[TR] Gannett Peak / Lamoille Canyon / Cirque of Towers - Multiple routes 8/11/2008

[wfinley]

Trip: Gannett Peak / Lamoille Canyon / Cirque of Towers - Multiple routes

 

Date: 8/11/2008

 

Trip Report:

Winter lasted well into June in Anchorage. Snow patches lingered in the yard till June and we were still climbing snow couloirs like it was May in mid June. Then the July rains came early... rock climbing consisted of long drives to Hatcher only to turn around and drive home, mountain climbing was out of the question. Even the fishing sucked. So I made some calls, coordinated with friends and family, cashed in my Alaska Airlines miles and headed south.

 

Any trip outside of Alaska usually attempts to coordinate as many visits with as many friend and family within (reasonably) close proximity so I took 2 1/2 week and planned to climb and drive all over the place.

 

I began by flying into Helena MT where my old friend and climbing partner Brad Horning now lives. I hadn't climbed with him in 5 years and hadn't met his 3 year old son, Logan, yet (only a Canadian could get away with naming their child after the highest mountain). I spent a night and morning at his house visiting with his wife and son - then Brad and I were off to Wyoming. We drove 5 hours to Green River lakes where we shouldered ridiculously heavy packs and began the 17 mile trudge to the West Face of Gannet Peak. 2 days later, after 10 miles on a good trail and 7 miles of no trail, boulder hopping and tree crawling we crashed at the base of Gannett Peak.

 

Heading up Tourist Creek

 

Sunset on Gannett

 

The next morning at 5 am we were up and moving by 6:30. The route began with 700' of boulder hopping, then a glacier crossing and then 500' of moderate snow topped by 500' of more boulder hopping till we reached a col. We dropped our crampons and ice axes and soloed up 200' of excellent 4th / easy 5th class rock to reach another 300' section of snow. Crampons and axe were below us so we dug out the rope and rack and belayed each other up the rock next the snow. After that we dropped the rope and strolled to the summit where we hung out for an hour in the sun with no signs of clouds or other people.

 

High on the North Ridge

 

'Ze summit

 

We then downclimbed the ridge, rapped the rock step and headed back to camp. After a brief rest we packed up and hiked a few miles back - and the next morning easily made it down to the Green River by 1pm where we inflated out packrafts and floated out the Green River.

 

Headed Down

 

Descending to the Minor Glacier - The map we had did not show the lake below - but instead showed a glacier.

 

Packrafting out the Green River

 

At the take out

 

Brad then drove me to Idaho Falls, ID; we said goodbye and I rented a car and drove another 6 hours to Elko NV where I met my youngest brother, Charlie, and his fiancee, Liz. Charlie and Liz showed me the good Elko nightlife - and Charlie hooked us up with local hardman, James Welton for a day of cragging in Lamoille Canyon.

 

James dragged my fat gut up his and other Lamiolle locals 3 pitch classic "Casino Queen". It began with a nice overhanging 5.8 pitch, then a pitch of wide 5.9 and finally a delicate 5.10 pitch complete with an intricate blatancy crux, 2 big roofs and a final off width to the anchors. The route was excellent but in my infinite wisdom I had neglected to put sun screen on my legs (I never wear shorts in Alaska so it didn't even register) and I scalded my legs and got a mild case of sun poisoning.

 

The rock in Lamoille is excellent... and the hospitality of the locals makes it a great place to climb. Just be sure to get up early as it gets HOT!

 

Pitch 1 of Casino Queen

 

James rapping the route

 

I left Elko a couple days later and drove to Boise ID where I picked up Yvonne. We drove an hour east and spent another day with Charlie and Liz at Liz's family home and then Yvonne and I once again headed East.

 

We drove to Jackson, WY, picked up a friend from Anchorage (J.T.), then drove another few hours to Big Sandy Lake where we shouldered monster packs and headed into the Cirque of Towers.

 

We spent 5 days climbing in the Cirque of Towers and made it up Pingora's South Butress, Overhanding Tower and the classic East Ridge of Wolf's Head - a 15 pitch climb consisting of a classic opening pitch where you have to climb a 40' "sidewalk" that is 2 feet wide. After that it's numerous pitches of intricate traversing, chimney squeezing and hand traverses.

 

S. Buttress of Pingora

 

JT on the famous sidewalk pitch

 

The slot pitch on "Darth Vader Tower". It's easier if you go higher... but there's no pro up high!

 

The "piton pitch" layback.

 

'ze summit

 

On day 5 a storm rolled in so we left the Cirque early and drove to the Tetons where Yvonne and I climbed "Guide's Wall". It was my 3rd attempt of the route - the first attempt was in 1995 and we bailed at the top of pitch 3 due to a thunderstorm. The next attempt was in 2001 where I made the call to bail at the top of pitch 2 after hauling my 13 year old nephew up the route and didn't want to take him any higher.

 

My 4th trip to the Tetons... and I don't think I'll ever get tired of the view.

 

This time thunderstorms once again rolled in but we pushed up and soon were at the top of pitch 5 after climbing the stellar 5.8 flaring cracks. We bailed off just as the thunder started and were back at the car by 6pm.

 

Y at the top of pitch 5.

 

Storm's a comin' - let's get the #%#@% out of here

 

We left Jackson the next morning to return once again to cloudy skies and rain.

 

If you want more pix... they are here.

 

Gear Notes:

Glacier gear, mtn axe, crampons, packraft, standard rack, bug dope and sunscreen.

 

Approach Notes:

Lots of walking.

Edited August 11, 2008 by wfinley

[Winter]

cool TR! looks like you had a great time.

[jon]

Between you and Dru we need to get the photo contest going! Awesome TR!

[denalidave]

Another great Wind River TR. Must get back to the Winds... Must get back...

 

Great Pics, thanks!

[Buckler]

I think we ran into you guys in the Cirque - we were the OR crew. Did the South Buttress twice, and scrambled Overhanging Tower in light rain. My buddies also did the E. Ridge of Wolf's Head and the NE Face of Pingora. Nice pics - my camera crapped out at the Trailhead.

 

Gotta get one of those Packrafts!

[alpenho]

Nice! Such an incredible area - Gannett is next on my list for the Winds. Great idea with the raft too!

[grenalds]

Great photos. You have a great eye for it. How is the guide's wall? I'm planning a Teton trip this weekend and taking some less experienced climbers...

 

Any route suggestions?

[wfinley]

Thanks all! The final float out the Green River was a good ending and gave our sore feet a rest. If you're interested in more packraft / climbing combos post on the Alpackaraft.com forums and some of the guys there will gladly offer sugesstions.

 

Buckler -- were you the party ahead of us on Pingora?

 

Grenalds -- I'd say Guide's Wall isn't really that great for beginners due to the high traffic it gets. On any given late summer day there will be at least 1 guided group as well as a couple private groups. I think Disappointment's E. Ridge or Symmetry Spire's SW ridge are better climbs and chances are you'd be by yourself and able to take your time and enjoy the route. However -- you could go to Guide's Wall in early afternoon and get in a few pitches with beginners and not have to deal with the crowds (the rap route is left of the climbing route). Teewinot's E face is also a good beginner route; it's mostly hiking with a short step of 4th class at the top that you might want to haul a rope for. After your group is dialed in, go climb the CMC route on Moran; it's less crowded than the Grand and every bit as fun.

[grenalds]

Thanks for the advice! I think those sound like a great fit. Maybe we'll do two day trips...