Blake Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Climb: Gunsight Peaks-West Face & South Ridge Date of Climb: 7/10/2006 Trip Report: Just The facts: July 8-10 saw myself and John Frieh climb the North, middle, and South Gunsight Peaks. We did the 2nd ascent of the North Peak's W. Face (new route or variation of the 1986 route), and we believe our route on the South Peak was a new line entirely. It was a great trip to a very remote spot. The Narrative: On the morning of the 8th, we set out from the Agnes Creek trail, and climbed to the Chickamin Glacier where we set up camp for a few days in the "Patagonia of the North Cascades." We were really hot, tired, and dehydrated from the approach, but decided to give the 1986 Nelson/Dietrich route a try, on the towering West face. I led a 40m pitch of sustained 5.9 on awesome granite. I climbed past two sets of bail gear, one of which we believe belonged to Forest Murphy's attempt a few years ago. (He had previously told John that they were off-route). After stopping at a saucer-sized belay perch and bringing up John, he lead up about 20' to where a wide roof intersected our line and all cracks thinned out. I was nervously trying to balance on my one-foot belay ledge when I heard a sasquatch-like scream and saw John flying through the air. He had taken a ~20' fall and was luckily caught by a 1/2" cam he'd placed below the roof. We decided to call that our "recon" attempt and go back to the shade of our tent and re-hydrate. On the 9th we braved the 5 minute approach back to the route, climbed back up to the first day's belay spot, and John led out again. We were able to work together to ID a likely looking crack to get past our prior high spot, and some A1/A2 moves on hand-tied aiders got us past the roof and into a set of good looking flakes. The next pitch (#3) was my lead, and I started out with some free moves up to 5.10ish before resorting to A0 cam-hanging as the crack widened and flared. With a mix of aid and free moves I lead to the next belay and John got the security of a top-rope on a beautiful fist-jam flake pitch. Too much fun... For pitch four, the flake/corner system went through a couple of small roofs and continued to be fairly vertical the whole way. John was grateful for the #5 camalot as he climbed up more vertical granite to a belay at the first moderately comfy ledge on the face. I followed mostly free, but with some definite rope-tugging on sections as well. From here I grabbed, the rack, and led straight up into P.5, a dark corner straight over our heads. This was a really fun free lead for me, as I knew we were getting close, and the climbing was a good mix of stemming, face features, and crack jams. The top of the corner visible from the belay spot is the top of the route. You literally mantle up from the corner onto the flat summit terrace. From the exit move atop P.5, you could easily flick a rock out a few feet and it would free-fall to the base of the wall. We didn't see any of the three bolts used by the 1986 party, we climbed the wall in 5 pitches (as opposed to their 7) and we encountered bail gear of other climbers who felt that they were NOT on the previously established route. We don't know how much is shared between the two lines, but maybe Jim Nelson could add some input. It's rad to consider that the only other ascent of that face was done the year I was born. After looking at the old summit register and reading the autograph of some guy named Fred Beckey, we scrambled to the North/Middle peak notch, and climbed a solid pitch of low-5th class to that summit as well. On the 10th, John and I decided to try to climb the South Peak as well. From the Gunsight-Blizzard Col we climbed North along the ridge crest, before dropping off the ridge to the right. It would be best just to stay to the right of the ridge on easy snow and slab. Eventually we reached a clean right-facing corner and began the route. The corner went at 5.7, and I led up and continued to the ridge crest on cool chickenheads and face features and belayed up John. From here John took the lead on a balancy and memorable traverse pitch across a giant cannonhole, and into the last notch before the South Peak. From here, one more pitch of mid-fifth class led to the south summit. From this summit, you can rappel the last pitch, and then make one overhanging 90' rappel onto the snow down the east side. We're calling this the South Ridge - South Gunsight (Grade II, 5.7, 3 pitches) Overall this was an amazing few days in the mountains. Thanks John Scurlock for the really inspirational photos! (Scurlock's shot of the 3 summits) Gear Notes: glacier gear, full set of nuts, full set of cams, pink tricam. Approach Notes: Should have been a week or two later for ripe huckleberries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYC007 Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 nice job guys, can never go wrong with the pink one. oh tri cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith_Henson Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 WOW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom_Sjolseth Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Sweet! Nice photos. That rock looks SOLID. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 W00t Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
off_the_hook Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Awesome!! Great job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoroastr Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 ....just gimme a second to get my jaw up off the floor....there. A-W-E-S-O-M-E T.R.!!! Thank You. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magellan Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Wow! Great trip, great TR! What a nice balance between words and photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocNoggin Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 nice. very nice. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle_Flick Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Good persistance to stick with it and finish the West Face. Great beta. Psyched to go in there via Agnes Creek vs. Bachelor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Scurlock Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Outstanding! Very glad to see your efforts paid off. I was fortunate to be out on an Actual Climb last weekend, looked over there & wondered about you. Good job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeleRoss Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Nice work guys! That rock looks sweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Nice work alpine hero youth. That rock looks awesome. Sounds like an awesome time out in the sticks and rocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Gunsight has some of the nicest rock I have had the pleasure of touching....mmmmmmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary_Yngve Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Way to send! Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad_A Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Supadupa cool You guys are an inspiration. -Chad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Frieh Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Nice TR Blake! It was an accomplishment for me to just physically touch gunsight let alone climb it... my previous three attempts (this was my fourth time hiking in there) all were cut short by bad weather before I could even touch the rock. to the WSP officer who let me off with a warning for speeding on the way up... FYI just because someone is in possession of their driver's license doesn't mean it isn't currently suspended to Mr John Scurlock for all the great photos and prints of the face Speaking of pictures I should get my slides back tonight so I will scan them and post any others worth showing. to Erik for letting me borrow your tent for me forgetting my sleeping bag in Portland FA of the west face of the north peak... with a sit start Pitch 2 Pitch 4 Summary Sleeping bag substitute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valleydude Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Amazing photos of an incredible climb. THanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderhound Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 LOOKS LIKE AN INCREDIABLE CLIMB, GOOD JOB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpinfox Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Sweet! That looks fantastic guys. Congratulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielHarro Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 John / Blake- Nice work!! John it looks like we need to make a "what to bring list" for each climbing trip. "helmet" and "sleeping bag" will be at the top of the list. How was the approch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lunger Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 rock does look stupendous, even the part where you're lichen it nice work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 1. Navigation (map and compass) 2. Sun protection 3. Insulation (extra clothing) 4. Illumination (flashlight/headlamp) 5. First-aid supplies 6. Fire 7. Repair kit and tools 8. Nutrition (extra food) 9. Hydration (extra water) 10. Emergency shelter I don't see sleeping bag on this list, so obviously it is an optional item. But then, I don't see "scrap of tyvek" either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pup_on_the_mountain Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Way to go!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blake Posted July 13, 2006 Author Share Posted July 13, 2006 Thanks for the compliments. Someone who onsights 5.11 at Index should go give a shot at the first free ascent now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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