recent conditions on the Tooth, on approach?

[gavastik]

Hi there!

 

Could anyone comment on the conditions they encountered recently on the approach to the Tooth? How's the snow, if any?

 

Thanks!

Paulina

[summitchaserCJB]

hey there,

No big deal. Snow in the upper basin, but doable in approach shoes without ax or crampons for the experienced. If not, bring an ax.

[gavastik]

Thanks, summitchaserCJB! That's what I wanted to hear.

[gavastik]

Well, we got totally lost (really? yes, really! :-) ) and lost a bunch of time and opted to come back next week, but. The snowfield looked really tiny and totally avoidable. I won't carry an axe next week.

[summitchaserCJB]

?? Must have melted out a lot or you were in the wrong spot. When I was there maybe a week and a half ago the snow was maybe 3-6 feet deep in the whole upper basin.- Not the lower Source Lake which I think you might be talking about. Plenty of melting is possible though.

[gavastik]

I'm pretty sure that in the end we were in the right spot, but we never made it to the snow in the upper basin. From across the valley though it really looked like there was only snow in the middle with scree on either side, and then scree under the East face of the Tooth itself and under Pineapple Pass. But I'll be able to say for sure next week. :-)

 

 

[summitchaserCJB]

oh I see. When I was there snow covered probably 90% of the walkable terrain in the upper basin. Let us know how it works out.

[jon_masaya]

 

From July 17th. Aim for the right side of the big gap.

 

Did it in approach shoes, but regretted not having an axe. (if for no other reason than to have a more controlled glissade/slide back down!). Pineapple pass was warm and dry.