Ice on The Castle - Tatoosh

[Know_Fear]

On Mar 9th I scoped a pitch or two of ice

on the N. face of The Castle in the Tatoosh

Range. Has anyone climbed it?

[mattp]

A moderately large flow forms on the NW face of The Castle just about every year. I haven't been up there this year, but in the past it has been 100 to 200 feet high, somewhat tiered, with bulges up to perhaps 60 or 70 degrees. It seems to me that the top of the usual formation is in or close to a group of small trees. I've noticed it when I was up there skiing, or climbing Pinnacle Peak's N. Ridge, and have occasionally thought it might be worth a look. I've never heard of anybody actually heading up there to climb it.

[ 03-14-2002: Message edited by: mattp ]

[jstreet]

I can't answer if it's been climbed but I'm interested in more detail. Exactly where is it? Is is on the north slope somewhere or is it on the castles north face proper? How hard does it look? Any guess on WI rating? How close did you get to it?

[Skisports]

I belevie it is in james martins new book on this web site

dave

[Know_Fear]

Sorry for the belated responce. I'm sure this thing has melted out.

Anyway - the location was described by another member. Castle

Peak is south-southeast of Mt. Rainier. Access is via the Longmire

entrance to Rainier N.P. Park at the Narada Falls snow park. It's

about 1.5 miles to Reflection Lake and another .5 to the Castle. This

is a popular back country ski area. I saw 100-200 feet of water ice

flowing over small rock ledges on the NW side of the Castle. The flow wrapped many small trees. My guess was WI2-WI4. It looked

fat enough to take screws. Some rock gear, and slings for the trees

would help. See "Cascade Select" guides re: Pinnacle/Castle/Lane Peaks for an overview and other options. P.S. great backcountry skiing here.