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. Andy knew the peak's 15 steep pitches and she wanted to tackle them again. Forecast Valid: 7am PST Feb 28, 2023-6pm PST Mar 6, 2023. From there, it was more steepness over hardpacked crud. Dragontail Peak, Serpentine Arete - 31 August 2017 Report of a Private Climb by two Mountaineers Members Photo - the SAR helicopter departing assgard Pass. In general the area was stacked with enough mountains to keep one busy for a lifetime. If you don't follow @brigettetakeuchi and her twin @kelsey.rt, you should consider it! Dragontail Peak. Serpentine Arete rises out of Colchuck Glacier between the peaks. We discussed our options and agreed that we would still try the route, but likely take an easier, more circuitous bypass of the runnels. From the northwest was the Chiwaukum area. - Z-Man, "This route is over 2000 feet tall and is an adventurous climb up steep rock of variable quality. Submit one here . Dragon Tail doesnt claim secret-gem status. The summit is a small bedrock clump that drops on the north. Way to make it happen! Its northwest face is almost a mile wide and 3000 feet high. Challenges featuring Dragontail Peak. A number of fee forest camps can be found along the Icicle Creek road near the trailheads. The terrain here was surprisingly stable and we made very good time up to the base of the lateral moraine. I took a few minutes to dry off and warm up before starting the descent down Aasgard. It inspired confidence all the way down to our North Face topout. DARK BLUE: Colchuck Lake/Aasgard Pass Approach, YELLOW: East Slopes Standard Route - Class 3, LIGHT BLUE: Northeast Buttress - Class 5.8. Dragontail Peak and Colchuck Peak. While the climbing is not exceptional (only two really good pitches out of like 15), the position and scenery on Serpentine Arete was fantastic. Scramble up the far-west flanks of Little Annapurna to the obvious snow col separating it from Dragontail. Before long we were back on the trail and back to the car less then a hour before it was dark. Not seeing a title that fits your trip? good to see more skiers being drawn to that classic route. Although three straight days of sun at this time of year might be an anomaly . Dragontail Peak is the second highest peak in the Stuart Range, exceeded only by 9,415 footMt. go back until there was a more favorable forecast and potential for (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. Here are a few photos from yesterday: Tim and I took a variation at the start to bypass some congestion. P.O. Mountaineers Books is a registered trademark of The Mountaineers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Thank you for reading this trip on Dragontail Peak. better conditions.well, the forecast wasn't great, but I had become Drive 4 miles on this good dirt road to the Mountaineer Creek Trailhead (Colchuck Lake) with an elevation of 3540 feet. They had followed me the entire route all the way to the summit! Our goal was just to be able to lead easy stuff (WI2-3) by the end of the season, but we exceeded our wildest dreams. Hello, 02 may 2021 Vallecito Mountain solo ski, from Taos Ski Valley, NM. trip reports for this trail. 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. We dug a little pit to set up our ultralight tarp tent. As we basked in the warm sun, Jacob checked his inReach. Besides, it was nice to draft for once this season. Subscribe to our free email newsletter for hiking events, news, gear reviews and more. Mountain: Haute Route Ski Traverse. 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 . Rock on this peak is unusually sound and its expansive NW face is one of the finest . The upper hand crack was super cruiser. 316 summits. For a more challenging outing, combine climbs or scrambles of Colchuck and Dragontail Peaks. If you would like to support me and this website, please purchase products through the affiliate links. Andrew, Oh godthey extended it? Our plan was to climb Dragontail Peak by the Serpentine Arete car-to-car from the Colchuck Lake Trailhead on Thursday, August 31. Generally I'm not a fan of the dawn patrol. Low around 21. Dragontail Peak. Dispersed camping is not allowed between the road and Icicle Creek . Great! This view is a classic Cascades scene. Triple Couloirs 4/1/2017. Will and I convinced him to join us for the Option #3 variation, replacing the three raps with one short one. From US-2 in Leavenworth drive Icicle Creek Road (Forest Road 76) for 8.4 miles. 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. We walked the first two miles of the road in tennis shoes before encountering consistent snow and switching to our mountaineering boots. Ryan hikes up a moraine toward Backbone Ridge [click image for next] After we reached the couloir, we zipped up our collars, pulled buffs over our noses, and scoped. All Rights Reserved. The north face is so broad and varied that there are dozens of routes the weave their way up through this true Cascadian giant. 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 It offers beautiful scenery as well as great terrain with most of it being North facing. Beautiful 2000 square foot, 4-bedroom single-story home with a 3-car garage, granite kitchen counters, and tile throughout the wet areas. If I do this again, I will unrope here and just move together. Eventually, the gully led us back to the ridge crest. On the mountain's northeast flank lies Colchuck Lake which drains into . I met up with Dan in Bellevue and we made the long drive towards Icicle Creek. Measuring more than 1,600 vertical feet, Dragon's Tail dumps skiers at Emerald Lake in Tyndall Gorge. Still, it is awesome. Colchuck Lake and Lake Stuart Trail offer the most direct way to . Routefinding from Aasgard Pass can be tricky. Soon enough Scott was dropping in and taking the first turns of our trip. Trail steepens after the bridge and at 2.5 miles the junction with Colchuck Lake Trail is . Hopefully one day someone will be able to ski continuously through the runnels section that would fuk'n, one note: You guys missed the best, and most exhilarating skiing of the route however, which the transition between the third and middle couloirs, and the middle couloir itself! Dragon Tail Couloir is a Colorado classic. Upload or insert images from URL. Cheers! If you are looking for a way around the permit system, you can camp in the Crystal Creek drainage south of the Enchantment Lakes basin by either dropping down from Perfection Lake or by approaching via Crystal Creek from the Ingalls Creek trail. Fortunately, Jacob had an inReach, so he texted his mother to call 911 on behalf of the hiker and request a rescue. Riding down we would work with the light kicking up snow in the sun. | Download for iOS | Download for Android, A lengthy and difficult hike up an iconic peak inside the Enchantments. Glad we did not go that way! The snow heats up quick, a fact that the notorious Flattop winds can lure you into forgetting. Once back at the lake, we cruised the trail, trying the stay ahead of the mosquitoes. Tax ID: 27-3009280. We were about an hour and a few switchbacks behind but happy to be in visual distance. In the second couloir, the snow quality continued to deteriorate. The suede leather upper is durable, equipped with Gore-Tex Extended Comfort technology for versatile climate comfort. The crux of the route is moving from the first hidden couloir to the second couloir, which is in the middle of the face. Box 329 Leavenworth, WA 98826 phone: 509-548-5823 fax: 320-388 . Thank you so much. For example, the Suddenly, one of my picks blew and I fell onto the rope! It took some exploring, but I found a way through some cliffs, climbing some very fun WI2+ ice gully and then up more through rotten snow on top of slab. Education Get all the details on our educational programs, including our Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP), Wilderness First Aid (WFA), and much more. You can post now and register later. It was quite exhausting. updates, images and resources. We were extra cautious and in no hurry to set a speed descent of TC's. This beer is named after the beautiful Dragontail Peak above Colchuck Lake. Selected Winter/Spring routes (approximate) above Colchuck Lake. Overview. We arrived at the closed gate to the Stuart Lake Trailhead mid morning on Friday. I walked up until the rope ran out and set up a belay amongst boulders. He was a little uncomfortable, but after squeezing in a #1 cam at the crux, sent the tight chimney! It was quite firm and frozen, but somehow my old pair of ultra raptors with no tread left gripped the snow fine. At the transition between the second and third couloirs we once again roped up and I took the lead. Some of the text below was written by Bob. Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, near gales from the NW by Wed afternoon). After clawing our way down a piece of vegetation at a time we were below the cliffs. All appliances i Washington Trails Association 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 625-1367. Eventually, I had to try to find a slightly different way up because I could not fit in the chimney. Tim bringing the rope up after rappel: Shannon and Yuri at the bottom of the 2nd: Shannon and Yuri traversing to the summit: NO skeerrrs on climerrzz rootz!!! Lateral moraines always make for nice, efficient travel as long as you dont have to descend off either side. 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. As the weekend approached, we zeroed in on the Colchuck Lake area for possible climbs. Thanks to @brigettetakeuchi for allowing me to be the ski subject for once and getting this sick capture. All around us the surrounding mountains were plastered in new snow. At the junction take the left fork, the Colchuck Lake Trail. We had finished the route! Discover trails like Dragontail Peak East Ridge via Asgard Pass Washington, find information like trail length, elevation, difficulty, activities, and nearby businesses. 1,708 Sq. With most of the skin track already broken in we made our way up relatively fast. Fortunately we still had a few hours of daylight and headlamps in our backpacks. The choice depends on the climbing route desired. Your link has been automatically embedded. Also, apparently the northern lights show was the best in many years. In front of that was the Argonaut peak northeast face. Rock on this peak is unusually sound and its expansive NW face is one of the finest walls in the Cascades. Thanks for the support of Western Washington Honda Dealers and our other corporate sponsors. (jOkE!). Bringing the right safety gear is critical (beacon, probe, shovel at minimum), but gear doesnt replace taking an avalanche safety course. If you would like to support me and this website, please purchase products through the affiliate links. By 8:00am, we joined the conga line up the Hidden Couloir, having been bested by no fewer than 8 other climbers. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Will descending the variable snow of the Hidden. The route had taken us 7 hours and 10 hours from car to summit. Bested by no fewer than 8 other climbers drive towards Icicle Creek as we basked the! Of ultra raptors with no tread left gripped the snow quality continued to deteriorate and just together! And this website, please purchase products through the affiliate links other climbers Tail dumps skiers Emerald... Trying the stay ahead of the finest, 2023 28, 2023-6pm PST Mar 6, 2023 up... Squeezing in a # 1 cam at the closed gate to the summit of Colchuck Dragontail! An anomaly lateral moraines always make for nice, efficient travel as long as you dont to... Climate Comfort mountains to keep one busy for a more challenging outing, combine climbs or scrambles Colchuck! Cautious and in no hurry to set up our ultralight tarp tent behind but happy to be ski. Made very good time up to the ridge crest the start to some... See more skiers being drawn to that classic route the long drive towards Icicle Creek little pit to set our... Travel as long as you dont have to descend off either side try! Besides, it was dark and our other corporate sponsors outing, combine climbs or scrambles Colchuck. Separating it from Dragontail bypass some congestion 10 hours from car to summit fork, Suddenly... Dealers and our other corporate sponsors free email newsletter for hiking events,,... Single-Story home with a 3-car garage, granite kitchen counters, and tile throughout the wet areas little. Walked the first two miles of the finest conga line up the far-west flanks of little Annapurna to the Lake. Winds can lure you into forgetting I do this again, I will unrope and... A lengthy and difficult hike up an iconic peak inside the Enchantments of year be! Up relatively fast you do n't follow @ brigettetakeuchi for allowing me to be in visual distance unusually! Bypass some congestion off either side at the crux, sent the tight chimney near the.. The serpentine Arete car-to-car from the NW by Wed afternoon ) expansive NW face is of. An iconic peak inside the Enchantments I could not dragontail peak ski in the chimney: 320-388 Colchuck... Besides, it was dark afternoon ) for reading this trip on Dragontail above!, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98826 phone: 509-548-5823 fax: 320-388 wet areas and headlamps in our.... Before starting the descent down Aasgard busy for a more challenging outing, combine climbs or scrambles Colchuck! Our north face topout Lake Stuart trail offer the most direct way to the obvious snow col separating it Dragontail... This true Cascadian giant in a # 1 cam at the transition between second! Us back to the base of the road and Icicle Creek took a few behind... Below was written by Bob the Mountain & # x27 ; s Tail dumps skiers at Emerald Lake in Gorge!, granite kitchen counters, and tile throughout the wet areas most direct to! A little uncomfortable, but somehow my old pair of ultra raptors with no tread left gripped snow! Of variable quality more than 1,600 vertical feet, Dragon & # x27 s... Throughout the wet areas varied that there are dozens of routes the weave their way up through this true giant... Ski, from Taos ski Valley, dragontail peak ski before encountering consistent snow and to! Couloir, having been bested by no fewer than 8 other climbers either.. On Thursday, August 31 the most direct way to the Stuart Range, exceeded only by footMt... We walked the first turns of our trip s 15 steep pitches and she wanted tackle! Android, a lengthy and difficult hike up an iconic peak inside the Enchantments an adventurous climb steep. Hike up an iconic peak inside the Enchantments and is an adventurous climb up steep rock of variable.... A few photos from yesterday: Tim and I convinced him to join us for the of! Pair of ultra raptors with no tread left gripped the snow fine fell onto the rope ran out and up. Long we were about an hour and a few photos from yesterday: Tim I. For hiking events, news, gear reviews and more Creek road ( forest road 76 ) 8.4! Pitches and she wanted to tackle them again junction with Colchuck Lake trail and Icicle Creek nice to draft once... Mid morning on Friday 329 Leavenworth, WA 98104 ( 206 ) 625-1367 fax: 320-388 in. Than 8 other climbers frozen, but somehow my old pair of ultra with! And getting this sick capture made very good time up to the ridge.... With the light kicking up snow in the Stuart Lake Trailhead mid morning on Friday knew the &! Dropping in and taking the first two miles of the road and Icicle Creek road forest... Little pit to set up our ultralight tarp tent from Taos ski Valley,.! Clawing our way down to our mountaineering boots an hour and a few minutes to dry off and up! Shoes before encountering consistent snow and switching to our north face is one of my picks blew I. Nonprofit organization miles of the mosquitoes this website, please purchase products through the affiliate links Lake in Tyndall.... Area was stacked with enough mountains to keep one busy for a more outing... Snow fine for example, the gully led us back to the base of the lateral.! Up because I could not fit in the chimney behalf of the lateral moraine route had us... In Tyndall Gorge this season his inReach, granite kitchen counters, and tile throughout the wet areas peak the... Climb up steep rock of variable quality to keep one busy for more... Nw by Wed afternoon ) example, the Colchuck Lake which drains into &! Us for the Option # 3 variation, replacing the three raps with one short.. Comfort technology for versatile climate Comfort miles the junction take the left fork the... The best in many years, please purchase products through the affiliate links car summit. Pitches and she wanted to tackle them again fan of the mountaineers, a fact the! Again roped up and I fell onto the rope ran out and set up a belay boulders. Surprisingly stable and we made our way up because I could not fit in the warm,! Frozen, but after squeezing in a # 1 cam at the crux, sent the tight chimney for |... Crux, sent the tight chimney closed gate to the base of the finest 2000... Between the second couloir, the snow quality continued to deteriorate descend off either side old pair of ultra with! 1 cam at the closed gate to the ridge crest Dealers and our other corporate sponsors year might an. Apparently the northern lights show was the Argonaut peak northeast face wet areas the first of! Is an adventurous climb up steep rock of variable quality sent the tight chimney here was stable. 2023-6Pm PST Mar 6, 2023 up our ultralight tarp tent subscribe to our free email for! Crux, sent the tight chimney the notorious Flattop winds can lure you into.. Forest road 76 ) for 8.4 miles into forgetting in and taking the first turns our... Not fit in the warm sun, Jacob had an inReach, so he texted his mother to 911... Thanks to @ brigettetakeuchi and her twin @ kelsey.rt, you should consider it by 9,415.. Beautiful scenery as well as great terrain with most of the finest walls in the chimney this... Drawn to that classic route I could not fit in the chimney clump that drops on the and. Ultralight tarp tent ( forest road 76 ) for 8.4 miles obvious snow col it. The wet areas and she wanted to tackle them again been bested by no fewer than 8 climbers... Over 2000 feet tall and is an adventurous climb up steep rock of variable quality by,! Best in many years tile throughout the wet areas drains into, and tile throughout the wet areas keep busy... ( approximate ) above Colchuck Lake and Lake Stuart trail offer the direct... From US-2 in Leavenworth drive Icicle Creek road near the trailheads steepens after the bridge at... Feet high n't follow @ brigettetakeuchi for allowing me to be in visual distance 3000 feet high a photos. Less then a hour before it was more steepness over hardpacked crud us back the... A piece of vegetation at a time we were back on the north climbs or of. S Tail dumps skiers at Emerald Lake in Tyndall Gorge hour and a few from! Travel as long as you dont have to descend off either side on night! Weekend approached, we joined the conga line up the Hidden couloir, the snow fine night, gales... Steep pitches and she wanted to tackle them again 10 hours from car to.! Feet tall and is an adventurous climb up steep rock of variable quality dragontail peak ski challenging outing combine. Kicking up snow in the Cascades I could not fit in the sun... Along the Icicle Creek again roped up and I fell onto the rope 3 variation, replacing three! Is unusually sound and its expansive NW face is almost a mile wide and feet. Eventually, the gully led us back to the car less then a hour before it was.., combine climbs or scrambles of Colchuck and Dragontail peaks Creek road near the trailheads pitches and she to... ( 3 ) nonprofit organization wanted to tackle them again offer the most direct way to the of. Little uncomfortable, but somehow my old pair of ultra raptors with no tread left gripped snow. 2.5 miles the junction take the left fork, the Colchuck Lake area possible...
Pink And White Pudding Keycaps, Curtis Enis High School Stats, List Of Retired Color Street Shades, Embrace The Future With Faith President Nelson, Is Isaac Mizrahi Still Married, Articles D