Ghoulwe Posted June 16, 2008 Posted June 16, 2008 Anyone been up to Chimney Rock yet this year? Wondering if the roads are open or if I'm going to be waiting until July... Eric Quote
TednCda Posted June 16, 2008 Posted June 16, 2008 Havent been up there yet but talking to the Priest Lake people here in CdA. there is still a lot of snow and the roads were hit pretty hard by the fast melt. July might be a better bet. Quote
powderhound Posted June 20, 2008 Posted June 20, 2008 Drove through there a couple of weeks ago and the area looked generally snow free. Quote
pindude Posted June 20, 2008 Posted June 20, 2008 Drove through there a couple of weeks ago and the area looked generally snow free. Powderhound, I'm guessing you're referring to Chimney Rock, WA. Come to Chimney Rock, ID (what the OP is referring to), and bring your skis. Ghoulwe and Tim, I just got word that a friend last weekend drove up the Hunt Creek-Horton Ridge Road east from Priest Lake, and was able to drive to about a mile from the old lookout. He spent the day skiing the slopes of Roothann. I hope to be doing the same tomorrow, Saturday, before the forecasted T-storms move in. I would expect Chimney Rock climbers this year will be approaching on snow through July, if not into August. Quote
spotly Posted June 21, 2008 Posted June 21, 2008 Thanks Steve. Lloyd just threw a trip at me for heading up to the Lions Head - guess we'll get a better idea tomorrow how much snow there is. We'll keep an ear open for those approaching storms..assuming we can even get to the TH. After watching him and Maryanne get denied Chimney Rock a few years ago, I suspect Lloyd will be nervous to hear about the forecast We passed them on our descent and warned em about the black clouds on the east side. Between the bursts of lighning and the thunder, we could heard them bailing from as far away as the Roothaan col. Quote
cskidmore Posted June 21, 2008 Posted June 21, 2008 Myself and two others were up there yesterday (Friday) and the road is open to within a mile of the trailhead on Horton Ridge. There is a log blocking the road at that point so if you have a chainsaw bring it along to help clear the road. There are patches of snow still across the road but it should be drivable to the trailhead once the tree is removed. Still a lot of snow up there, it's a snow slog from the trailhead all the way to Chimney. Climbing was great yesterday up there! Quote
pindude Posted June 22, 2008 Posted June 22, 2008 Both my potential partners bailed with the weather as it was this early a.m., and I hiked Rocks of Sharon instead. Not sure if the boss has me working through next weekend or not, but I hope to get up to Chimney-Roothann to ski in the next couple weeks while the snow is good. Chad, thanks for the heads-up on the log and the need for a saw. From the notes in the log, did you get the first ascent this season? Tim, snowmobilers were playing two weeks ago under the north face of Lion's Head, and the report I got from them is that they thought the area would be holding snow until well into the summer. Lion's Head is notoriously wet, including the classic 6-pitch Kittel-Pierce route, and some years never dries up. With all our snow I'm wondering if it'll dry up this year. Chimney Rock--sticking up on the Selkirk Crest of north Idaho--is definitely a lightning rod and a place I've bailed from at least a couple times as storms were moving in. Quote
cskidmore Posted June 22, 2008 Posted June 22, 2008 Based on the log we (Kevin Klim, Chase Buffington, and I) got the first ascent for the season. Snow is still nice for skiing in the bowl and also back down the ridge to the trailhead. Quote
sobo Posted June 22, 2008 Posted June 22, 2008 Nice to hear that Kevin got out and got some. Chad, are you the Chad that is to be the SMR liaison to me at CWMR? Kevin handed over the reins to someone, and your name rings a bell. Quote
cskidmore Posted June 22, 2008 Posted June 22, 2008 Paul, yes that is me. Kevin is still involved however but has enough on his plate that he isn't as active as he was previously. I felt lucky to get him out climbing for a day on Friday. Quote
CatManDoo Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 Steve, the summit register is just about used up, time to get a new one up there. I plan on getting up there a few times this summer between EPIC staff and PLSAR so let me know if I can be of service..... downed tree is within 200ft of last switchback on road before it gets rough, very doable day trip even if it isn't removed. SOBO, its good to be out gettin some...first time out as papa, great partners. Nice work being Danes hero (and mine)!! Selkirks Rule!!!! Quote
cskidmore Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 Here are a couple of pics showing the bowl and ridge for those interested in heading up to ski, climb, etc. Chimney as seen from the Roothan Saddle Looking back towards the saddle from near the base of Chimney Looking back down Horton Ridge towards the lake and trail head Quote
TednCda Posted June 26, 2008 Posted June 26, 2008 Congrats and good job. Proves again that an onsight look beats all the info you can get off the web. Good work by all of you. Quote
pindude Posted July 1, 2008 Posted July 1, 2008 Here are a couple of pics showing the bowl and ridge for those interested in heading up to ski, climb, etc. Chimney as seen from the Roothan Saddle Looking back towards the saddle from near the base of Chimney Looking back down Horton Ridge towards the lake and trail head Good so see you up there on Saturday, Chad. Amazing how quickly even consolidated snow melts out in hot weather. At least we could get some great turns in on the north side of Roothann. For general info, the road is open (snow-free) to the Horton Ridge TH and location of the old lookout. Thanks to whoever winched or pulled aside the big log. If you go up during the week, there is logging so it would be cheap insurance to have and use a CB radio. A group of 4 local HS kids from Sandpoint camped at the TH at least on Friday night. Brings to mind there are no facilities up there and folks should know to practice good camping skills. Bears, both Black and Griz, requires storing coolers in vehicles. Bury your shit. Don't piss all over where others park and pitch tents. Know that since the demo of the old lookout there are a bunch of old 16-penny and larger nails above and just under the surface of the soil, just waiting to puncture your tires if you park near where the old lookout stood. The USFS has long neglected this very popular area. About time some action is taken to improve existing conditions. Quote
spotly Posted July 1, 2008 Posted July 1, 2008 Know that since the demo of the old lookout there are a bunch of old 16-penny and larger nails above and just under the surface of the soil, just waiting to puncture your tires if you park near where the old lookout stood. FYI: Seems like many more nails on the right side (TH side) than on the left. Quote
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