[TR] Mount Shuksan - Fisher Chimneys 8/13/2016

[Gabe O.]

Trip: Mount Shuksan - Fisher Chimneys

 

Date: 8/13/2016

 

Trip Report:

We climbed the Fisher Chimneys over 2 days (13th-14th).

 

First day hiked past Lake Ann and scrambled to top of chimneys.

We were lucky to have a dirty boot path on snow marking the entrance to the chimneys. This probably won't be there for too much longer.

 

Roped up and placed pickets for Winnie's Slide (probably unnecessary) - still very snowy.

We camped above the entrance to upper Curtis (south-west).

 

The entrance to Upper Curtis was melted out and icy. It's not terribly steep and we saw people cross this section in many ways (no rope 1 or 2 tools, guide lowering 3 climbers off ice screws, roped up no protection etc.) We ended up just scrambling rock (3rd class) on the left side up to a flat snowy section where we roped up.

 

Hell's Highway is steep but snowy - placed pickets but probably more for peace of mind than out of necessity.

 

Sulphide to summit block is direct and obvious. It does cross a section with several sags that will probably turn into open crevasses before long but I have no doubt there will continue to be a route through.

 

Summit block gully was dry except for a large patch of snow 1/4 way up. We used crampons on ascent (~8am) and none on descent (~9:30am).

 

We rapped once on descent from summit block (midway down) on my 30m rope and twice descending chimneys

 

Times:

- ~6 hours trailhead to camp

- ~3 hours camp to summit

- ~3 hours summit to camp

- ~4.5 hours camp to trailhead

 

Wouldn't say we were moving particularly fast at any point (except maybe last couple miles back to car).

 

GPS track here: https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/track/4d19be3a4ec964ed695716503aa5ec20/

 

Winnie's:

 

Entrance to Upper Curtis:

 

Hell's Highway:

 

Sulphide:

 

 

Gear Notes:

Crampons

Ice Axe

Ice Tool

Pickets

Ice screws (not used)

30m rope (rappelled 3 times)

 

Approach Notes:

Obvious Trail

Edited August 17, 2016 by Gabe O.

[montynet]

Great pics, thanks for the report.