[TR] Clark Mountain attempt - Walrus Glacier 7/17/2016

[max_leitner]

Trip: Clark Mountain attempt - Walrus Glacier

 

Date: 7/17/2016

 

Trip Report:

NF6400 is washed-out past Grasshopper Meadows. There were some minor washouts past Tall Timber Ranch but they are manageable, a low clearance vehicle could probably make it. The White River Trail is pretty bushy in parts but we made good time running from the mosquitos.

 

We were pleased to have Boulder Pass all to ourselves Saturday night. The views of Chiwawa Ridge and the Napeequa River are worth the hike alone.

 

 

We never had full visibility of the Walrus Glacier or saw Clark's summit block. The route up climber's left near Point 8373 (described in Bongiovanni and Stephenson's guidebook) looked like it was out, perhaps a narrow snow bridge could go but it looked more like slide debris had recently created it so we opted to try a series of bridges on the climber's right. The glacier seemed slightly steeper out that way but the bridges were in good shape and the climbing was fun. We placed one picket on the way up and two on the way down to protect crevasse fall lines.

 

 

As we reached the upper section of the Walrus low, darker clouds rolled in. We decided to turn around before all visibility was lost on the more broken up section of the glacier. Disappointing, but a pretty good thunderstorm arrived within an hour of our return to Boulder Pass.

 

Gear Notes:

We found pickets and wands useful

 

Needed more Deet

 

Approach Notes:

Washouts after the Grasshopper Meadows TH