BootsandPants Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 (edited) Trip: Prusik Peak Date: 6/12/2011 Trip Report: We left from the Snow Lakes trail head at 830 Saturday morning. I'm glad my pack only weighed 28 lbs... [img:center]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHbs9b1vttM/Tfb7xBmIvEI/AAAAAAAAA1I/IHiNLAzJ2-0/s512/DSC00123.JPG[/img] The Snow Lakes trail was actually quite beautiful and we had a gorgeous day. Lots of deadfall in the area. [img:center]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OHZEYv_6Dxg/Tfb7-GVppeI/AAAAAAAAA1U/X78cYoHlrVg/s640/DSC00124.JPG[/img] Nada lake was our halfway point and we reached it in about three hours and took a brief nap/break on it's shores for 20 minutes soaking in the sun and the views. [img:center]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fDfTnSE-Kz0/Tfb8IDMim5I/AAAAAAAAA1Y/Ht2XSu460GQ/s512/DSC00125.JPG[/img] Next we hit Snow Lakes, which took us a considerable amount of time to circumnavigate due to the amount of snow on the ground. We were worried about snow levels since the snowpack this year is huge, and we ran into evidence of this here. Lots of cursing and wasted energy...posthole city. It took us about an hour and a half to get around. [img:center]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q-fzsgdxTCU/Tfb8Xgs6foI/AAAAAAAAA1o/6TbBaM7dlZU/s512/DSC00129.JPG[/img] [img:center]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fsbpT0VArvs/Tfb8ZYQMjlI/AAAAAAAAA1s/fo9vVkbiF5Y/s640/DSC00130.JPG[/img] After finally getting around the lake, we started heading up into the high Enchantment plateau through wet, heavy snow. After about two hours of bushwacking and following Nate, we finally emerged above Temple Lake, above where we planned on bivying for the night. It ended up being a good thing as we located a bunch of nice flat rocks to stay on, MUCH better than snow. Within a few minutes, bivy bags were out, neoairs were inflated, shoes were off, and we were boiling water for dinner by 1730 in dry socks. [img:center]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uM50q4oQu5k/Tfb8nX5i6AI/AAAAAAAAA10/TxiYc99QyJY/s640/DSC00133.JPG[/img] Jim, Nate and Sara enjoying the sun and some dinner [img:center]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ru26H1SHElM/Tfb8ryNeiNI/AAAAAAAAA18/Qwt50bf72sU/s1024/DSC00134.JPG[/img] View from camp After eating something that wasn't a Snickers bar or gummy bears, I was ready for bed. Into our sleeping bags we crawled with a wake-up time of 530 set. [img:center]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zz5_e688TIg/Tfb83JDPSeI/AAAAAAAAA2I/ITAMIEh1obs/s512/DSC00137.JPG[/img] View from my "bed" 530 came early, but I slept like a rock. I guess 3 hours of sleep the night before and then doing that approach takes it out of you. Well rested, we packed up camp and headed off to get started on our climb. Lucky for us a team had already kicked steps up to the mountain the day before. Freezing overnight we had a nice staircase and we made good time. [img:center]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QDDO_QV6vIs/Tfb9GsedBZI/AAAAAAAAA2c/0-J1AfkDLPE/s640/DSC00141.JPG[/img] Prusik Peak We roped and racked up, left our stuff down at the pass and headed up for our summit. I climbed with Jim, Sara with Nate. Jim let me lead the whole thing, which was great practice. [img:center]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OPNOJuKumcI/Tfb9IwmuSgI/AAAAAAAAA2g/5Uhse0fvgvw/s640/DSC00144.JPG[/img] Sara coming around a horn There was a decent amount of snow and ice still on the route. I had to kick a few steps up some ledges in order to access some of the pitches. Nothing unbearable though. [img:center]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BlxiRNG5saA/Tfb9lFhP2jI/AAAAAAAAA24/ACQ4l_f3sRY/s512/DSC00146.JPG[/img] Last pitch...and the damn snow Finally on top the views were amazing. We had a crystal clear day with only a light breeze, perfect climbing weather. We hung out, ate and rehydrated for 15 minutes and enjoyed the summit. We also talked to two other ICC teams in the area via radio who also had hit their summits around the same time (Mt. Stuart and Ingalls Peak) and congratulated each other. [img:center]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HIVXaikcXIw/Tfb95PNaeqI/AAAAAAAAA3I/yRHvWtYHcd4/s1024/DSC00154.JPG[/img] Enchantment Plateau [img:center]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Z9XvpnzS7Y/Tfb96K2fBwI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/SVMa8sLWxAs/s1024/DSC00155.JPG[/img] [img:center]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Evh7zXFCmuY/Tfb-DIB3lrI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/-sSt3iYPLps/s640/DSC00157.JPG[/img] Nate happy to be on the summit Three double rope rappels later and we were down to the snowy slopes again. Hiked back to the pass, grabbed our packs, and we were out of there. The hike out was uneventful. Long, wet and full of snow. Back to the car by 2030 and in Leavenworth eating some much deserved Mexican food by 2100. [img:center]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fzz7lrds9ZA/Tfb-wW-N06I/AAAAAAAAA4E/0xQADNWdB70/s640/DSC00168.JPG[/img] Nate found a pink hat on the trail on the way out and was really excited. Unfortunately we caught up the little girl who lost it and he had to give it back. He was pretty sad after that. Gear Notes: Gear to 2" Approach Notes: Snow Lake TH. Consistent snow starts between Nada and Snow Lake. Edited June 14, 2011 by BootsandPants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeShy Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Nice work guys! Nothing like starting up that final pitch in a snow patch. Makes that first move in the corner a fun one. Chauncey looks very happy in that pink hat he found Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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