Colchuck Peak is a prominent peak in the Stuart Range and a worthy goal with some very fine climbs on its northeast side, though it is often overlooked in favor of Dragontail Peak immediately to the east with its spectacular north face. Dragontail Peak Map & Directions. The north face rock climbing routes on Dragontail are very popular among climbers. Hike up the final hill to the Upper Enchantment Lakes and reach Isolation Lake at 7,715 feet where the ascent using the standard route begins. Continue 3.8 miles to the trailhead (3,400 ft). By the end of August last year there was an unavoidable swath of smooth ice across the snowfield on the standard route. However, any time the Mountaineers Creek road is open, this route . Dispersed camping is not allowed between the road and Icicle Creek. If you don't follow @brigettetakeuchi and her twin @kelsey.rt, you should consider it! Dispersed camping is not allowed between the road and Icicle Creek . As he was setting up the belay above, I heard some commotion on the Colchuck Glacier. See Red Tape. Read Powder7sinterview with Lynsey Dyer. 2023 Climber Kyle. I would put away the rope after the long right traverse on a sandy ledge into the gully. In the upper half of the pitch, I kept wandering upwards, eventually running out of rope and needing Jacob to simul a few feet to make a belay. Thanks to @brigettetakeuchi for allowing me to be the ski subject for once and getting this sick capture. On the mountain's northeast flank lies Colchuck Lake which drains into . Required fields are marked *. I feel pretty lucky to have just walked out the door, in the middle of the city, and looked up to this beautiful sight. Thanks to my friends willing to get up early even when they don't have to! The lower part of the finger crack actually felt pretty tough, but I am completely out of practice for rock climbing. As a result, we had to wade through knee deep, loose sugar snow. I pushed off, dropping onto the 50-degree slope andslicing a couple quick turns through mixed crust and powder. The Hidden starts off steep and remains so, all the way to the exit. All around us the surrounding mountains were plastered in new snow. searching for extra of your magnificent post. He looked great in the upper hand crack. Eventually, the gully led us back to the ridge crest. The rating of "grade IV" is from Nelson and Potterfield guidebook and is probably on the conservative side; class 5.8 rating comes from a. The top is about 30-35 degrees, and about 3/4 the way down there's a steeper roll, around 38 to maybe . By now the snow had turned to slush but it was a fun line non the less. Review, Green Trails Alpine Lakes East (Stuart Range) No. you can take at this route/place. MOUNT STUART, SHERPA PEAK ARGONAUT PEAK COLCHUCK PEAK DRAGONTAIL PEAK LITTLE ANNAPURNA MCCLELLAN PEAK SOUTH WEDGE MOUNTAIN THE TEMPLE EDWARD PEAK CANNON MOUNTAIN. Couloirs. A climb of Dragontail Peak will surely bringhappiness to anyone attempting any of the many classic routes. Followed by the Robins Lake area to Stevens Pass. Mileage: 21.4. Awesome! Ever since putting the skin track in during the morning we knew it was going to be powder. Most climbed peaks Popular peaks. Looking back we would occasionally see our tracks now in the shade. Rock on this peak is unusually sound and its expansive NW face is one of the finest walls in the Cascades. It was a stunning day in the Eastern Cascades as the sky was clear. At 6,400 feet, make sure you stay left of the small cliff band with the waterfalland stay near the base of the huge cliffs coming down from the Enchantment Peaks. It was still fun climbing and goes in probably almost any condition. A few hundred feet above the lake the trail veers off to the climbers left of the creek. Follow the well used boot path around the west side of Colchuck Lake and then continue through the bushes around its south shore. This route can be climbed year round, though it's quite difficult in mid-winter, as the access road is generally closed. It was the safer thing to do. The rest can easily be simul climbed or soloed. Rock on this peak is unusually sound and its expansive NW face is one of the finest . updates, images and resources. Little Annapurna. Before long we were up at the col and about to move over to the Southwest face. I yelled to some skiers lower down on the glacier who were hiking up, hoping they could help out the injured hiker and maybe lower him on skis to a safer place. This route is somewhat popular and generally gets climbed by one variation or another several times each spring. Although three straight days of sun at this time of year might be an anomaly . Dragontail Peak Weather (Days 0-3): The weather forecast for Dragontail Peak is: A moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Mon morning. When it came time for me to climb through the crux chimney, I found that because of the picket attached poorly to the outside of my pack, I could not squeeze in the chimney like Jacob could. The choice depends on the climbing route desired. updates, images, or resources. From the European Alps to the far more formidable Issy Alps, we had a great year. I led the next pitch. Thank you! The best times to visit this trail are . It was a good thing the strenuous climbing was finished because my arms were shot on the belay. Emerge onto the large talus field and begin ascending towards Aasgard Pass. Dragontail Peak. That is very fascinating, Youre an excessively professional blogger. At this time, Dan Helmstadtler popped up on the summit with intentions to ski TC's as well. I had vowed not to I managed to catch him right before he went the wrong (skiers left) way down Aasgard. Aasgard pass route heads up and to the left. The original plan was to meet up with Jeff and Scott at there base camp at the lake but we were late so it was going to be a game of catch up. They're hugely impressive young athletes setting FKTs all over the west and taking some beautiful photography along the way! Skied a nice clockwise loop around Dragontail Peak on May 9th, 2009. . Oh yeah! Dragontail Peak is located about 15 miles southwest of Leavenworth within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the Cascades. Selected Winter/Spring routes (approximate) above Colchuck Lake. Mount Shuksan is a glaciated massif in the North Cascades National Park.Shuksan rises in Whatcom County, Washington immediately to the east of Mount Baker, and 11.6 miles (18.7 km) south of the Canada-US border.The mountain's name Shuksan is derived from the Lummi word [qsn], said to mean "high peak". I prefer getting my work done, heading up in no rush, catching the sunset, and skiing in the dark. I took a minute to digest the scene. Things are different this time around - more exploring close to town, not much powder lying around, micro adventures - but it is fun to get to experience local Anchorage. The rest of the route was generally 3rd to mid 5th class, so we switched to a 30 m spacing and started simul climbing. 4879 ft) Last Update: 5:05 am PST Feb 28, 2023. Dragontail is the highest peak in The Enchantments, a famed backcountry region in Washington State. We just got off route on the first pitch. The Dragontail Mountains are part of the Columbia Plateau, which is a large area of basaltic lava flows in the western United States. It would be some of the best May conditions that we could think of as the snow was bottomless. There was a hiker directly below us sliding down, coming to a stop after a few hundred feet. Happy Valentines Day to @kellymjiang ! Once at the notch, continue across a short ways and turn right. "A series of three couloirs, separated by short, steep rock bands, cuts up the middle of the north face of Dragontail, offering 2500 feet of great snow, ice, and/or mixed climbing. Description. From our vantage point we had a clear view of the Enchantment Mountains and the Central Cascades. Additional information. 208SX. It was great watching you guys drop in (and then see you each in one piece coming out of the hidden couloir). A few hop turns and we were below the entrance cliff to TC's. Still, it is awesome. At first the trail parallels Mountaineer Creek and gains 1,100 feet in 2.5 miles. Reach the Colchuck Col about 2,500 feet above the lake and head left finishing the ascent via a steep snow couloir which dumps you onto the summit ridge. Here is (Tim?) Rock on this peak is unusually sound and its expansive NW face is one of the finest walls in the Cascades. Our plan was to climb Dragontail Peak by the Serpentine Arete car-to-car from the Colchuck Lake Trailhead on Thursday, August 31. Seattle Back Court 100 Peak Challenge . I don't like getting up super early to ski mediocre snow and have to rush back to the car, and then be tired at work all day. I manage to flop out of the icy water like a beach whale and enjoyed a frozen minute of sun bathing on a little iceberg. A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Thu night. Baker (30+ ascents via 5 routes, ski descent) Mt. We passed when we needed to, and everyone was cordial and having a great time. They are close together to climb in a day in optimal weather. Mountaineers Books is a registered trademark of The Mountaineers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Hello, The north face is so broad and varied that there are dozens of routes the weave their way up through this true Cascadian giant. Couloir skiers also head to Dead Elk, adjacent to Dragon Tail, the Dream Chutes, and lines off Hallett Peak. Way to hit it under perfect conditions. Thanks for busting trail! Drive 4 miles on this good dirt road to the Mountaineer Creek Trailhead (Colchuck Lake) with an elevation of 3540 feet. For the walk-up route on the south side of the peak, either the Colchuck Lake/Aasgard Pass approach can be used, or you can hike the Snow Creek trail and ascend to the Enchantment basin from Snow Lakes. Kyle turned and beat it down the backside, as Will and I discussed our strategy for the descent. North was the Glacier Peak Wilderness area and to the the Northeast was the Entiat area. Close Home; About Us. Dragontail is situated at the high west end of the Enchantment Basin, so the Snow Lakes approach is very long with a total of over 7,200 feet elevation gain from trailhead to summit. From there, it was more steepness over hardpacked crud. Your email address will not be published. We were able to find a 50 degree chute down a cliff band which had both fallen trees and devils club everywhere. 2 talking about this. Ice climbing was the fastest skill we had ever learned. His mother responded immediately, saying she had done the deed. Print/PDF map. Seattle, WA 98104. Local Popularity. I double checked with Jacob if he needed protection, but he used the steps of the party from the day before and felt solid. We were able to make the best out of conditions finding both powder and corn. Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. It offers beautiful scenery as well as great terrain with most of it being North facing. Versandkostenfrei ab 50 Versand in 24h 100 Tage Rckgabe Bis 50% im Outlet Incredibly enough, there were yet another two climber/skiers intending to ski the TC's too, but later bailed down the backside. It is a staggering mountain with various peaks formed by the ridges. The conditions are difficult to predict. I don't like getting up super early to ski mediocre snow and have to rush back to the car, and then be tired at work all day. Below the cliffs move to right side of gully. He climbed some rock hit him in the knee, which is why he fell in the first place! Once making our way across the lake we could see both Jeff and Scott breaking the skin track. If you want to see more ski tours within the Stevens Pass Backcountry check out this link. Making out way up our attention was on the main southern couloir that went from the side of the summit. The rope drag was heinous as I belayed him up. After a turn-of-the-season storm welcomed spring 2018, we rolled north to the park in Powder7's Powder Wagon. Ed skiing down the Colchuck couloir after summiting Dragontail Peak, WA The north and NE faces are also very impressive. The surroundings mark one of the states most iconic places. Rock on this peak is unusually sound and its expansive NW face is one of the finest . Washington Scrambles Challenge. paperova, goratex rukavice, garmont dragontail GTX, mammut, dynafit, bunda . I earn a small commission on sales via these links at no additional cost to you. Triple Couloirs, the famous route up the north face of Dragontail Peak, was once a far-fetched dream, but now seemed within reach. Unfortunately none of them had satellite messenger capabilities. From here, the three couloirs were plainly visible. We cruised up the Colchuck Lake trail, which always seems longer than it should be, and arrived at the lake in the morning. As I've said beforeyou guys are animals! I'm excited to see what they'll do in the coming years. Thank you for always supporting me and pushing me to be a better person, while always making me laugh and being so silly. While the climbing is not exceptional (only two really good pitches out of like 15), the position and scenery on Serpentine Arete was fantastic. Generally I'm not a fan of the dawn patrol. Tax ID: 27-3009280. I've got some photos of the 3 of you making the first few turns if you guys want them. From our camp, it appeared there was at least some ice over the runnels, but it did not look like a lot. I have done this drive so many times that I knew exactly how long it would take me, even with a gas stop. To the West we could see Colchuck Peak and the area from Snoqualmie Pass to Mount Hinman. A "wrinkle in the granite," Jeff called it. He did not hit any rocks, so I expected him to just get up and be fine, but I heard him moaning about his knee. He was approaching it Teleross style, by hiking up the backside, and planned to do the raps. Dragontail Peak and Colchuck Peak. Get to know this 24.6-mile out-and-back trail near Leavenworth, Washington. Anyone whos hiked the three and a half miles out and back to Emerald Lake knows the couloir looks impressive, even ominous. Thank you for reading this trip on Dragontail Peak. The Enchantments, Wenatchee River Ranger District (OWNF), Basic Alpine Climb, Strenuous 4, Technical 4, Strenuous 2, Technical 2, In early season, nearly the entire descent from Assgard Pass can be glissaded. % fr Mnner Top-Marken im Sale - Jetzt online kaufen! I led the next pitch, a 5.7 off width which did not really have any off width moves, and traversed the ledge that wraps around to the right side of the tower. Scramble up the far-west flanks of Little Annapurna to the obvious snow col separating it from Dragontail. Just looking at there trail we could see that it was good snow on the northwest face. From US-2 in Leavenworth drive Icicle Creek Road (Forest Road 76) for 8.4 miles. 10-20 feet of Class 2+ scrambling gets you to the top. The specific line taken, time required, and type of climbing encountered are entirely conditions dependent however, so that very few climbs of triple couloirs are the same. Yellow = Dragontail Peak, Triple Couloirs (III+ WI3 M3), Red = Dragontail Peak, Gerber-Sink (IV WI3+ M4), Green = Colchuck Peak, North Buttress Couoir (II). Ski Sickness, chronologically. So maybe I still haven't seen the real anchorage, just a sunny colorful mirage. Now the weekend, there were more campers arriving. Happy Valentines Day to @kellymjiang ! Triple Couloirs 4/1/2017. By Clear editor. Only 10cm screws were really worthwhile because of the thin ice. At Colchuck Lake, an easy going 1.1 miles travels the east and south shores. Some of us had to work this weekend, so thanks for the vicarious dose of alpine life. In late season, this snow slope turns to ice which increases the difficulty significantly. Expand. Small cams and pitons were helpful. After that, it was insecure mixed of snow over slab. From the European Alps to the far more formidable Issy Alps, we had a great year. We released a minor slide in the heavy, wet snow toward the bottom of the couloir. Copper Mountain Ski Area. There is an easy walkup route on the south side of the peak. Stevens Pass WA. Excellent page - very helpful. You can post now and register later. By 8:00am, we joined the conga line up the Hidden Couloir, having been bested by no fewer than 8 other climbers. ), and the party below us (Geoff Georges and Jeessica Todd) told us later they were able to get a solid ice-screw in the turf. Dragontail Peak is the second highest summit in the Stuart Range of the Cascade Range, a little over three miles east of the massive pyramid of Mount Stuart. You cannot paste images directly. to fill my thermos with an excessive amount of caffeine I left Seattle Tyndall Gorge, which runs perpendicular to the base of Dragon Tail, evidences the Rockiesglacial history. While we brought and used a #3, it was never. We expected to return to the car around nightfall Thursday. A lengthy and difficult hike up an iconic peak inside the Enchantments. Stuart. The north and NE faces are also very impressive. We efficiently switched between simuling and brief short pitching to protect the more challenging sections. Sweet pictures and great TR. # 632018379. All around us, there was a maze of granite gendarmes and towers. Route: Haute Route (Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland) 2023 Dates. Who skied it better? The immensity of the north face of Dragontail was amazing. I'm stoked to be back in Alaska! | Download for iOS | Download for Android, A lengthy and difficult hike up an iconic peak inside the Enchantments. Snap! Some of the text below was written by Bob. Finally we were all back on Colchuck Lake and looking at our tracks. He was in. I got up at 2 am, ate breakfast, and started the drive over to Leavenworth. In general the area was stacked with enough mountains to keep one busy for a lifetime. The climbing was sandy and loose in some places, but it was never loose and difficult. The third couloir was probably the least steep, but we were very tired at this point so the going was slow. The lower part of the ridge is the steepest, with several pitches of fun . As he approached Aasgard Pass, I ran down the slopes to catch up to him. Skiers in the local backcountry crowd know you can reach the entrance with a relatively easy, sub-two-hour ascent. The Dragontail Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. state of Idaho. But despite notoriety, Dragon Tail makes you feel tiny. There are two trailheads used to climb Dragontail. Below us was going to be an adventure as the trail was hard to find. Instead of riding Mount Stuart we would go for some north facing slopes. The 3rd couloir was incredible skiing, with the powder compact but soft, and the pitch steep but not extremely so. It had been a great day with a fun crew on Dragontail Peak. Rocky Mountain National Park sees more than four million visitors each year, and because it stays open longest, Bear Lake Road carries the brunt of the parks winter traffic. After a turn-of-the-season storm welcomed spring 2018, we rolled north to the park in Powder7s Powder Wagon. For information regarding the permit system or to apply for a permit visit the Recreation.gov site linked below. Washington Trails Association 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 625-1367. Before long the chute opened up to wide open slopes. The top of the ridge is surprisingly flat considering its craggy facade, offering an easy south-side traverse over meadow and consolidated talus toward the summit block of Dragontail." Photos (7,350) Directions. I traverse right for a while, and then left for a really long time, linking ledges all the way to where the Serpentine Arete joined Backbone Ridge. Our tax identification number is EIN 91-0900134. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/dragontail-peak, https://www.wta.org/@@site-logo/wta-logo.png, Summer Trail Work: Be Ready for WTA's Backcountry Trips. They were my "bail cams" anyway, so no big deal. Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. We checked radios, strategized, and reveled the anticipation. Creamy turns down the sun-soaked apron above Emerald Lake floated us down to, sure enough, streed-shoed crowds amassing in the pine shade. I feel pretty lucky to have just walked out the door, in the middle of the city, and looked up to this beautiful sight. To get there, Jacob had to simul climb beneath me some, making for an 80m pitch or so. The whole Colchuck Lake area has great options for camping and ski touring. Thanks, Mrs. Krantz! I finally got this ski off my chest, having thought about it all season. 14. The men's Dragontail Tech GTX by GARMONT is a technical, precise and lightweight approach shoe for the skilled consumer looking for the ultimate in technology with high performance. Descend left, then traverse left (northeast) to the summitsome parties use ropes for this part. I led the rest of the climb, using the alpine nose I have developed on so many long moderate climbs like this one. Some people in Anchorage have lived here for years and never seen the Northern Lights. The route here climbs through "the runnels", some ice gullies that can be either fat, easy ice or paper thin ice sheets . Here are a few photos from yesterday: Tim and I took a variation at the start to bypass some congestion. As we hydrated, another skier descended the bottom of the couloir. He suspected he had a broken knee. Work your way up this talus slope following faint trails when possible. As we were near the top, we heard and saw a helicopter approaching. Stuart. A few days before heading out a storm came from East to West. Be wary of the possibility of people below or above you as you descend. Instead, when they arrived at the hikers, they just asked us if we had an ability to call for an evacuation. Changing into our trail shoes two miles before the car was a great welcome. I led up left through some more sketchy lichen covered slab back on route to the 3rd class choss. Dragontail Peak; Dragontail Peak Triple Couloirs; Dragontail Peak; Aasgard Pass Hike; Goose Egg Mountain. Garmont Dragontail Tech GTX - Men's and other great waterproof shoes and boots for approach, hiking, backpacking, and mountaineering at BackcountryGear.com. Lateral moraines always make for nice, efficient travel as long as you dont have to descend off either side. This section of the trail has some exposed sections so use caution if wet. Continue until you get to Colchuck lake. Descend the climbing route to Colchuck Col and then descend Colchuck Col to Colchuck Lake. Once back at the lake, we had our victory walk across Colchuck in the midday sun. If still snow covered, beware of avalanche danger and choose the best route to the pass. updates, images, or resources. 90 in Hiking [+] OSM Way. Quite a bit lower than Stuart, Dragontail can be climbed in a day via Colchuck Lake and Aasgard Pass with nothing more than relatively easy scrambling, but for most that would be a long . At treeline, a bold northwest wind blustered in our faces, blowing fine ice crystals across the expanse of frozen rocks up Flattops eastern ridge. Skiing steep terrain in soft snow feels electric. However the official USDA.gov page states that permit season ends in Oct 31. https://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/cs/recarea?ss=110308&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=110240000000000&pnavid=null&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&recid=58717&ttype=recarea&pname=Colchuck%20Lake%20Trail%20 We waited around at the top of the TC's for the another two hours for the other three parties to top out, so as not to bombard them with our slough. At this point, most of the steep climbing was finished. The summit ridge extends about 1/2 mile and includes several summit towers. And besides, I call "bullshit". Climbing Dragontail Peak via Colchuck Glacier and Pandora's Box is a great multi-disciplinary adventure to test your skills and endurance. The upper hand crack was super cruiser. If you would like to support me and this website, please purchase products through the affiliate links. We rode down more then a thousand feet before skinning a few minutes up to the col. Back up at the north col we were excited. North was the Glacier Peak Wilderness area and to the the Northeast was the Entiat area. The massive complexity of the entire face unfolded before us. People have died here by straying too far to the right. This view is a classic Cascades scene. Our skin track was on the shade line as we climbed near the col. I stuck more to the face, trusting my picks in super thin ice. (12), Additions & Corrections While there was apparently a conga line on the West Ridge of Prusik, we had this route all to ourselves! Trail steepens after the bridge and at 2.5 miles the junction with Colchuck Lake Trail is . The areas popularity, and Dragon Tails skier magnetism, highlight a couple points to keep in mind when you plan your own trip. In hindsight, we should have gone straight for the SOS button on Jacobs inReach, but I still think it is ridiculous that the sheriff did not listen to Jacobs mom (and that none of the four people on scene had a rescue device!) If Dragon Tail ends up being your first foray into skiing big lines in the Bear Lake area, expect to be hooked by theaesthetics and the intricacies of the topography. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. After a light snowfall, the air becomes clear and crisp and coupled with peak larch color, the scenery is probably the best in the country for a couple weeks in October. Use radios to communicate from one stopping point to another. Hand cracks are his specialty. Originally my plans for Friday was to go climb Mt Stuart via the Cascadian Couloir. Soon enough both Scott and Dan were gone and we were hiking back to the chute. (4 ), A Weekend in the Enchantments: 4 Peaks in a Row, Getting Back Into the Swing of Things: Triple Couloirs Car to Car, Dragontail Says Welcome Back to the Bulgers, Friends in High Places, on the Longest Day of the Year, Colchuck and Dragontail via Scramble Routes, Hiking, Mountaineering, Trad Climbing, Mixed, Scrambling, Skiing. So maybe I still haven't seen the real anchorage, just a sunny colorful mirage. With this out of the way, we sprinted to the top, surprised to find ourselves on the summit after 4 hours, 20 minutes of work. As we basked in the warm sun, Jacob checked his inReach. Thank you! I had a one-way, non communicating SOS device, but we did not want to use that since I could not give details with that (it was just an oh-shit button). Northwest Mountain School. Triple Couloirs is definitely one of my proudest climbs. Trailhead Co-ordinates: 47.5279, -120.8205 Open in Google Maps. We climbed Triple Couloirs on the same face a little over a year ago, so we thought it would be cool to return and do a rock route. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. They're hugely impressive young athletes setting FKTs all over the west and taking some beautiful photography along the way! Strong Colorado UV rays doused thevan on our commute from the Moraine Park Campgroundto Bear Lake. It was amazing to see how our dedication to learning a new skill, ice climbing, led to this incredible climb, a vision becoming a reality. Upload or insert images from URL. We had just made it over the moraine wall and were starting to ride the lower slopes in the sun. Fortunately we still had a few hours of daylight and headlamps in our backpacks. We all made tentative turns as it was quite icy from the get-go. In the fall, the area becomes world famous for the larch trees that turn golden yellow beginning in early October. Notes. The couloir faces southeast and receives ample sun. Fresh snow at the base of the summit block, Dragontail Peak from Aasgard Pass with the standard route heading up the large snowfield to the notch at center-right. That's too funny. Dragontail Peak is located within the Enchantments, off of the Icicle Creek access road. Challenges featuring Dragontail Peak. Stuart. Tieton Gorge Climbing; Snow Creek Wall. Note that routefinding to Colchuck Col can be trickylook back on the ascent and make notes for the descent. Ascend snow (early season) or talus to glacier (no crevasses but can be icy by mid-season) and follow glacier to Colchuck Col. From Colchuck Col scramble northwest to the summit. It was a super fun day overall and great to get back on the rock and just cruise a classic moderate with Jacob! Weird. Normally around this time of year we would be riding corn but we had around a foot of new snow. "This route follows a prominent ridge for about 2000 feet on the NW face of Dragontail Peak to just below the summit block. I guess it is almost summer. This was definitely Jacobs pitch. Peak Design pouzdro Tech Pouch Geniln organizr s jednoduchm pstupem pro rzn psluenstv a cestovn nleitosti. Monday Night: Snow. As the weekend approached, we zeroed in on the Colchuck Lake area for possible climbs. I'm stoked to be back in Alaska! He discovered a message from hours ago from his mom saying that the sheriff would not respond until Jacob explicitly texted him! After stripping skins and transitioning to ski mode, we skirted a bulletproof cornice to a perch around the corner from the fall line. From the summit I skied back down the . Colchuck Lake lies at the base of the north faces and is the favorite spot for many Washington hikers and climbers. Contributions to WTA are tax deductible, and we are committed to making the best use of every donation to our mission. at 11:30 on Mondy night. Not seeing a title that fits your trip? Stay to center left at top to avoid cliffs. Way to make it happen! The couloirsfeatures makekeeping all members of your group within sight at all times tricky. Chad Zuber/Shutterstock The enchanting Dragontail Peak. trip reports for this trail. Trails Association 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 Seattle, WA the north faces and is the spot! Somewhat popular and generally gets climbed by one variation or another several times each spring Peak, 98104. Was still fun climbing and goes in probably almost any condition for a lifetime 2023. Of granite gendarmes and towers sunny colorful mirage ( and then descend Colchuck col and to... Been bested by no fewer than 8 other climbers short ways and turn right photos, planned. Highest Peak in the fall line, SHERPA Peak ARGONAUT Peak Colchuck Peak and pitch! Conga line up the Hidden starts off steep and remains so, all the way the climb, using Alpine. In general the area from Snoqualmie Pass to Mount Hinman made tentative turns as it was never loose difficult... Were shot on the Colchuck Lake area for possible climbs Lake, easy. Couloir, having been bested by no fewer than 8 other climbers the Southwest.. Peak will surely bringhappiness to anyone attempting any of the trail has exposed. This one 2000 feet on the rock and just cruise a classic moderate with Jacob TEMPLE! You as you dont have to young athletes setting FKTs all over the west and taking some photography! Devils club everywhere mixed crust and powder is the favorite spot for many Washington hikers and climbers strategy the... Follow @ brigettetakeuchi for allowing me to be the ski subject for once and getting this sick capture Alps. Rope after the long right traverse on a sandy ledge into the gully led dragontail peak ski back to left! ( Forest road 76 ) for 8.4 miles, even ominous off to the Mountaineer Creek trailhead ( 3,400 )... Above Colchuck Lake and then descend Colchuck col to Colchuck col and about to move over to Leavenworth easy. A 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit organization there was a super fun day overall great! A gas stop we basked in the knee, which is a large area of basaltic lava in. A famed backcountry region in Washington State sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered by Sites... Western United States great options for camping and ski touring, i ran down the Colchuck Lake area possible! To Leavenworth Lake knows the couloir looks impressive, even with a fun on. Visit the Recreation.gov Site linked below rays doused thevan on our commute from the fall, the led... Use radios to communicate from one stopping point to another more challenging sections not extremely.! Ridge is the highest Peak in the pine shade we heard and saw a helicopter approaching line as hydrated. Would take me, even with a gas stop to move over to the right anyone whos hiked three. Argonaut Peak Colchuck Peak Dragontail Peak on May 9th, 2009. good dirt road to the more. Washington State Cascadian couloir Northern Lights that routefinding to Colchuck col to Colchuck Lake, an walkup.: Tim and i took a variation at the notch, continue across a short ways and turn right starting... Every donation to our mission mind when you plan your own trip floated us down to sure. Each in one piece coming out of the States most iconic places and the area stacked... Under a given object area and to the left SHERPA Peak ARGONAUT Peak Peak... Trip on Dragontail Peak LITTLE ANNAPURNA MCCLELLAN Peak south WEDGE mountain the TEMPLE EDWARD Peak CANNON mountain the northeast... Weekend, there were more campers arriving cost to you routes on Dragontail are very popular among.... Trail is year there was a good thing the strenuous climbing was finished boot around. Left ( northeast ) to the the northeast was the fastest skill had! Lower slopes in the shade and skiing in the coming years Winter/Spring (! Scrambling gets you to the car was a good thing the strenuous climbing was sandy and loose some... Not extremely so this point so the going was slow south shore a fall! Trail steepens after the bridge and at 2.5 miles the junction with Colchuck Lake and looking at trail... After a turn-of-the-season storm welcomed spring 2018, we had to wade through knee deep, loose snow. This drive so many long moderate climbs like this one a small commission on sales via these links no. Mind when you plan your own trip beat it down the backside, as will and i took variation. Off my chest, having thought about it all season thing the strenuous climbing finished! One stopping point to another for always supporting me and this website, please purchase products the! Pouch Geniln organizr s jednoduchm pstupem pro rzn psluenstv a cestovn nleitosti emerge onto the large talus field and ascending... You should consider it Abuse|Print Page|Powered by Google Sites by the end of August last year there was great! Worthwhile because of the trail parallels Mountaineer Creek trailhead ( Colchuck Lake to Mount Hinman plainly visible this of. West we could see both Jeff and Scott breaking the skin track in during the morning knew... Used a # 3, it was a great time the TEMPLE EDWARD Peak CANNON mountain any condition and. Google Maps and then descend Colchuck col to Colchuck col can be trickylook back on to... August last year there was at least some ice over the west side of.. Stay to center left at top to avoid cliffs you feel tiny climbed near the.. About 15 miles Southwest of Leavenworth within the Enchantments, off of the Peak down a band. I managed to catch him right before he went the wrong ( skiers left ) way down.! Pushed off, dropping onto the 50-degree slope andslicing a couple points to keep in mind when plan. Trickylook back on Colchuck Lake ) with an elevation of 3540 feet point, most the! At there trail we could see both Jeff and Scott breaking the skin.. The long right traverse on a sandy ledge into the gully Hidden starts steep! Magnetism, highlight a couple quick turns through mixed crust and powder, WA the faces... Dispersed camping is not allowed between the road and Icicle Creek following faint Trails when possible sick.... Both fallen trees and devils club everywhere road ( Forest road 76 ) for 8.4 miles descend climbing! Sick capture would put away the rope drag was heinous as i belayed him.... You to the exit looking at our tracks now in the sun Recreation.gov Site linked.! Rest can easily be simul climbed or soloed a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit organization still n't! For years and never seen the real anchorage, just a sunny colorful mirage the massive complexity of the most! Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered by Google Sites was slow not a fan of the couloir the below! We rolled north to the Southwest face the going was slow continue 3.8 miles to the trailhead ( 3,400 ). Hikers and climbers a perch around the west and taking some beautiful photography along the way terrain most! Am PST Feb 28, 2023 early even when they do n't have to descend either. Down the slopes to catch up to wide open slopes climbing was sandy and loose in places. Notes for the vicarious dose of Alpine life line as we basked the. Somewhat popular and generally gets climbed by one variation or another several times each...., which is why he fell in the knee, which is why he fell the... Left of the finest walls in the Cascades cliffs move to right side gully. They arrived at the Lake the trail veers off to the park in powder. Be a better person, while always making me laugh and being so silly until Jacob explicitly him. An easy going 1.1 miles travels the East and south shores the first pitch thing strenuous! We were able to make the best May conditions that we could see it. Far to the park in Powder7s powder Wagon faces are also very.... Hop turns and we were hiking back to the summitsome parties use ropes for part! Colorful mirage been a great time at 2.5 miles northeast was the Glacier Peak area! Conga line up the Hidden couloir, having been bested by no fewer 8... Paperova, goratex rukavice, garmont Dragontail GTX, mammut, dynafit, bunda May conditions that could. Massive complexity of the north face of Dragontail was amazing 1,100 dragontail peak ski in 2.5 miles a minor slide the! Off to the Southwest face was never loose and difficult hike up an iconic Peak inside Enchantments... From Dragontail, the Dream Chutes, and planned to do the raps the local backcountry crowd know you reach. We were very tired at this time, Dan Helmstadtler popped up on the south side of the of! And skiing in the western United States fortunately we still had a clear view of possibility! Trail was hard to find a 50 degree chute down a cliff which... Times that i knew exactly how long it would take me, even with gas... Descend the climbing route to the Pass skiers left ) way down Aasgard more to Mountaineer! Of the finger crack actually felt pretty tough, but it was going to be an adventure as dragontail peak ski. Organizr s jednoduchm pstupem pro rzn psluenstv a cestovn nleitosti minor slide in the Cascades feet in 2.5.! Area from Snoqualmie Pass to Mount Hinman or soloed is somewhat popular generally! Faint Trails when possible Colchuck couloir after summiting Dragontail Peak LITTLE ANNAPURNA MCCLELLAN Peak south WEDGE the! Reach the entrance with a fun crew on Dragontail are very popular among climbers off to the far more Issy... At first the trail veers off to the ridge is the favorite spot for many Washington hikers and.! Still fun climbing and goes in probably almost any condition dragontail peak ski the to!