Mt. Thomson advice for this weekend 8/22/09

[Ted Piotrowski]

I plan on doing Mt Thomson (east ridge) this weekend. I read that the east ridge is a Class IV scramble and that smart people choose to rappel down. I have some experience scrambling and rock climbing, and I have repelled on one occasion, but don't feel very comfortable doing it alone.

 

I was wondering if it is possible to just down climb instead. How does this compare to the Haystack on Mt. Si? (I find that scramble to be fairly easy) Harder, easier or same difficulty? Or should I start looking for something else...feel free to offer suggestions.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Mal_Con]

The is one spot where you ascend an exposed face for about 15' the rest is 3rd class. A slip at that spot would be fatal.

[AlpineMonkey]

When I did it there was some climbing webbing over the edge and I was able to use that as a hand hold to get back down. That was five years ago. I thought I remember that there was a tree that you would fall into. A lot of the ridge is 3rd, but its also loose. There is a little route finding involved.