Kyle_Flick Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 Trip: Colchuck Peak - Circumnavigation of Colchuck Date: 6/5/2010 Trip Report: Due to the warm temps and the snow becoming isothermic, we abandoned our plan to climb Argonaut's NE Couloir in favor of escaping Mountaineer Creek and crossing the ridge northeast of Argonaut into Porcupine Basin. The postholing traverse to Colchuck Col was bearable with Eric and I rotating trailbreaking. Nothing remarkable to report except in the morning crossing Mountaineer Creek at high flow on slick logs was the crux of the approach. Glissading Colchuck Glacier nearly nonstop to the lake was the highlight. A nice day loop. Gear Notes: Ice ax, crampons. Snowshoes optional. Approach Notes: Mountaineer Creek approach is fairly firm and quick. One might consider wearing crampons crossing the slick logs over Mountaineer Creek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telemarker Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 Nice loop! The snow on the north side of things in the area was good, at least on 8 Mile Mtn. It was firm, to say the least! You probably would have been okay on the ne couloir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineMonkey Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 Call me next time you go back in there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alecapone Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 Cool trip Kyle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonG Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 Not that you want to hear it now, Kyle, but some friends battled through thigh deep slop during a heat wave last spring and found OK conditions in the NE couloir proper. It is shady and steep enough that it seems to be fairly firm even when the slopes below are slop. Nice effort though- that is a baking slog over to Colchuck without skis! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle_Flick Posted June 8, 2010 Author Share Posted June 8, 2010 You're probably right, Heinrich. However, the week before with cooler temps, my climbing buddy had seen a large avalanche come down in the vicinity of the climb. In addition the snowfield perched above and upper part of the couloir were exposed to the sun all morning. But the gully we climbed up and over the ridge had a similar aspect and was firm. So it's unfinished business for next weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whatcomboy Posted June 9, 2010 Share Posted June 9, 2010 Were you the group of five Norman and I met at the Col after we summited Colchuck Peak? We were going to head up Dragontail but changed plans due to soft snow and headed down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle_Flick Posted June 9, 2010 Author Share Posted June 9, 2010 We were a party of two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jordansahls Posted June 9, 2010 Share Posted June 9, 2010 Did you get a look at Dragontail? I'm wondering if triple couloirs is still in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle_Flick Posted June 10, 2010 Author Share Posted June 10, 2010 The entrance into the Hidden is thinner, but the rest still looks in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Larry Posted June 17, 2010 Share Posted June 17, 2010 Did you get a look at Dragontail? I'm wondering if triple couloirs is still in. I was up there a week ago; big stuff coming down triple, snow was like whipped slurpee on Colchuck Glacier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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