JasonG Posted February 5, 2015 Posted February 5, 2015 Trip: Hall Peak- scramble - NE side from Ice Caves trail Date: 1/29/2015 Trip Report: This is what it has come to. With no snow in sight (almost literally), I found myself tagging along with Scott and Steve on a grudge match with Hall Peak (third time's a charm?). Normally, this route wouldn't be the safest option in winter, but this is no ordinary winter, and it is probably much easier now than in the summer when the brush has leafed out and the flies are looking for an easy meal. Armed with beta from a TR on NWHikers, we got an early start from the Ice Caves trail last week. Unfortunately, you leave the trail rather quickly and begin the battle upwards. This trip would be not that fun in the summer, but it wasn't bad for us. It took us about 8 hours round trip, including over an hour on the summit, and we never encountered truly horrible brush. Basically the perfect length of trip for the short winter days. You can see from the photos that even hardmen like Dan (where is this guy anyway?) and Eric won't be skiing the NF of Big Four anytime soon. While it can't really compare to skiing powder, choss dawging up an obscure peak is a good way to forget that it is actually mid winter. It looks like October! Gear Notes: eye protection, gloves, helmet, crampons, ice axe. Approach Notes: Ice caves trail to the large avi swath. Hang a right off the trail and 'schwack your way up for 4K' Quote
powderhound Posted February 5, 2015 Posted February 5, 2015 West face of Sloan has hardly any ice and snow on it than I would have thought. Looks like a great day in the hills. Quote
Trent Posted February 5, 2015 Posted February 5, 2015 Imagine: Lolling on a summit enjoying the warmth and sunshine in January! It's not a dream, or Cali either! The winter that wasn't. Quote
Riley81 Posted February 5, 2015 Posted February 5, 2015 A proper freeze and it looks like Big 4 could have some nice alpine ice/mixed conditions. Quote
sepultura Posted February 5, 2015 Posted February 5, 2015 No, it's not winter out there by a long shot, but you do what you have to! The Justus Route is by far the easiest way up Hall Peak, and finally Trent and I get to tag that thing. Thanks for joining us and sharing in the glory Jason! Quote
dberdinka Posted February 5, 2015 Posted February 5, 2015 Hard to believe there's a relatively straightforward scramble up and down Hall Peak. I was up there almost eight years ago to the day, great memory and radically different conditions. So can we conclude that winters over yet? Quote
genepires Posted February 5, 2015 Posted February 5, 2015 winter over? how about winter has not started. it will be ragin snow storms all june and july. Quote
Tom_Sjolseth Posted February 6, 2015 Posted February 6, 2015 Looks a tad bony. Nice work on a fairly non-enviable objective! Quote
Trent Posted February 6, 2015 Posted February 6, 2015 (edited) Non-enviable? It's on the Repulsive 69! Ok, I suppose by definition that makes is fairly non-enviable. Edited February 6, 2015 by Trent Quote
OlympicMtnBoy Posted February 6, 2015 Posted February 6, 2015 Sweet, it's a good day out either way! Quote
JasonG Posted February 6, 2015 Author Posted February 6, 2015 I should add that the position of Hall is quite scenic, no matter the season. And you are guaranteed to have the mountain to yourself! Quote
dberdinka Posted February 6, 2015 Posted February 6, 2015 Looking through your photos again, particularly the one of Three Fingers, that's at best late-June snow conditions. Maybe I need to go climb the Roan Wall next week. Quote
JasonG Posted February 6, 2015 Author Posted February 6, 2015 There will be a lot less snow after this weekend! I don't think we saw any snow below 3.5K, and on south aspects it was pretty bare all the way up to 5k. Quote
mountainsloth Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 Wow. Crazy. A buddy of mine attempted that route in November/December and there was 3x as much snow as now. Nice day out. Quote
mountainsloth Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 Wow. Crazy. A buddy of mine attempted that route in November/December and there was 3x as much snow as now. Nice day out. Quote
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