first ascent [TR] Mt Terror, Southern Pickets - Central Buttress of South Face III 5.9 7/13/2013

[lunger]

Trip: Mt Terror, Southern Pickets - Central Buttress of South Face III 5.9

 

Date: 7/13/2013

 

Trip Report:

Rolf and I climbed this (likely) new route last weekend, provisional name = Fear and Loathing. Grade III (approx 6 pitches; we did 5 1/2 with a 70m), 5.9 adventure climbing on mostly solid (and well featured) Skagit gneiss. Another objective the next day turned us back, but we'll always have Terror. And loathing.

 

After the most enjoyable and casual 6.5 hour approach (it's an acquired taste) to our camp near the Chopping Block, we could look across lovely Crescent Creek basin at Mt Terror. Hard tellin' not knowin', a route up the face sure looked improbable. We took a casual approach, waiting for the sun to get on the rock (frosty night), and weighed a number of potential routes. The most viable options appeared to be the butresses on the left, center, and right. We agreed the most aesthetic was the buttress snaking up most directly to the summit. Our route - poorly marked in red - goes up the barely lit central buttress to the summit:

 

 

I didn't take v many pics, my camera was thawing out. And sorry ladies, no butt pics of Rolf on lead--he seemed to quickly disappear from view, as befits a rat.

 

For first lead, I won rock paper scissors, and got probably the best pitch of the route. Up a steep juggy corner (careful hold selection), then a rising, more solid and exposed ramp, that at times gave that familiar feeling of pushing you off toward the void. Some 5.9 on this pitch, an engaging exercise putting together the pieces. Looking down pitch 1.

 

 

Rolf's pitch 2 took the chimney/gully, 5.8 or 5.8+?, to a nice belay and decision point: the central buttress, or east buttress of the south face? We stuck with our original plan. For p 3, I hung a left and sent an easy boulder prob to gain the ridge crest and a spate of more sustained climbing before it relented to more wandery rambling. 5.8+ again? I stuck to the buttress crest, but there are certainly variations on this ledgy gneiss.

 

Looking down p3 from a belay on the crest, just below a prominent tower; you can see the east buttress off on the left.

 

 

Rolf's pitch 4 skirted the tower on the left; more moderate climbing, but also greater loose rock management. From his belay, I climbed some steeper rock (nice corners) and then ledge systems, carefully constraining the course of the rope to avoid dislodging some slayers. Super fun pitch, with fine air and views.

 

Top of p 5; mt despair central background.

 

 

For the last pitch, Rolf ran up a steepish blocky and juggy section, which then backed off to the remaining summit scramble. Nice views both ways along the Southern Pickets.

L to R: McMillan spires, Inspiration, Degenhardt Glacier.

 

We then boogied down the West Ridge route and then the couloir back to our packs. For fun and moderate climbing on mostly good rock, in a remote setting, I recommend this climb.

 

More pics.

 

Gear Notes:

Tri-cams useful. Brought pins but did not use.

 

Approach Notes:

Lovely walk to Crescent Creek basin. There's now a non-high-wire-walking log that takes you across Terror Creek.

[wayne]

Ya for you guys!Nice to see this Pickets revival! Rolfs not showing his favorite finger though, not so cool. Next time.

[layton]

Nice jorb! Glad to see Rolf hasn't succumbed to marketing pressure and still has the same classic helmet

[Marko]

Nice adventurin' lads

But don't forget to embrace the HYPE!

[Woodcutter]

...how about that casual 6.5 hour approach?

Any beta for the casual bushwhackershwacker????

[Sol]

[Rad]

:tup:

[tanstaafl]

Color me devastated by the lack of butt shots. What were you thinking?

 

 

[telemarker]

Color me devastated by the lack of butt shots. What were you thinking?

 

 

Get a room you two!

[lunger]

Haha mr marker, I think they prefer a tent. And wayne, the finger flying has flagged--it must be his rough edges are getting polished (credit: spouse), because i know i'm only get more annoying with time.

 

Thanks folks. People should check this out if they've got a day to burn up there--this is the McTech (McTerror) Arete of Crescent Creek Basin.

 

Woodcutter, the approach to Crescent Cr Basin is pretty well beaten in--seems to get a bit more so with passing time. But it is significantly harder to follow than the trail cutting right up to Terror Basin.

 

Aside from hanging onto the trail/track, the only other piece of key beta is the elev. 2000' log(s) crossing of Terror Creek. And for emphasis, after crossing, just make sure you pick up the track after each occasional blowdown obliteration. Once up on the Barrier, in general the track stays quite close to the crest; the airy cliffs/dropoffs on the climber's right side are a useful handrail.

[JasonG]

Cool route! I wouldn't have guessed it was relatively moderate, that is a pretty hard looking wall. Strong work!

[Summit_Rolos]

Nice work!

[curtveld]

Excellent to have a new way up that beast, especially a 'moderate' one! Even the standard West Ridge is seldom described as such.

 

Rock looks surprisingly solid and clean, but close inspection of the photos doesn't suggest an abundance of pro....?

[layton]

Excellent to have a new way up that beast, especially a 'moderate' one! Even the standard West Ridge is seldom described as such.

 

Rock looks surprisingly solid and clean, but close inspection of the photos doesn't suggest an abundance of pro....?

 

Probably because Rolf's three cams got used in the belay

[lunger]

Excellent to have a new way up that beast, especially a 'moderate' one! Even the standard West Ridge is seldom described as such.

 

Rock looks surprisingly solid and clean, but close inspection of the photos doesn't suggest an abundance of pro....?

 

It is good climbing rock. I'd say the pro is there when you need it. Any perceived runouts in the pics are more a function of long pitches and voluntarily-spaced pro on the more moderate terrain.

 

Mike, we didn't use Rolf's bell-bottom-mural-van-era rack, but it would have suited the old school nature of the area...just around the corner to the east is the c. 1970 Firey route.