[TR] Peak 7720 - South slope 11/23/2013

[JasonG]

Trip: Peak 7720 - South slope

 

Date: 11/23/2013

 

Trip Report:

November is typically a trying month here in the PNW -too wet/cold/dark for climbing, too warm for skiing. So I have been a bit surprised at the long spell of cold/dry weather we have enjoyed this past week. While ski conditions are still a bit on the bony side, highway 20 is open and that means access to some of the most scenic terrain in the lower 48.

 

Scott, Chuck and myself spent an easy day exploring the north/east side of Rainy pass yesterday and worked our way up to a high point on the ridge between Cutthroat and Whistler. I don't know if there is a name for this point, but it is pretty high and has a fairly distinct summit (the Beckey book doesn't seem to mention it though). It was pretty much class 2/3, and would be skiable right from the very top with a healthier snowpack. We left our skis about 200' below the summit as we valued our bases/edges, and staggered up snow covered scree/talus to the summit ridge.

 

The weather was perfect, and the snow OK, though if we wanted better powder we would have needed to stick to straight north facing slopes (like visible across the valley under Frisco). We were mainly up there for the views and solitude though, and we didn't go home disappointed. It was a great day, and pretty mellow too(~ 5hrs RT and 3K gain), leaving us plenty of time for Canadian Hunter aprés ski. Skagit Alpinism at its finest!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gear Notes:

helmet

 

Approach Notes:

skis

[OlegV]

good work!

[sepultura]

Since Beckey did not name that summit, I think it should be called: Whistlepig peak!