[TR] Foggy - North Ridge 7/19/2012

[JasonG]

Trip: Foggy - North Ridge

 

Date: 7/19/2012

 

Trip Report:

What does Beckey know? Sure, he said to approach the north side of Foggy via Ida Pass, but surely he never went that way, did he? Has he even climbed Foggy? After all, who has? At what were they thinking? It looks terrible from the trail to Monte Cristo, but there is a tantalizingly beautiful snow gully that takes you right to the north side of Foggy from near Goat Lake (listed as an alternate approach in Beckey). All you have to do is get to it....

 

Which turned out to be pretty unpleasant. With a half century of bushwhacking between Trent, Sepultura, and myself, we had never experienced brush quite like the patch between the trail on the north side of Goat Lake and the snow finger descending from Foggy. Devil's Club, salmonberry, slide alder, AND nettles - head high nettles, everywhere. It was special, in a twisted sort of way. At one point we had to cross a deep, fairly wide (too wide to jump), and swift creek. Although we were resigned to getting soaked, wemanaged to walk on slide alder to the midpoint of the stream (getting lower, lower with each step), then transition to another slide alder bush on the other side (higher, higher with each step), without getting too wet. Another first.

 

What possessed us to battle through hell to reach the alpine you might ask?

 

"Climb class 3 and 4 rock with occasional easy class-5 moves; the rock is firm diorite."

 

Sounds fun doesn't it? And it was, though it was only a couple rope lengths of climbing. At least we got a summit during a frustrating period of weather. Thanks to Messrs. Catellani and Corriveau for drawing us to the summit of Foggy. Without their fun sounding North ridge route, I may have skipped climbing it. It is worth doing though, just don't go in via Goat lake after the snow melts and the nettles grow head high. My legs are still burning.

 

 

The North side of Foggy and the snow finger from the shore of Goat Lake.

 

Huh?

 

Sloan Peak and Goat Lake far below.

 

We may have gained the ridge too soon, and did a short rappel.

 

Cadet and Monte Cristo Peaks from the summit of Foggy

 

On the summit. We have to go back that way?

 

Descending below the summit.

 

In the snow gully, heading down to begin the brush bash around Goat Lake.

 

Trent demonstrating the slide alder stream crossing technique.

 

Yes, Mr. Sepultura is standing up.

 

Goat Lake. Foggy is on the right, Cadet is in the middle.

 

Gear Notes:

Light rack, 60m half rope, axe, helmet, Al crampons.

 

Approach Notes:

Don't follow us.

[Trent]

A very tasty bushwack it was. I only thought about pushing the button (the PLB) three or four times.

[Layback]

I had a similar experience via the other approach and yet it remains one of my favorites. Weird how the suffering later turns into something special. Congrats.

[Riley81]

Gotta love the Monte Cristo Range. You're always left wondering why you wanted to climb there in the first place, but end up coming back for more.

[therunningdog]

Damn, that looks like fun. Sorry I missed it!