Tom_Sjolseth Posted May 4, 2013 Posted May 4, 2013 This is an article I wrote a while back about climbing the most difficult peaks in Washington State. Whether or not you agree with the peaks on this list, I hope you all get some satisfaction out of reading the article. I'd be interested in hearing your feedback, good or bad. A couple of years back, I read an article written by prolific local climber Jim Brisbine which, among other topics, briefly mentioned a list of difficult peaks that the late Dallas Kloke had communicated to him. The Difficult 10 (as Mr. Brisbine would later coin it), is a list of major peaks in Washington whose summits are the hardest to reach by the easiest route. An intriguing list to the aspiring peakbagger, this one is particularly so because of the fact that its criteria is so subjective - a concept that is a bit foreign to number-crunching listbaggers. After all, just what exactly constitutes a “major peak”, and what do we consider “difficult”? It would take someone who had climbed most or all of the major peaks to be able to accurately verify that the peaks were, in fact, the most difficult in the state. Dallas Kloke - a highly respected, experienced, and accomplished local climber - had already done just that. By the time I first saw the list, I had climbed a few of the peaks on it - some of them had already been on my radar. Some of the other peaks were objectives that I hadn’t previously considered, but their inclusion on the list became the incentive for me to climb them. The Difficult 10 seemed like a unique and ambitious accomplishment to shoot for, and its appeal to me was undeniable. Over the next few years, I made it a goal to finish the list. That quest culminated this past weekend when I climbed the last peak on the list, Burgundy Spire. Looking back, climbing all the peaks on the list has been quite the adventure. Some of the most scenic & spiritual, yet difficult moments of my entire life, were experienced while climbing the peaks on this list. I’ve had fun times, encountered rare wildlife, found myself lost among fields of wildflowers, witnessed the beauty and raw fury of nature, challenged my body, mind, & spirit, spent quality times with good friends, and forged bonds and created powerful memories that I will have and be able to reflect on for the rest of my life. I’d like to take some time to share a few of those moments from each climb here, and to look back on an exciting and fulfilling time in my life. The original article on the list (and others) can be found here. The link will look like an error at first, but wait for about 10 seconds and it will redirect you to the correct page. The Difficult 10 (by Dallas Kloke) – Washington’s Most Difficult Major Peaks to Climb by their Easiest Route As there is no order to Kloke’s original list (as far as I can tell), I’m going to order them by difficulty here - as I rate them - from least difficult to most difficult. #10) Burgundy Spire – Paisano Pinnacle W Ridge to the N Face of Burgundy Spire (IV, 5.9, 10p) The tenth most difficult peak in Washington, Burgundy Spire is really an outlier of the Silver Star massif situated among the Wine Spires, just S of Burgundy Col. This peak is an anomaly on the list in that it is the only peak with a crag-like approach and it’s also the only peak that requires 5.8 rock climbing to reach its summit. Nevertheless, Burgundy Spire is an important peak, and its inclusion on the Difficult 10 list is definitely justified. We wanted to add on Paisano Pinnacle to our agenda - supposedly the best long, moderate, alpine rock route at Washington Pass. It wound up being a full, but stellar day of climbing for Sergio, Daniel, and I. Starting up the first pitch. Daniel enjoying the fun (but short) twin cracks on pitch 5. Me topping out above the cracks. The fun 6th pitch of Paisano Pinnacle. Topping out on Paisano. Me near the top of Paisano. Looking down from the belay just below Paisano's summit. Looking down the N Face of Burgundy Spire, about two pitches below the summit. Burgundy Col below. Enjoyable climbing on Burgundy Spire. The fun (but short) crux off-width pitch on Burgundy Spire's N Face. The giant chockstone tunnel on the traverse. The 6th pitch of the N Face of Burgundy Spire. This was the 10th pitch of climbing on the day for us between Paisano and Burgundy. The view towards Chianti Spire and Silver Moon (T200) from the summit of Burgundy Spire. Silver Star from the summit. #9) Johannesburg Mountain – NE Rib (1951) (V, 5.7, 40 degrees) The Triplets, Cascade Peak, and Johannesburg Mtn. Photo courtesy of Steph Abegg. Coming in at #9, Johannesburg Mountain harbors one of the most impressive and accessible faces in the state. Its hanging glaciers and precipitous rock walls intimidate visitors to the Cascade Pass area. According to an unknown source, the 7.5-minute quadrangle for Johannesburg is one of the steepest in the lower-48 states. It is a serious mountain, one that requires excellent route finding and a blatant disregard for continual exposure to reach its summit. The easiest route to the summit is the E Ridge (III, 5.5). I have summited Johannesburg four times, once by the C-J Couloir, and three times by the 1951 NE Rib. Trip reports: 1) C-J Couloir with Rob McDaniel and David Malkin. 2) NE Rib (1951) with Steph Abegg (Steph's report). 3) NE Rib (1951) with Wayne Wallace and Sergio Verdina. 4) NE Rib (1951) with Daniel Jeffrey. We came up the CJ Couloir through wisps of low clouds on this ascent. Chunks of ice threatened. But we kept climbing. Rob and David enjoying the sunshine and views. Typical terrain on the lower E Ridge of Johannesburg. The Middle Cascade River valley and Mt. Formidable. Rob approaching the false summit of Johannesburg Mtn. Down climbing the E Ridge. Spider and Formidable. Art's Knoll and Spider Mtn. Hurry-Up, Spider and Mix-Up. Magic, Hurry-Up, and Spider. Steph climbing the snow arete on the NE Rib. The snow arete. Steph ascending the final snowfield below the summit of Johannesburg on the NE Rib. Cascade Peak. The Triplets. Sergio and Wayne climbing the snow arete on my third ascent of Johannesburg. Sergio climbing steep snow below the summit. Wayne climbing steep snow. Sergio and Wayne scrambling below the summit. Looking towards Hidden Lake Peaks. #8) Mt. Index (North Peak) – North Face (IV, 5.7) Mt. Index in Winter. Photo courtesy of John Scurlock. Mt. Index is definitely one of the most rugged peaks in the state, despite its low elevation. It's also a unique peak for the purposes of our discussion, because two of its summits are on The Difficult 10 (North Peak, and Middle Peak). Viewed from US2, Mt. Index is a striking massif of vertical walls and dizzying relief. Its North and Middle Peaks seem improbable at a glance, but there are routes for those who are prepared to give it a try. Have your ‘A’ game on this peak. Trip report: 1) Index Traverse with Wayne Wallace. Wayne scrambling low on the N Face. Looking down from halfway up the N Face of N Index. US2 sits far below. Wayne in the amphitheater. I'm not sure how Wayne got that black eye. Wayne climbing the incredible N rib. Wayne topping out below the false summit of N Index. Looking up to the summit of N Index. N Index in the background, as seen from Middle Peak. #7) Mox Peak (SE Spire) – via the Ridge of Gendarmes (III, 5.6) Mox Peaks. John Scurlock photo. Having gained notoriety as the hardest peak on the Bulger Top 100 list, SE Mox Peak (AKA “Hard Mox”) is a steep, exposed mass of loose gneiss in the Chilliwack range just S of the Canadian border. Its summit tower is imposing, and route finding is less than straightforward. Nevertheless, the views from this lonely summit are impressive. SE Mox is the only peak on the Bulger Top 100 that is also on The Difficult 10. Trip report: 1) SE Mox via the Col of the Wild and the Ridge of Gendarmes with Don Beavon, Mike Collins, Don Duncan, and Roy McMurtrey. The impressive Depot Creek Headwall. Again. Don Duncan and Roy McMurtrey at Ouzel Lake. Don Beavon and Mike Collins on the Redoubt Glacier. Bear Mountain. Looking up towards Redoubt from the Redoubt Glacier. Mox Peaks and the Ridge of Gendarmes. The "Col of the Wild". NW Peak as seen from the Col of the Wild. Perry Glacier. Don Duncan climbing on SE Mox. Looking down from high on SE Mox. Roy about to begin climbing. Summit shot! Gendarmes. Don Beavon. The summit tower as seen from the notch in the Ridge of Gendarmes. #6) Mt. Fury (W Peak) – E Ridge via E Fury (IV, 5.6) Mt. Fury as seen from Luna-Fury Col. Mt. Fury is a relatively well-known, but infrequently climbed and legendary peak in the rugged Pickets Range. The E summit is the usual objective for those venturing up, but the more remote W Peak is the true summit of Mt. Fury (by a matter of mere feet). Mt. Fury involves a long & arduous approach, complex route finding, and miles of scrambling. The easiest route up is probably from Pickell Pass (according to the late Roger Jung, who has climbed every established route on the peak). Fay Pullen and I climbed W Fury after bivvying on the summit of E Fury the previous night. We had a wonderful time all alone in one of the most remote spots in the lower 48 states, and were elated to stand atop this rarely visited summit. Trip report: 1) Traverse from E Fury to W with Fay Pullen. Fay and I at Luna Camp. Luna Peak as seen from Access Creek. The S Pickets from the approach to Luna-Fury Col. Mt. Fury. E Fury. Fay climbing below E Fury. Fay's bivy spot on the summit of E Fury. This was one of the most scenic spots I've ever spent the night. Sunset from E Fury. More sunset. Fay traversing steep, icy snow on the way to W Fury. On the ridge crest. Challenger. Lousy and Luna Lakes far below. Fay scrambling above Upper Goodell Creek Valley. Steep rock on the ridge leading to W Fury. The summit register. It was placed in 1958. Looking back on the return to E Fury. Fay - all smiles - with the S Pickets behind. #5) Hozomeen Mountain (South Peak) – SW Face (IV, 5.6) An unbelievable shot of Hozomeen Mountain's rugged South Peak. Photo courtesy of John Scurlock. Hozomeen Mountain is a unique and very rugged double-hump summit on the N end of Ross Lake, on the western edge of the Pasayten Wilderness. Some of the largest walls in the range reside on Hozomeen. The S Peak is steep and exposed, and the rock is of dubious quality. Any ascent of Hozomeen requires excellent route finding and an experienced party comfortable with loose rock and continual exposure. Some attempts have been made on the huge walls of N Hozomeen's W Face (the largest unclimbed wall in the range), but they have thus far fallen short due to poor, hard-to-protect rock and very difficult climbing. Trip report: 1) Southwest Face with Carla Schauble, Franklin Bradshaw, and Jeff Hancock. Ross Lake. The SW Peak of Hozomeen. N Hozomeen. Ross Lake and N Hozomeen. Franklin on the ascent. Typical terrain on route. Franklin and Carla scrambling high on S Hozomeen. Carla reaches for a hold. The traverse to N Peak. Franklin poses on the summit. The gang down climbing the summit block. Franklin, Carla, and Jeff. The low-angle slabs near the base of the route. #4) Inspiration Peak – S Face (IV, 5.8) The sheer S Face of Inspiration Peak. Inspiration Peak is an important, attractive summit in the S Pickets. Its easiest route, the W Ridge, involves ascending a sketchy gully followed by multiple pitches of class 4 and low to mid-fifth. Wayne and I climbed the S Face, an improbable route on a vertical to overhanging wall. The climbing on the S Face was some of the sketchiest rock climbing I’ve ever done. Wayne figured he’d add another element of difficulty to the climb by having us leave the rock shoes at home in the interest of saving weight. Great idea, Wayne – you’re always thinking! Trip report: 1) S Face with Wayne Wallace. Wayne having a cup. Ominous clouds over the Southern Pickets. Interesting cloud patterns above the Terror Glacier. The sheer (and wet) S Face of Inspiration. S Face. Looking towards the McMillan Spires. Wayne on route. Wayne coming up to the top of the ramp pitch. Looking up the ramp. Looking E. Wayne in the alcove at the base of the last chimney pitch. Rappelling the W Ridge. Still rappelling. #3) Nooksack Tower – Beckey/Schmidtke (IV, 5.6) Our route up Nooksack Tower. Nooksack Tower, although having very little prominence to set it apart from Mt. Shuksan, merits its own spot on the list because of the lack of easy ways to reach its summit. Climbing the easiest route on Nooksack Tower involves climbing very steep snow (60+ degrees) in a sluff-prone couloir, followed by multiple pitches of loose, exposed third to mid-fifth class climbing. I enjoyed the company of Don "Peak Junkie" Beavon on this climb. Don Beavon summited Mt. Everest in 1998, and made it to 8000m on K2 (without supplemental oxygen) at the tender young age of 50. In the interest of safety, Don Beavon and I climbed a majority of the loose route unroped, and Don nearly bought the farm after breaking off a hold near the top of the route. Trip report: 1) Beckey/Schmidtke Route with Don Beavon. A memorial to a fallen climber (Rimas Gylys) on the approach. Nooksack Tower peers through the fog. Nooksack. Ruth and Seahpo. Seahpo Peak and Jagged Ridge. Closer. Views from around camp. Nooksack Tower, the Price Glacier, and Mt. Shuksan in waning light. Nooksack Tower. Don begins the ascent up the couloir. Don climbs steep snow in the snow couloir. Don on route. Don just below the summit of Nooksack Tower. One of many traverses high on Nooksack Tower. #2) Lincoln Peak – X-Couloir (IV, steep snow & ice) Lincoln Peak's X-Couloir (SW Face). Photo courtesy of John Scurlock. Deserving of the #2 spot at the time of its inclusion, but probably now ousted by the FA of Assassin Spire, Lincoln Peak is one difficult summit to reach. One of the intimidating Black Buttes on the flanks of Mt. Baker, Lincoln Peak’s climbing window is short. In summer, it is a loose, dangerous, wildly steep mass of crumbling volcanic conglomerate. The best time to climb it is when it is covered in snow, but with the route being south-facing, it is threatened by a constant barrage of ice and rockfall from above once the sun comes out. Over the course of three attempts (only one of which was successful), I had two very close calls on this peak. The best time to summit Lincoln is on a cloudy day that follows a cool, clear night. There’s a reason why very few people have ever climbed this peak – it’s dangerous. Trip reports: 1) X-Couloir (SW Face) with Fay Pullen, Mike Collins, and Paul Klenke. 2) X-Couloir (SW Face) with Mike Collins and Sean Martin. 3) X-Couloir (SW Face) with Paul Klenke, Fay Pullen, and Sean Martin. 4) X-Couloir (SW Face) with Franklin Bradshaw, Don Beavon, and Don Brooks. Beautiful light on Twin Sisters Range. A look up at the summit block of Lincoln Peak on our first attempt. Looking down, just above the bergschrund. A little higher. Mike takes a quick break on our first attempt. Above the clouds. Paul and Fay begin the first traverse. Paul and Fay concentrating. Coming up the first snow arete. Paul excavating ice for pro. Paul taking a barrage of ice from above. Sean traversing across the first bowl on our second attempt. Looking up the crux gully. It's still awaiting its first ski descent. Mike in a 12' deep avalanche runnel. Group summit shot. Success! #1) Mt. Index (Middle Peak) – Index Traverse (V, 5.9, 30+ pitches) The towering North and Middle Peaks of Index as seen from the Main Peak. When you get to #1 on the list, you wind up here, at Mt. Index's Middle Peak, staring at the most difficult summit to reach in the state of Washington. The Middle Peak of Index is not the tallest of the three Index peaks - in fact, along with N Index, it is among the two shortest peaks on this list. But what Middle Index lacks in stature, it makes up for in bite. The summit is nestled in snugly among sheer drops of up to 4500’ to the valley floor. There is no easy way to the summit, and its level of difficulty is well above anything else on the list. A successful ascent of the Middle Peak of Mt. Index will require every skill you’ve ever learned as a mountaineer, and you will be required to perform those skills at a high level. I made two ascents of Middle Index, one via the complete N to S traverse, and one via the Main Peak and back again. Both routes involve considerable climbing, extremely complicated and daunting route finding, and constant exposure and threat of rockfall. There is no retreat from this climb, and the commitment factor is off the charts as far as Washington peaks go. You will want to bring your ‘A’ game on this peak and have an equally strong and experienced partner. The crux pitch on the traverse was one of the sketchiest pitches of rock I’ve ever climbed (5.9 - we took the most difficult crux variation possible thanks to Wayne's unwavering spirit of adventure - by comparison, the most technically difficult pitch of rock I've ever climbed was 5.10d). Oh yeah, we did it in boots again in the interest of going light. Trip reports: 1) Index Traverse with Wayne Wallace (Wayne's report). 2) Main to Middle and back with Franklin Bradshaw, Fay Pullen, and Mike Collins. Looking down more than 4000’ to the valley below. Wayne readying the rappel. Notice the old tat behind. None of it was fresher than 5 years old. Steep traversing. Wayne rappeling on the way to Middle Peak. More downclimbing. Gorgeous. Views along the traverse from N to Middle Peak. Relief ... A long way down. A view of the Middle Peak from the traverse. Wayne on the ridge crest. Good grief, more relief! Wayne. Middle to Main. Sunset from our bivy spot. The view to the N from our Bivy. Routefinding our way to the Middle Summit. Wayne approaching the summit of Middle Index. Steve who? The Main Peak as seen from Middle Index. A little moat crawling between Middle and Main. Running water below Middle and Main. Wayne on solid rock. Wow! Lake Serene framed through the gap. In the end, was it worth risking life and limb for ten measly summits? The fact is, I wouldn’t give these experiences up for any price, and what I learned about myself through working on the list has given me skills that I can use in everyday life – not merely in my future mountaineering adventures. More importantly, each of these climbs strengthened the bonds I already had with my climbing partners. Climbing, making important decisions together, putting our lives in each others' hands, and sometimes even sharing a sleeping bag with each other (yes, in the interest of saving weight) creates the types of friendships that other facets of life just can't. These experiences will be impossible to duplicate, but they are forever vivid memories that I will have the pleasure to reflect on in the years ahead. There’s no question that these experiences have enriched my life, and I am a better man because of them. Finishing the list is bittersweet as we mark the 1st year of Dallas' passing on the day I finished his list (September 25, 2011). I never got to meet him, but respected and admired him merely from what I had read and heard. Dallas was an accomplished Cascades mountaineer, and played a huge role in the development of the Mt. Erie climbing area. According to close friends, Dallas was also an excellent family man and well-loved by anyone who ever met him - by all accounts, someone everyone can look up to. Cheers, Dallas. Quote
ivan Posted May 4, 2013 Posted May 4, 2013 are all 10 listed here? looks like i got at least 5 of the ones i saw... Quote
wayne Posted May 4, 2013 Posted May 4, 2013 Stellar report as usual Tom! Its only difficult if you aren't enjoying it? Quote
dougd Posted May 4, 2013 Posted May 4, 2013 Tom, I really enjoyed reading this TR. The pictures are great too, The piece, in it's entirety, will leave the reader, climber or non climber, with a very clear impression of what a truly remarkable accomplishment this was. I will re read it when I have a bit more time and will, I am sure, enjoy it again thoroughly. I hope to visit a couple of these summits this climbing season. Thanks for the inspiration! d Quote
matt_warfield Posted May 4, 2013 Posted May 4, 2013 It doesn't have to be fun to be fun. One of the great characteristics of the Cascades is the seduction of the approach resulting in, well, great climbing. A stellar TR with so many pics my retinas are burning. Quote
sepultura Posted May 6, 2013 Posted May 6, 2013 Thanks Tom for such a comprehensive and detailed report of the "Terrible Ten". Your perseverance and suffer ability is admirable to say the least. The fact that you have repeated several of these test pieces multiple times gives you true Cascadian Hard Man status and Honorary membership in the Choss Dog Millionaires. Hell I am just a choss puppy by these standards you have set! The fact that I am only half way through the list, and no summers in state anymore means I may never get a chance to complete it, but your write up has certainly inspired me to want too!(I think). Dallas would for sure be proud of your accomplishment and recognition of his 10 Most Difficult Peaks list. Do you know of others who have competed this list? Can the Holy Grail completion of the Repulsive 69 be within your sights? Thanks again for this TR, truly inspiring!! Quote
Bronco Posted May 6, 2013 Posted May 6, 2013 Nice Tom, thanks for compiling these TR's into one massively inspiring list of climbs to dream about. Quote
Tom_Sjolseth Posted May 10, 2013 Author Posted May 10, 2013 Thanks Tom for such a comprehensive and detailed report of the "Terrible Ten". Your perseverance and suffer ability is admirable to say the least. The fact that you have repeated several of these test pieces multiple times gives you true Cascadian Hard Man status and Honorary membership in the Choss Dog Millionaires. Hell I am just a choss puppy by these standards you have set! The fact that I am only half way through the list, and no summers in state anymore means I may never get a chance to complete it, but your write up has certainly inspired me to want too!(I think). Dallas would for sure be proud of your accomplishment and recognition of his 10 Most Difficult Peaks list. Do you know of others who have competed this list? Can the Holy Grail completion of the Repulsive 69 be within your sights? Thanks again for this TR, truly inspiring!! Thanks for your kind comments, Scott. I have no doubt if you just had the time you'd finish the list as well. I don't know of anyone else who has finished the list. I do know some people who are interested in it. I think Don Goodman has climbed all but one (Nooksack Tower). The Repulsive 69 is not within reach for me for at least five more years due to responsibilities, but a lot of them are peaks I already have on my to do list. I look forward to the day I have more time to pursue it! Quote
Trent Posted May 13, 2013 Posted May 13, 2013 Nice write-up Tom, I now have enough ideas for the summer. Dallas would approve! Quote
pup_on_the_mountain Posted May 13, 2013 Posted May 13, 2013 The Repulsive 69 is ... Could you post this list here? Googling it did not reveal any details on the first try... TIA. Your TRs are always inspiring! Quote
592687 Posted May 13, 2013 Posted May 13, 2013 Tom Do you know that I often take time to remember and savor climbing with you? Especially Sinister and Hard Mox! You are a prince to help folks. Roy M ( now 84 & 1/2 with 32 to go ) Quote
Tom_Sjolseth Posted May 16, 2013 Author Posted May 16, 2013 Roy, it's always been a pleasure of mine to climb with you and the other old timers. I always learn a lot from you guys and admire and respect your drive at 80+ years old! I can only hope I can function in the same capacity when I'm your age. We've shared a lot of great memories and I hope to share many more. Pup_On_The_Mountain - Talk to JasonG to track down an actual copy of the Repulsive 69. I don't have a hard copy of the list, I've only seen it but I do remember quite a few peaks on it. Quote
mountainsloth Posted May 16, 2013 Posted May 16, 2013 truly impressive. it reminds me that i need to spend more time in the alpine. If not the repulsive 69, what is on the horizon for Tom? Quote
Tom_Sjolseth Posted May 19, 2013 Author Posted May 19, 2013 Thanks mountainsloth. What's on the horizon now is finishing school and gaining solid employment. I've had a good run, it's time to put climbing on the back burner for a while. Quote
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