[TR] Leavenworth - Snow Creek Wall - Outer Space 3/7/2015

[Alisse]

Trip: Leavenworth - Snow Creek Wall - Outer Space

 

Date: 3/7/2015

 

Trip Report:

Hello! This is my first trip report on Cascade Climbers, so please let me know if it's useful or useless, overly or under-detailed, etc!

 

Four of us of went out Saturday morning to try our hand at Outer Space. I was half of the second party, and I stepped onto the wall at the great hour of...10:30. We decided around 330 to turn around: the walk-off decent off to the south would be icy or not good for us, and we did not have great information on the rappel route over to Pearly Gates. Anyway, we made it to the top of the fourth pitch (5.6). The important information is that there is snow on most of the ledges and on part of the route (notably, the fourth pitch) and snowmelt/running water in several cracks and on some of the slabs. Fun! At the top of the third pitch (5.9), we found a gear anchor that apparently a party sometime before us rappeled off, I guess upon seeing the snow-covered slab at the beginning of pitch 4... (I have most of that anchor, if it's your gear, let me know and I'll return it.)

 

A good day, beautiful weather, and we made it back to the TH by...745, I think.

 

Gear Notes:

"Standard rack to 3 inches" I think is what the guidebook says...worked for us.

 

Approach Notes:

The trail: compact snow and rather icy in the morning; we had no "traction devices" or trekking poles to assist but we made it just fine. Not too tricky to find where the climber's trail begins off of the main trail. A little fun finding a good route to cross the creek, lots of snow -- some postholing ensued.

 

 

Edited March 11, 2015 by Alisse

[Buckaroo]

Good TR

 

sounds like it's not in shape, unless you are looking for a winter ascent.

 

The descent off the backside is not too bad but you might not want to do it for the first time in the dark.

[Verticolorful]

The cam. nut, sling and locker are mine! Thank you SO much!!

 

I climbed Outerspace and Hyperspace about two weeks ago before the little snow that fell, then went back to get on Edge of Space and the snow held us down.

 

I owe you some beers.

[G-spotter]

How bad were the ticks?

[Rad]

Welcome and thanks for posting a TR.

One suggestion: add photos!

 

[Alex]

Nice effort, was it cold? Unreal that SCW is seeing attempts first week of March, with this weather.

[Alisse]

Ticks: So, so, so bad. Among four people, I think we've picked off an average of three ticks per person, maybe more. I found a total of five on my scalp throughout the trip, one person found one on her scalp today -- four days after the climb!! I know SCW is famous for them, but cowboy camping at Barney's Rubble probably didn't help.... But really, snow on the route yet ticks abound? Lame.

 

Photos: I have lots but don't know how to post them without first uploading them to some web space hyper cloud?!

 

Temps: of the sending variety! Sunny but cool. It was excellent.

[tradhead]

I pulled a tick out of my scalp also on the drive home after visiting SCW on Sunday.

[matt_warfield]

Thanks for the TR.

 

Mild winter makes for lots of ticks. They like warm moist areas of the body. Could be worse than scalp! I speak from experience.

 

Water on route and icy descent sounds like an adventure. Go in summer on a weekend and enjoy the route with about 50 of your new friends.

 

I can't imagine Edge of Space with even a hint of moisture.

[Pete_H]

Ran into some friends at the brewery who had just been climbing in the icicle. Spent a fun hour drinking beer and finding ticks on them to throw in the flames at the fire table there. Good times.