Ptarmigan Ridge via Spray park in late season

[YocumRidge]

Are there any ways to descend off the Ptarmigan Ridge to the North Mowich glacier without making a detour via Carbon glacier?

 

Currently both west and east sides of the ridge are snow-free and following the top of the ridge to drop down to the low notch at 10250' felt like a suicide.

Someone even left a wooden cross right before the sketchy section.

 

 

[Kyle_Flick]

If I'm following your inquiry correctly, you're referring to the "dogturdite" ridge right before high camp? Both times I've been up there, we've sucked it up and descended down the gully to the west onto the N. Mowich near the beginning of the ridge. It's loose and unsavory, but it's not long.

[ScaredSilly]

Yes, we have descended a couple of times from about 8200 feet on the ridge down to the Mowich. Of course it is also loose and you lose a lot of elevation. We did this descent on the way to the Mowich Face. Though I suppose one could ascent the glacier to the base of Ptarmigan Ridge.

[danhelmstadter]

it's all loose and nasty, but i think the easier way for ptar ridge is to drop higher up on the ridge from around 10k, not too far from the base of the route. the drop is less vert up there too.

http://www.mytopo.com/maps/?mtlat=46.85280&mtlon=-121.75900

[YocumRidge]

Thanks all!

 

The bummer was actually getting to 10K along the knife edge, especially with those 3d packs on. We thought at one point the entire ridge was going to collapse in the chain reaction.

 

SS: the idea of cutting across at 8200'certainly sounds more appealing.

 

[sobo]

I've wanted to do PR for a long time now, and just haven't gotten around to it. But tomorrow I'll be in Spray Park and Seattle Park doing the touron thing, and armed with camera. What should I be looking for as far as garnering route condition beta here? Can I see anything worthwhile of the ridge from these vantage points?

[YocumRidge]

Sobo,

 

I doubt you will see much of the PR from Spray park but you get great views of Observation and Echo rocks.

 

Watch out for bears. We run into one on the deproach and I was happy to have two tools

[sobo]

Thanks, MC.

Always wanted to do some ice on OR, too, so this will be my first view of it.

 

Regarding bears, I pretty sure I can run faster than my friend, so no worries there. Although come to think of it, she has been training for a triathlon in September, so that could pose some problems for my fat ass in the event of a bear encounter...

[KaskadskyjKozak]

Thanks, MC.

Always wanted to do some ice on OR, too, so this will be my first view of it.

 

Regarding bears, I pretty sure I can run faster than my friend, so no worries there. Although come to think of it, she has been training for a triathlon in September, so that could pose some problems for my fat ass in the event of a bear encounter...

 

A bear will most likely try to mate with you, Sobo ;-)

[sobo]

Oh, that's reeeeeeeeally funny, Stephen. Ha ha ha.

 

I have to get on the road now, or I'll be late for my rendezvous.

OKTHNXBAI!

[YocumRidge]

A bear will most likely try to mate with you, Sobo ;-)

Looking forward to the TR.

[ScaredSilly]

Sobo, check out our trip report from 2006 on the blog, follow the links to the slide show my friend Vince did. It has photos from Seattle park.

 

http://mountrainierconditions.blogspot.com/2006/07/mowich-face.html