[TR] Chipmunk Perch-Chipmunk Arete

[skyclimb]

We climbed this route a few days ago via saddleback lakes. This is the prominent ridge of opposite aspect from the elephants perch.

Starting from the toe it tooks us 9 pitches of sustained 5.9 climbing that featured perfectly flawless fingers, hands, fists, o/w, squeeze chimneys and face climbing. From the top of the perch another 5 pitches of 5.6 ridge running with great exposure took us to the top of the main formation-Grade IV 5.9

Descent is easy if you go to the main summit, as you walk down a scree gully to the south east. If you stop at the top of the perch, then you can make several raps down the north face, or scrammble off the west face and make two raps into the gully.

The folks at Elephants Perch Mountaineering in ketchum, Id had great information for us on this route, which was very helpful due to its obscurity. Stop in there if you need any info on routes in the range.

[layton]

pics!

[skyclimb]

Some pics are in the gallery...including a overlay of the route....Forgot how to upload photos onto the page...sorry. Anyways, where the route drops onto the right side of the ridge(dashed line on photo), best route is the flaring squeeze chimney...all other route finding is fairly straight forward.

[G-spotter]

perch