[TR] Dragontail- Backbone Ridge 9/13/2006

[scottgg]

Climb: Dragontail-Backbone Ridge

 

Date of Climb: 9/13/2006

 

Trip Report:

There was recently a thread pondering why a particular climb will come into vogue, and see a rash of ascents and trip reports. In my humble opinion, I think it is because once a climb is reported, you dont want to be the poor sap without it on your resume, so you go and tick it. Backbone Ridge has recently been one such climb, and seeing as how so many CC.comers have been getting up it, I didnt want to be left out. My courage was bolstered by statements such as "...the offwidth was way easier than I thought", "just bring cams" (good thing because I forgot my nuts and lucky red tri-cam).

Actually this beast has been on my list for awhile, and my brother and I were not disapointed.

 

How'd ya'll get them ropes up there?

 

The Off-Width (which I thought was challenging)

 

Cruizin

 

Lukey warmin his claws on the fin

 

Descent Sans Crampons

 

Asguard Pass

 

Thanks AlpineDave for lettin us use Big Green!

[still_climbin]

Maybe I'm in a rut but I never tire of TR's on any Dragontail route (cept maybe the walkup). Thanks.

[goatboy]

Curious where exactly you did the "descent sans crampons". Was it further down the ridge past the standard glacier access (towards Annapurna?)

[Rad]

Way to get on it before the rain really flies.

 

I've never seen someone list peer pressure as a reason to climb.

 

It starts as social climbing and before you know it you're doing pullups on your doorjam at night.

[scottgg]

Curious where exactly you did the "descent sans crampons".

From the summit, we scrambled southeasterly through sandy ledges, then made two single rope rappels, the first being from a cairned anchor. Follow this with just a bit of loose downclimbing, and we were soon boulder hopping towards Asguard.

[kevbone]

I have climbed Dragontail and did not rappel. Is there no snow to walk off?

[scottgg]

I have climbed Dragontail and did not rappel. Is there no snow to walk off?

We didn't bring crampons, and the snow/glacier had the consistency of concrete

I'd rather make the two rappels (good anchors/ no rope eating cracks) than carry crampons.

[ivan]

I have climbed Dragontail and did not rappel. Is there no snow to walk off?

We didn't bring crampons, and the snow/glacier had the consistency of concrete

I'd rather make the two rappels (good anchors/ no rope eating cracks) than carry crampons.

word

 

just saw those anchors on my last trip there this summer - definetly the way to fly from now on - from the actual summit you can just about spot the cairn mentioned above - basically by looking off int he direction of aasgard - only 20-30 yards away as i recall

[goatboy]

Yeah, I saw that too last time...but I had crampons, so just went the regular way...I was wondering how good that way was....thanks for the info!

[goatboy]

By the way, were you blown away by the Fin when you got to that point? I was really impressed by the formation, which I found to be a very unique one for the Cascades....anyone else have this reaction?

[ivan]

thouroughly disliked the kitty litter n' decrepit death blocks just below the fin - heart in throat when i nearly sent a 500 ton boulder down on my partner despite being careful - once on the cracks though it's butter - i dug the traverse - it's wierd putting in gear down by your feet as you walk along.

[bwrts]

this is just a mere tease of other nice rock in area....ahhahahahha