Colchuck Balanced Rock, NW Buttress Question

[IceScrewed]

I am interested in doing the NW Buttress on Colchuck Balanced Rock and came across a posting from 2004 that mentioned a significant rockfall having occurred on the upper half of the route. I assume it is no longer the way it reads in Beckey's CAG. Could someone fill me in on the upper part of this route's current state?

 

Edited June 26, 2010 by IceScrewed

[OlympicMtnBoy]

Much of the route fell down (we're talking train car sized blocks). I'm not sure it has been climbed since then, it looks scary with loose block and would likely be mostly new route now.

 

Here is a picture from last year, look at the large whitish scarred area on the left side, that is where the route used to be as far as I can tell.

 

 

I would love to hear a report if someone goes and does it, as long as it's not an accident report. Sounds like it used to be a fairly moderate line in a cool location.

[IceScrewed]

Thanks...I think I'l leave it for some new route choss lover.

[keenwesh]

here's your chance summitchaser!!!!!!!!!!

[summitchaserCJB]

No thanks bud. It's all yours. I want to live to climb another day.

[JoshK]

Does anybody have a pre-rockfall picture from that same location? It would be interesting to see them side-by-side.

[Dane]

I'd wonder if the route has changed at all or if the rock fall scar could just be avoided.

 

http://sites.google.com/site/stephabegg/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/colchuckanddragontail

[Kyle_Flick]

When we tried to do it in '04, my notes noted the upper section of the NW Buttress was decimated by the rockfall. We ended up traversing around and finishing on the north ridge of CBR.