benmurphy Posted December 7, 2009 Posted December 7, 2009 Trip: White Chuck Mountain - Northwest Ridge Date: 12/5/2009 Trip Report: We drove to about 3,800 feet elevation on the road up before deep, ice hard ruts forced us to park. We started hiking up the road at 6:30 am and followed a nice snowmobile track to the ridge proper. The ridge was fun, easy hiking...the gulley to the saddle between the NW peak and summit was decent...the traverse below the ridge crest was sketchy. We decided not to rope up as there was nothing for good pro and we didn't want a single falling member to take the others along... We made it to the final saddle about 30-50 feet below the summit after much up and downclimbing to find a route that would go. At this point, thinking I was standing on snow over rock, one leg punched through the snow (over nothing) dangling above the steep chute drop. We decided to forgo the final 50 feet and turned around with hours of sketchy downclimbing ahead... We made it back to the car about 4:30 pm in light snow. Another beautiful day in the Cascades. The views from White Chuck are amazing...Rainier, the Olympics, Pickets, Baker, Shuksan, Glacier Peak, Dome, Pugh, Sloan, Big Four, Vesper, Sperry, Monte Cristo range, Stuart, Ingalls, etc... Pics... Hiking in The Peaks Starting up gulley Ascending More up Looking down path Big Four, Vesper, Sperry, Rainier, etc Olympics, Three Fingers, White Horse NW Peak of White Chuck Avalanche to north Traversing close to rock Icicles and summit Traversing Getting close Pickets Pugh, Sloan Fun Just below summit Beginning descent Traverse descent White Chuck from SW Gear Notes: Ice axe, crampons, yukon jack Had rope, pickets and pro but didn't use. Approach Notes: Snow Quote
dberdinka Posted December 7, 2009 Posted December 7, 2009 (edited) Nice....thats a great mountain for winter climbing and I don't think there are to many periods when the road is still almost driveable to the end. Might have to get in there... Edited December 7, 2009 by dberdinka Quote
Pilchuck71 Posted December 7, 2009 Posted December 7, 2009 Way to go man. Nice pics. Hope to catch up with you again. Quote
benmurphy Posted December 8, 2009 Author Posted December 8, 2009 sweet man, i've got a list going of some stuff i'd like to get up this winter...i'll pm you sometime to see if yer available... cheers! Quote
EastKing Posted December 13, 2009 Posted December 13, 2009 GREAT PICS AND TR! White Chuck has stumped me twice (weather, fellow climber injured). Hope to get there this year. Quote
wayne Posted December 13, 2009 Posted December 13, 2009 Bold and stunning grab! well done gents Quote
Alpinfox Posted December 13, 2009 Posted December 13, 2009 Wow beautiful pics. Looks like fantastic weather. Quote
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