first ascent [TR] Dragontail Peak - North Buttress Direct "Iceline Bling" WI5+ M4 (FA) 4/3/2016

[JeffreyW]

Trip: Dragontail Peak - Direct North Buttress "Iceline Bling" WI5+ M4 (FA)

 

Date: 4/3/2016

 

Trip Report:

Climbers:

Priti Wright-led 1st pitch (WI4)

Jeff Wright-led 2nd pitch (WI4) (scribe/photos)

Craig Pope-led crux 4th pitch (WI5+ M4) (photos)

 

Went up to Dragontail Peak looking for some new ice! Camped at Colchuck Lake and got the bino's out. We spotted a nice-looking line just climber's left of Dragontail's toe. Ended up being 5 pitches (most were 60m) with 2 sustained pitches of WI4 and one thin crux pitch of WI5+ M4. After the crux pitch, easy snow leads to the first couloir of Triple Couloirs just below The Runnels. Super fun route! We've done lots of research and found no evidence that this line has been climbed. If anybody *knows* that this line has in fact been climbed before, please *respectfully* leave a note (with evidence, if possible), and we will definitely correct this TR. Thanks!

 

 

 

 

Priti leading up the first pitch (WI4)

 

Following, higher up on the first pitch

 

Jeff leading up the second pitch (WI4)

 

Craig and Priti following the second pitch

 

Craig moving the belay on easy snow (P3) to the base of the crux pitch

 

Happy Jeff

 

Priti following the gnar on the crux pitch (P4, WI5+ M4)

 

Craig on an outcrop where "Iceline Bling" meets Triple Couloirs

 

 

Gear Notes:

Took rock pro and pitons pretty well. 6 screws (10cm, 13cm), small alpine rock rack, KBs, Spectre

 

Approach Notes:

No snow on Eightmile Rd 3/4 of the way

Edited April 28, 2016 by JeffreyW

[mthorman]

Nice job! Looks like a much cooler start to the TC!

[Sol]

Nice work crew!

 

[JamesMtn]

Is the gate open?

[kukuzka1]

nice

[Priti]

This line is super aesthetic and fun! I would definitely recommend it!

[mgetlin]

Bold! We were looking at that line when we did GS the other day. It's a beauty. Great work. Was the crux that mixed section after the right trending ice line (pitch 3 or 4 or something)? Good pro?

[christophbenells]

That is a great looking line up an awesome peak. Good job on seeking out the new-new and getting something done as ephemeral and technical looking as that.

 

But...

 

WI5+?

 

I have seen Craig Pope's photos and he is obviously a very talented climber and has way more mileage on ice climbs than I do, and compared to him I should not judge what grade he has put on the pitch, and the photos may not show the entire pitch...

 

Shouldn't WI5 be a sustained vertical pitch that runs for a long distance?

 

Not trying to be a hater, I swear, this mostly comes from my winter spent out ice climbing in NH this season, I witnessed many climbs on WI5 and 6 terrain that were truly mind blowing, only to be told by locals that it barely qualified.

 

 

[bellows]

Nice work Jeff and crew! You've been crushing this year. Nice pics and nice line.

[ewhack]

Cool.

How do the NBC and NEC look on Colchuck?

Thanks

[JasonG]

 

That looks like the real deal right there. Stout!

[cakeo48]

Shouldn't WI5 be a sustained vertical pitch that runs for a long distance?

Depends on how one grades it, if one grades it strictly based on steepness then yes WI5's must be almost completely vertical. But in many cases the quality of ice, and strenuous natural of the climb Is factored into the grading. This climb would definitely fall into this category , if it doesn't meet the vertical requirement.

Edited May 7, 2016 by cakeo48

[Gaucho Argentino]

Pic #6: Every second of your life that you get to spend standing on a couple metal spikes facing a frozen wall, that's MF life... awesome, Bros...

[cam yarder]

did you take the route to the summit of dragontail?

[olyclimber]

General ice climbing grade discussion has been moved here.