[TR] Cannon - west gully 4/22/2010

[danhelmstadter]

Trip: Cannon - west gully

 

Date: 4/22/2010

 

Trip Report:

I had swhacked heinous burn blow down up Pioneer creek the other day on a Cashmere attempt and turned around after triggering some slabs -- but I got some great shots of the Enchantments includeing this bueatiful shot of the Cannon's west gully:

 

 

Yesterday me and Aaron Scott headed up to give'r a look. There was a bit of scrapy shwacking nessecary to gain the lower slopes of the gully. Out on the open slopes -- the snow was perfect for ascending -- firm nieve. There was a small rock/ice step and some avi debris/runnels that were easy to negotiate. The incline steadaily increased maxing out in the upper 40s in the upper gully - where I felt the first stong gust of wind -- which from there up -- strengthened dramatically. I was kicking the last steps before the roll to the relative flats of the summit area -- when I was slammed with a powerful gust -- nearly lifting me up/off completely -- shaking me around as if I was a kite stubbornly stuck to the ground amid a storm -- if it hadn't been for my ice axe firmly planted in the snow - I would have been airborne - quite scared - I retreated down 10 feet or so where the wind was less and donned facemask and googles, and we traveresed carefully over to the other side wich was slightly more protected. The summit platue was slightly less windy than the rollover of the gully, but still BRUTALLY strong. We found some shelter in rocks by the lee of the summit and waited for the wind to die, and the slopes to warm in the sun - neither of which happened...

 

Aaron on the summit of Cannon

 

climbing

 

It was windy dropping in, the snow though firm was edgable, and we made our way down, expecting conditions to sunsoften, but conditions remained firm, we skiied the crux in good style, finally ripping some corn on the lower slopes. Aaron dropped a 10-15 footer in the cliffy woods lower down, and we skiied all the way back to the truck. Great day - fun to experience moods of the mountains that I don't often see/feel, it helps to deepen my understanding and respect for them.

 

Aaron skiing:

 

 

I did some climbing - late afternoon the day before with John Plotz, we climbed catapolt, the thorn, and midway direct, super fun, good times.

 

 

the thorn

 

Edited April 24, 2010 by danhelmstadter

[Pilchuck71]

Right on Dan!

You are slaying the shiznit this year!

I am jealous.

 

[telemarker]

nice job Aaron and Dan! Mid-winter that gully is even more fun. I love that foto of Aaron on the summit! Such a cool summit.

 

And though it may look like a thorn, we actually climbed the Bone! Good times. Outer Space and Orbit are next for you!

[JoshK]

The wind was really howling yesterday. I climbed a ways above Methow Pass (up Swamp Creek, W of Rainy Pass) with the intention of bivying on one of the high points. Despite rock hard snow the wind was scouring up spindrift and I ended up having to retreat and camp lower for the sake of my lightweight tent and my sanity. Good to hear you weren't sent airborne!

[Sol]

[kukuzka1]

Havent seen that veiw of the stuart range before, nice

[AJScott]

Nice tr dan, that wind was brutal!