[TR] Chair Peak non TR - 1/21/2007

[selkirk]

Trip: Chair Peak non TR -

 

Date: 1/21/2007

 

Trip Report:

 

Several other Mountiess and I went up to attempt a Chair on Sunday. Good boot pack to Source lake and up the sloped immediately above Source. Once above the lake we turned left up the next slope to get to the Thumbtack and spent a couple of very slow hours breaking trail in knee to thigh deep unconsolidated powder. Avy conditions seemed moderate all the way to the Thumbtack. Dug a couple of quick shovel shear pits, and the columns made it past the digging, past beating on the top, and took a firm pull from the backside to shear about 2 ft down. It was good enough for us to go on. Once into the Thumbtack basin the snow seemed much more wind affected and slabby. There was a visible crown from a recent slide above the Thumbtack. Avy conditions were making all 4 of us nervous as we none of us had really extensive avy knowledge (Avy. 1 only) so we decided to call it day and got home in time to drink lots of beer and watch the football games

 

So a nice conditioner, came home safe, had the whole valley to ourselves for the most part and caught an absolutely incredible sunrise :) All in all a good trip.

 

Two other Mounties caught up to us in the basin, and were going a little further up slope to do dig a couple more pits when we turned around, and as we were heading down we passed another group of 4 following our trail up.

 

For the other folks we saw up there, did anyone get on route? What were your thoughts on the Avy conditions.

 

Oh, and next time we charge beer for early morning trailbreaking services

 

Gear Notes:

Snowshoes, but could have used more flotation or ski's.

 

Approach Notes:

Left about 5:30, turned around above Thumbtack at 9:30

Alpental to top of the south facing slope above Source Lake 1:30 hrs

From the top of the south facing slope up the east facing to the Thumbtack 2:00 hrs

 

[Weekend_Climberz]

That sounds like some really deep ass snow. The last time I was up there around this time of year it only took 2:15 to get from the lot to the base of the NEB. Of course, once the sun hit the route and it warmed up above freezing the route started to shit on us, so we had the same result as you. Got one pitch in though, before it was beer-thirty. :tup: