[TR] Ruth Mountain - Ruth Glacier 7/14/2012

[Le Piston]

Trip: Ruth Mountain - Ruth Glacier

 

Date: 7/14/2012

 

Trip Report:

I had wanted to do Ruth for a long time, so with a rare weekend free and good weather I decided it was finally time. My original plan was to camp at Hannegan Pass and climb Ruth on Saturday, then head over to Copper Ridge Sunday. We all know how plans change. The approach trail is in pretty good shape (thanks to a WTA work crew also there for the weekend) except for a couple minor blowdowns and a dicey waterfall crossing. There is still a lot of snow up in the hills, but I was able to find one of the few flat bare patches on which to sleep. After a quick lunch I headed up and around Point 5963 traversing on perfect snow (no crampons needed). The views on the way to Ruth of Redoubt, Challenger and Whatcom were pretty nice. But I mostly wanted an upclose view of the Nooksack Cirque. I could see Shuksan through a gap...a teaser. I headed up the gentle slopes of the Ruth Glacier, visions of great panoramic views in my head, when seemingly out of nowhere the clouds boiled up and I was totally socked in with visibility about 20 feet. I waited, hoping it would pass, but it didn't. Not wanting to wander alone I followed my tracks all the way back to camp. I got up at 4:00 a.m. the next morning and headed back up in marginal weather. I waited on the summit for the weather to clear and improved the rock wall on one of the bivy sites...But the clouds hovered over Shuksan and Nooksack cirque. As I headed down, a big thunderhead came up over Ruth. I packed up and got back to my car just before it started to rain.

 

Gear Notes:

Ice axe and trekking poles. Snow conditions required no crampons. I didn't see any crevasses on the route

 

Approach Notes:

Snow pretty much continuous after Hannegan Pass, but a pretty good boot-path to follow.

[BirdDog]

We got socked in up there last year too. Is the road open to the TH? Enough snow to ski straight down to the valley without going to Hannigan Pass?

[Le Piston]

The road is clear to the trailhead. As far as skiing down, I met a guy on splitboards who was thinking of doing just that. This picture may help.

[BirdDog]

Perfect, thanks!

[Brushbuffalo]

Nice TR, BirdDog! BTW, in that one image, that's Whatcom Pk left, Challenger right, and the top of Luna in the middle over Mineral Mountain in the foreground.

[Le Piston]

I'm not BirdDog, but thank you anyway.

Sorry if I gave the impression that one picture included all those peaks...I was just generally speaking to the views. Here is a shot of Redoubt.