JasonG Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Trip: Merchant Peak - South gully Date: 2/2/2011 Trip Report: Man, that Jeff Smoot sure knows how to pick them! As far as a winter/spring outing, Merchant is a great scramble. It's an easy drive from Seattle, has a low elevation TH that is accessible much of the year, and a short approach. Just make sure avi conditions are stable, as you are in harms way for most of the route. You will probably have the mountain to yourself, and the views are pretty darn good, so next time the weather cooperates maybe you should check it out . . .but first buy Smoot's book, so you can start ticking them off. You'll get hooked, just ask Tim and Ben. Captions are for the photo following . . . Mmmmmm, a loose gully. Firm snow made for fast travel Why you should go right before the second waterfall. Baring is certainly an impressive backdrop to the day. Where's Will Gadd when you need him? Index-Persis, Sky Valley, Olypmpics Summit ridge of Merchant, a few feet shy of the cumbre. Savage! Gunn Peak. Does anyone know where the Gunslinger route is? Summit of Baring, with Chair and Kaleetan in the distance. Heading down to make it back to J R Phinickey's in Monroe for happy hour. I think it took us around 6hrs round trip (for the climb, not the pub). Gear Notes: crampons, axe/whippet, helmet. No rope or harness needed. Jeff Smoot's "Climbing Washington's Mountains"- don't leave home without it. Approach Notes: Leave Barclay lake trail at gravel wash, past bridge over creek. Go up. Pass first waterfall in gully on left and second on right. Leave main gully ~3900', and go up semi hidden gully with large overhang at its base. When feasible, hang a left to summit. Quote
chubler Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Nice shots! Thanks for sharing. I especially like the Index/Sky valley panorama. Great contrast in the blues. What kind of camera did you shoot these with? Quote
sepultura Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Looks like fun guys. Great pictures Jason...Did Tim bring Scrambles along? I miss that pooch..... Quote
RokIzGud Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Woah! This is great! On my to do list before the snow milts... Quote
summithound Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Nice job! I know what you mean about Smoot's book. It's a great resource and I'm in the midst of checking them off one-by-one as well. My most recent peaks have been Washington and Angeles in the Olympics. Index is next! Quote
JasonG Posted February 3, 2011 Author Posted February 3, 2011 No Scrambles, we didn't think she would play well with the wildlife. Maybe when you get back from AK we can have a special Scrambles scramble? Quote
wbk Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Scrambles, Smoot, tick tick tick tick! love it! great shots Jason. Quote
Tyson.g Posted February 5, 2011 Posted February 5, 2011 (edited) Can someone tell me what the title of the Smoot book is that you guys are referring to. I am very interested in getting a copy. Thanks in advance. Edited February 5, 2011 by Tyson.g Quote
JasonG Posted February 5, 2011 Author Posted February 5, 2011 Just this once, we'll share the Smoot: http://www.amazon.com/Climbing-Washingtons-Mountains/dp/0762710861/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_2 Quote
Tyson.g Posted February 5, 2011 Posted February 5, 2011 Thanks Jason. Smedley said you were a cool guy, and although I typically figure most of what he is saying is BS, I may now have to rethink that position. Quote
JasonG Posted February 5, 2011 Author Posted February 5, 2011 See, you can believe some of the stuff Jeff says! Quote
Otto Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 Gunnslinger is under that snow patch below the summit of Gunn Peak. Fun route. Quote
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