KaskadskyjKozak Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 (edited) Trip: Bigelow, Switchback (Cooney), Martin Date: 5/30/2015 Trip Report: What do you get when you cross 4 twisted folks with a backup plan to attack the North Cascades? Yep, that's the route. It was beautiful, in a sick, self-flagellating kind of way. Our itinerary? On Saturday we hiked from the TH to Upper Eagle Lake. It is snow-free until within a mile of the lake. We found a dry tent platform or two at an established site, no problem. After setting up tents we summitted Bigelow easily, hung out there a bit, then went to camp for dinner. On Sunday we hiked to Boiling Lake via Horseshoe Pass. We ascended the saddled S of the lake and contoured between 7200 and 7300 until we were under the W ridge leading to the summit of Switchback. We ran that ridge to Martin. It's about 80% snow-free. Our descent was where the minor shenanigans occurred. We basically cruised across the W face of Martin starting just below the summit and making a beeline for the col above Boiling Lake. Lots of mountain porn, but it felt as though we were shitting the whole way. The slope had plenty of snow, plenty of postholing, interspersed with talus. At places the snow was thin enough to threaten ankles and shins. From the saddle above Boiling Lake we retraced our steps. We had considered different descent options, a loop deproach (with carrover), etc. My only regret is not tagging Raven Ridge while on Bigelow. We had not planned for that and didn't realize how quick it would be to run over the ridge to Raven Ridge. View from camp: Upper Eagle Lake, E face of Bigelow http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/500/medium/Sawtooth_Slam_032.JPG Upper Eagle Lake from Bigelow's SE slopes http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/500/medium/Sawtooth_Slam_013.JPG Team on Bigelow: http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/500/medium/Sawtooth_Slam_019.JPG Exploring Bigelow's sweet summit: http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/500/medium/Sawtooth_Slam_024.JPG View back to Switchback (Cooney): http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/500/medium/Sawtooth_Slam_048.JPG Ridge run from Cooney to Martin: http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/500/medium/Sawtooth_Slam_051.JPG N Cascades p0rn: http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/500/medium/Sawtooth_Slam_050.JPG Gear Notes: No tech gear. Approach Notes: Cruiser Edited January 24 by KaskadskyjKozak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TobiasT Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Trip: My only regret is not tagging Raven Ridge while on Bigelow. We had not planned for that and didn't realize how quick it would be to tag Bigelow. Thanks for the TR KK. Were you regretting here not having run the ridge to Raven Ridge from Bigelow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaskadskyjKozak Posted June 3, 2015 Author Share Posted June 3, 2015 Trip: My only regret is not tagging Raven Ridge while on Bigelow. We had not planned for that and didn't realize how quick it would be to tag Bigelow. Thanks for the TR KK. Were you regretting here not having run the ridge to Raven Ridge from Bigelow? Yes, good catch - I fixed that. I have been planning to climb Hoodoo and Raven Ridge with my kids. I've heard that from that side (Libby Lake) you have to ascend a sketchy gully, but thought I'd check it out. This is partly why I was not thinking about Raven Ridge on this trip. The linkups are endless here (Cheops is close too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TobiasT Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Thanks man, I've been trying to figure out if that ridge would go. Yeah, tons of link up and route options in that range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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