weather, good times all around! Route Description: This route is easily identified by large hanging icicles just left of the North Face Couloir (topo to follow). Pitch 1: From a small rock outcrop, climb left up 45 degree snow to the base of the waterfall. Screw belay. 50M Pitch 2: Climb the waterfall (WI3) to a belay under the overhang on the left. Rock belay (use the crack up and right of overhang with small cams). 35m Pitch 3: From the overhang, traverse right onto the pillar. Continue up good WI4 that eases to AI3 after 30m. Tree belay on the right at 60m. Pitches 4-6: Climb up the gully on snow to 60 degrees (near top), trending left when it splits. Tree belays. Once on the ridgecrest, unrope and walk easy slopes to the summit (~2 ropelengths) Grade: III, WI4 Descent: Rappel the route from trees. From the head of the gully, do 2 60m rappels down the gully. On the 3rd rappel, traverse towards climber’s right, descending into the North Face Couloir. One more 60m rap and downclimbing brings you to the bottom. (2 60m ropes recommended/required). Retrace ski tracks back to the car. Gear Notes: 8-10 screws & screamers, KBs, LAs, green - orange aliens, double length slings, 2x 60m ropes. Approach Notes: From the Annette Lake TH (exit 47), hike up the summer trail until it intercepts the railroad grade. Turn right (west) and ski a few hundred yards to the valley bottom. Turn left (south) and ski up the valley bottom to its end. Abiel’s North Face will be visible to the southeast. Ski to the base of the route. 4 hours. (We actually skied/hiked the summer trail on the approach and descended as described above. On balance skiing the valley bottom is much easier) Quote
kurthicks Posted March 20, 2006 Posted March 20, 2006 Thanks Ade for pairing up on such an awesome route. We took what appeared from the lake to be the longest and most direct line up the face, but there may be one more gully left of ours that is a little more "direct." We were glad to have thrown in extra screws as an afterthought; they came in mighy handy on all the ice we climbed. This route has the most pure waterice that I've done on a route at Snoqualmie Pass. Highly recommended. As mentioned before, there are numerous lines up there to still be done--from WI3 to WI5/mixed. Go get some! Complete photos will come in a week or so when Ade gets his slides done. Quote
layton Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 That's sweet you guys went out and got some good climbing in. It's unforunate that Kent and Abiel (and some other winter faces) aren't very interesting looking or aesthetic with all trees and shrubs everwhere. Quote
kurthicks Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 I'll show you aesthetic when you see the photo of Ade leading the crux pillar...much better than you'd expect. just wait! Quote
Marko Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 Right on Ade and Waz! Yeah, there's actually some pretty cool lines up the cliffy bits. Just to the right of the little route we did but hidden in your topo, there's a cool looking WI 5, M??, further right there's a stiffer looking rig (the fangs visible to the right). What did the ice slabs to the left of your route look like? Was shite melting out up there at all? Quote
kurthicks Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 Just to the right of the little route we did but hidden in your topo, there's a cool looking WI 5, M??, There are 2 more hard lines that are in pretty fat (relatively) now. these are right of your line. i think your estimation is right on. there is also a nice looking line that starts up the first debris cone left of your route and goes up the mini-couloir. Probably WI3+, mixed. What did the ice slabs to the left of your route look like? The left facing corner just left of our route looks good too. Probably AI3/3+. There is also a variation to the NF Couloir that looked good. go about a pitch up the couloir, then head right up steep ice (AI4?) for a pitch to trees. Was shite melting out up there at all? Nope. good temps for climbing in the hills. --Kurt Quote
Jason_Martin Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 The line Gene and I attempted was the red line in the center of your topo. We really only climbed a pitch because at the time the ice was absolutely terrible. I'm psyched to hear that so many people are getting after that peak. It really is a little hidden gem. Jason Quote
catbirdseat Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 I'm psyched to hear that so many people are getting after that peak. It really is a little hidden gem. What!?! It will never replace the mighty Chair Peak! Never! Quote
kurthicks Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 What!?! It will never replace the mighty Chair Peak! Never! It might not, but it definately should! Quote
Weekend_Climberz Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 Sweet line!! Let's see some more pictures. Quote
G-spotter Posted March 21, 2006 Posted March 21, 2006 I'm psyched to hear that so many people are getting after that peak. It really is a little hidden gem. What!?! It will never replace the mighty Chair Peak! Never! They can duke it out to challenge da Toof. Quote
kurthicks Posted March 22, 2006 Posted March 22, 2006 Here is a much better topo of the face. (Photo courtesy of Stephen_Ramsey) Yellow - North Face Direct III, WI4 (Hicks/Miller 2006) Green - North Face Couloir III, WI3 (Kloke/Wiedner 1997) Red - North Face Gully III, WI3 (Bunker/Gullberg 2006) Quote
scottgg Posted March 23, 2006 Posted March 23, 2006 Great work guys! Regarding Abiels aesthetics, I took a mental picture looking up our first pitch that would blow your socks off! Its also worth noting that you can walk off the west ridge, but this would necesitate carrying over or hiking back up to retrieve your gear.... Quote
Stephen_Ramsey Posted March 23, 2006 Posted March 23, 2006 Its also worth noting that you can walk off the west ridge For what it's worth, it is also possible to walk off the east ridge, and back down to the Silver-Abiel saddle. Nice trip report! Quote
Ade Posted March 31, 2006 Author Posted March 31, 2006 (edited) So I got my pictures back... Here you go! WARNING... we had good weather some of them are alpine porn... (I tried to put a few of them directly here but UBB wasn't having it. Enjoy... Ade Edited March 31, 2006 by Ade Quote
olyclimber Posted March 31, 2006 Posted March 31, 2006 wow, those are nice pictures what a day you guys had. Quote
TrogdortheBurninator Posted March 31, 2006 Posted March 31, 2006 That pillar looks sweet. Very nice pics. Quote
BillA Posted April 9, 2006 Posted April 9, 2006 Saw your pic from this climb on the crossfit website today. Nice! Quote
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