summitchaserCJB Posted February 3, 2010 Posted February 3, 2010 (edited) Trip: McClellan Butte - North Coulior Date: 2/2/2010 Trip Report: Todd and I headed up obscenely late to do McClellan Butte's North Coulior. We knew we'd be heading up into the darkness. So we started hiking about 3:15 p.m. from the TH. We got to snow after endless switchbacks up the mountain. We cramponed and ice tooled up at the base of the coulior in the midst of a plethora of avalanche debris. Going up the coulior consisted of crossing solid frozen snow, less solid avalanche debris and everything between. We ended up climbing some ice on the right side of the coulior for fun on our way up. We ended up at the last push before the summit at around 5:30 p.m just as the light disappeared. I made a dash for the summit, following steps kicked up there. The steps went nowhere and Todd was ready to head down to pick up his girlfriend in Seattle. So we abandoned the summit and headed down. The descent kinda sucks in icy conditions but that is part of the game. Todd and I had a nice discussion about hooded specters in the woods which helped us keep the pace up. I really wanted that summit so I'll have to go back. Gear Notes: For the summit: Pins, nuts, rope. Approach Notes: Follow the signs. Edited February 3, 2010 by summitchaserCJB Quote
RokIzGud Posted February 3, 2010 Posted February 3, 2010 That sure is a fun climb. It didnt seem like we had that many switchbacks on the way up... We might have it up the coulior a bit lower. Sounds fun in the dark! Quote
summitchaserCJB Posted February 4, 2010 Author Posted February 4, 2010 It definitely adds a new element. I coined a new phrase- "alpine finish" (rather than alpine start). We're gonna go up again tomorrow to tag the summit. "To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." -Pre Quote
RokIzGud Posted February 4, 2010 Posted February 4, 2010 Haha its better than not climbing. If you make it to the summit let use know. Id be curious how you do it. Quote
summitchaserCJB Posted February 4, 2010 Author Posted February 4, 2010 It isn't happening today. Todd stayed up all night last night. Quote
rocketparrotlet Posted February 4, 2010 Posted February 4, 2010 Well good luck on that route, make sure to report on how you summit if you are able. We turned around 50 feet from the summit because of scary mixed. Tell Todd I say hello. -Mark Quote
summitchaserCJB Posted February 5, 2010 Author Posted February 5, 2010 Will do. We probably will end up doing something else soonish. I think we saw your tracks. We even followed them for a while near the summit. Didn't seem worth the risk considering I had no pro available and it was dark with a 30 foot runout. Quote
rocketparrotlet Posted February 5, 2010 Posted February 5, 2010 Will do. We probably will end up doing something else soonish. I think we saw your tracks. We even followed them for a while near the summit. Didn't seem worth the risk considering I had no pro available and it was dark with a 30 foot runout. Yeah, that was probably our tracks. We turned around as well- scary mixed with no pro sent us back just short of the summit. -Mark Quote
summitchaserCJB Posted February 5, 2010 Author Posted February 5, 2010 Yep that was it. Dang. Gotta love/hate it. Quote
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