Le Piston Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Trip: Argonaut Peak - South Route Date: 6/8/2013 Trip Report: My friend Rod and I wanted to climb Argonaut and cross another peak off the 100 highest list. We decided to try the South Route with an approach via Beverly Creek to Fourth Creek. You can't see Argonaut until just about the Boundary junction. The trail is quite nice until you drop down into Fourth Creek basin, when creek and trail are often the same. A fording of Ingalls Creek is needed (about thigh high) to reach camping near the Ingalls Creek trail. We headed East about 250 yards to just before a small creek(I left a cairn) and headed North by Northwest up game trails through forest. At approx. 5200 feet we bashed through slide alder and crossed a small creek (there is an overgrown game trail that is easier to find coming back)and headed up the ridge west of a major drainage gulley from the summit At about 6200 feet we dropped into the gulley and headed up snow to about 7100-7200 feet where the gulley forks. There were tracks taking the right gully from the previous day (which we took on the way down), but we went up the left fork until we got onto rock leading up to the East Ridge. A gully/chimney at 8200 feet is the "crux"...4th class chockstone with a convenient rap sling. A short 3rd class scramble east leads to the West/Main summit block. We went under the leaning block and scrambled to the top. We enjoyed our traditional Ritter Sport and enjoyed the views. We saw a couple climbers over on Colchuck...the only people we encountered since leaving the trailhead. We found the snow pleasantly softer on the way down and plunge-stepped most of it back to the ridge where we started and headed back to camp. It was a fun climb...except for the alder bashing (only a few hundred feet worth) and fording frigid Ingalls Creek. A small price for the awesome views Gear Notes: Helmet, Ice axe and crampons...welcome on the firm snow gulley in the morning...it was steeper than I was expecting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcocci Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Nice report. we did the same route yesterday, did it in a day. Saw in the summit register that you lost your crampons. When we got back down to the Ingalls Creek trail one of our group realized he dropped his jacket and decided to go back and look for it with another in our group. The other two us headed to the car. Anyway they found his jacket and I believe he said he found your crampons as well on the jacket mission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Piston Posted June 12, 2013 Author Share Posted June 12, 2013 That is great. My friend Rod will be happy (his crampons) We figured he lost them in the slide alder. It made the hard snow a little sportier...I chopped and kicked steps for him on the way up. We actually found someone's jacket on the other side of the slide alder. It must hunger for gear. Your climb in one day is more impressive...well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaskadskyjKozak Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 That is great. My friend Rod will be happy (his crampons) We figured he lost them in the slide alder. It made the hard snow a little sportier...I chopped and kicked steps for him on the way up. We actually found someone's jacket on the other side of the slide alder. It must hunger for gear. Your climb in one day is more impressive...well done! How many have you bagged now on the Bulger? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcocci Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 That is great. My friend Rod will be happy (his crampons) We figured he lost them in the slide alder. It made the hard snow a little sportier...I chopped and kicked steps for him on the way up. We actually found someone's jacket on the other side of the slide alder. It must hunger for gear. Your climb in one day is more impressive...well done! Was it a blue jacket? I carried that out. Was a long day. Left the car at 6:30 and back at car at 8:00 (9:15 for the two who went back to look for his jacket). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Piston Posted June 13, 2013 Author Share Posted June 13, 2013 Yes it was blue without a hood. We had seen tracks going in, so didn't know if the owner would be coming back to get it, so I put it up in a bush so it would be easily seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Piston Posted June 13, 2013 Author Share Posted June 13, 2013 Certainly not as many as you! My partner is the serious one (somewhere in the 60's), I'm in the 30's and not worried about bagging all of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wook #17 Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Shoot me a PM, I have Rod's pons. Argonaut sure likes the gear!. 2 jackets, 1 set crampons and bag, 1 pack, 1 headlamp and a single boot were all found along the route yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Piston Posted June 13, 2013 Author Share Posted June 13, 2013 I also lost a glove...another offering to Argonaut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaskadskyjKozak Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Certainly not as many as you! My partner is the serious one (somewhere in the 60's), I'm in the 30's and not worried about bagging all of them. I'm not as far along as you. Have had too many turnarounds :-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiC Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 Le Piston, I think I have your glove if you would like it back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Piston Posted June 16, 2013 Author Share Posted June 16, 2013 If it is a dark grey Head glove, it's indeed mine. That would be very cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlympicMtnBoy Posted June 16, 2013 Share Posted June 16, 2013 I just love this thread only for amount of gear both lost and found in these few posts. Awesome! Oh and nice climb too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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