[TR] Mt Washington - Route 1 5/23/2010

[sjwages]

Trip: Mt Washington - Route 1

 

Date: 5/23/2010

 

Trip Report:

Started up the trail at 0700 with the intent of doing the Washington-Ellinor Traverse. We climbed Washington but due to softening snow and lack of visibility we descended without heading over to Ellinor.

 

There is still plenty of snow starting at the meadow below

Big Creek Basin, 'schrunds not open yet, a snow drift blocked the last section of the ledges on the summit block but it can be bypassed by a short rock band traverse.

 

We scrambled the rock buttresses above the meadow

 

'A' Peak and Ellinor visible for a while

 

 

All good options

 

The Summit Block

 

James trying out his new axe and crampons

 

 

The Nose

 

By the time we reached the top, the clouds had moved in for the day

 

The summit register had a bad winter, all wet and running with smeared ink

 

Pershing

 

We descend, the SE ridge and foggy soup below

 

Contemplating the traverse to Ellinor

 

And trying to decide

 

Decided on the down direction, where the rain was

 

Gear Notes:

Axe, Crampons, and Hat

 

Approach Notes:

Trail to the meadow

[summitchaserCJB]

I can just see the soft snow giving way under the climber testing his new pons and ax.

[mountainsloth]

Fun times

[LostCamKenny]

this one's my fav

[sjwages]

I can just see the soft snow giving way under the climber testing his new pons and ax.

\

actually there were spots on the summit block that were hard packed and wind blown

[highhatt]

Always love Washington even if it does get crowded sometimes.

 

Did you guys climb the snow ramp at the top or straight up the rock from the ridge?

 

I was up there the weekend before helping with the college climbing class and watched Suprise Col let loose with a pretty good sized wet slide in the afternoon that would have taken anyone out on the climb.

 

Defintely have to be careful as all this snow in the Oly's warms up.