re: Synchronicity Approach

[northvanclimber]

This topic seems to come up every year, but out of curiosity, how've people been getting over to synchronicity these days? Last year people reported that the log crossing was gone but with the low snow pack this year, the alternate approach via the scree slopes on the north bank of the cayoosh doesn't seem appealing.

 

Is it possible to wade the creek where the log bridge use to be? Ideas?

 

Cheers.

[jmace]

Syncronicity on Feb 1st: There is an ice bridge across the creek about 10m downstream of the entrance to the approach gully. Good idea to put the crampons on when walking across it. The ice was a little sun bleached in places but there is lots of it.

[Alex]

Cayoosh creek is running really low, ice dams abound right now, and there is NO SNOW anywhere low in the Duffy, so approach direct to the creek down the hill.

 

Synchro doesnt look that healthy right now, but is climbable.

[G-spotter]

Even in low-snow conditions, the advantage of the north-side approach along the creek bank is that it's mostly level. The boulders are mostly large, as I remember it you are walking around and clambering over them rather than sliding on ball-bearing scree.

If you park at the bridge, to walk all the way uphill on the road, and then down to the river, and reverse that coming out, adds something like 300-400m of total elevation gain to the day. The north bank approach is arguably more direct than this and is essentially flat (maybe 50m of elevation gain from the car to the start of the gully approach)

[PaulB]

... with the low snow pack this year, the alternate approach via the scree slopes on the north bank of the cayoosh doesn't seem appealing.

I've gone in along the creek twice when there was relatively little snow and, as Dru says, it's not that bad. You're in the trees most of the time and the boulders were easy to navigate. Even the guy we escorted out in the dark with a dislocated shoulder was able to do it!

[northvanclimber]

Cool, this is exactly the kind of info i was looking for. thanks everyone!