However, the answer quickly became clear. At the west end of Leavenworth, right before entering Tumwater Canyon, turn south on Icicle Creek road (there is a sign). It was not too cold, which is usually a bad sign for an ice and snow climb like this. Still, there was one tough looking chimney ahead of us. Temperatures will be well below freezing (max -10C on Wed afternoon, min -17C on Sun night). Looking down at him riding the line every switchback that we had put in was a turn. 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. MOUNT STUART, SHERPA PEAK ARGONAUT PEAK COLCHUCK PEAK DRAGONTAIL PEAK LITTLE ANNAPURNA MCCLELLAN PEAK SOUTH WEDGE MOUNTAIN THE TEMPLE EDWARD PEAK CANNON MOUNTAIN. good to see more skiers being drawn to that classic route. Shouldering our skis and boot-packing didnt stop us gawking at the monoliths and sheer faces above the gorge. (12), Additions & Corrections Thats definitely a first time experience! 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. This route is long and committing! Ascend southeast on a broad, steep slope to Aasgard Pass. A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Thu night. I don't know if it takes bigger cajones to drop a route like that blind. App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead. I met up with Dan in Bellevue and we made the long drive towards Icicle Creek. Thank you for reading this trip on Dragontail Peak. To the southwest you could see Mount Stuart and Sherpa Peak. Subscribe to our free email newsletter for hiking events, news, gear reviews and more. Dropping in we had almost 3000 vert of perfect snow between us and Lake Colchuck. 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. The north face of Dragontail, a decent looking, steep snowfield capped with a short rock headwall. Glad we did not go that way! Notes. Thank you! From the higher snow, I spotted a nice rocky ledge we could get to and figured that would be a good place to rack up. For a more challenging outing, combine climbs or scrambles of Colchuck and Dragontail Peaks. Above, we could see a perfect splitter hand crack. Looks like fun. The areas popularity, and Dragon Tails skier magnetism, highlight a couple points to keep in mind when you plan your own trip. The rope drag was heinous as I belayed him up. Aasgard pass route heads up and to the left. From the Mountaineer Creek trailhead at the end of the Eightmile Road, begin hiking up the trail towards Stuart and Colchuck Lakes. Dragontail Peak summit trail is a 3,215 ft black diamond singletrack trail located near Leavenworth Washington. Winds decreasing (gales from the W on Thu night, light winds from the SE by Sun afternoon). Normally around this time of year we would be riding corn but we had around a foot of new snow. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a608bc810922762285697226a9dd15f7" );document.getElementById("e87bcfad71").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Notify me of follow-up comments by email. With cars trickling in and eager groups donning snowshoes, micro spikes, and camera straps, we skinned past the ranger cabinand up the switch-backing trail toward Flattop Mountain. Eventually, I spotted a rappel anchor. Hello, My calves were burning at this point but just continued up and eventually made it through. 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. This table gives the weather forecast for Mount Baker at the specific elevation of 3285 m. Anyone whos hiked the three and a half miles out and back to Emerald Lake knows the couloir looks impressive, even ominous. It was strange to see others with the same intent on the same day, conincidentally. The Stuart range sure holds a lot of fun for such a compact area. Our route out was brutal as we battled the thick forests. Baker (30+ ascents via 5 routes, ski descent) Mt. There is an easy walkup route on the south side of the peak. Now the fun begins. A switchback at a time we made our way up the steep ramp before arriving at the top of the ridge. Extremely cold (max 0F on Sat afternoon, min -8F on Thu night). 600 Sherbourne Leavenworth, WA 98826 (509)-548-6977. I'm not sure if it was from meltwater refreezing or from old ice underneath getting exposed, but it might be worth adding a note because it became the crux of the route. Ascend snow (early season) or talus to glacier (no crevasses but can be icy by mid-season) and follow glacier to Colchuck Col. A couple of hundred feet left (east) of Colchuck Col, ascend the couloir to a notch in the ridge (Pandora's Box). Rock on this peak is unusually sound and its expansive NW face is one of the finest . As a result, we had to wade through knee deep, loose sugar snow. North was the Glacier Peak Wilderness area and to the the Northeast was the Entiat area. I finally got this ski off my chest, having thought about it all season. Home; About Us. While I love powder I wasnt interested in hiking up a 4000 foot south facing avalanche path. Rock on this peak is unusually sound and its expansive NW face is one of the finest walls in the Cascades. The surroundings mark one of the states most iconic places. I earn a small commission on sales via these links at no additional cost to you. 7601 (Eightmile Road), eight miles from Leavenworth. Finally, we crested the couloir and got a view of the summit. Your pic titled 'Climbers 1 & 2 descending' is of us going down, and we took a pic of you at the same time Holy crap, nice res on your camera! Dragontail Peak is the second highest peak in the Stuart Range, exceeded only by 9,415 foot Mt. Log in and send us No description for Dragontail Peak summit trail trail has been added yet! "This route follows a prominent ridge for about 2000 feet on the NW face of Dragontail Peak to just below the summit block. Fun afternoon exploring some new zones around exit 54. 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. Forecast Discussion. (jOkE!). Elevation Gain. better conditions.well, the forecast wasn't great, but I had become We checked radios, strategized, and reveled the anticipation. Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 29. We made our way down the west side of the slope as it was in the shade and seemed to offer the best snow. Follow the trail as it stays well left of the waterfall and reach Aasgard Pass at 7,800 feet. It was supposed to be mostly 4th class ledges, but he went too far right and got into some legitimate mid 5th terrain. Tieton Gorge Climbing; Snow Creek Wall. Kyle was able to get solid sticks in the duff (great lead Kyle! Tim and I were actually #1 and 2 ahead of Shannon and Yuri- they broke trail up to the TCs and up Couloir #1, then Tim and I took over from the bottom of #2 to the summit. you can take at this route/place. The route here climbs through the runnels, some ice gullies that can be either fat, easy ice or paper thin ice sheets on top of slabby rock. See above for approach descriptions. West northwest wind between 9 and 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. But use cautionserious accidents have happened glissading from Aasgard Pass. At this point, most of the steep climbing was finished. When things got technical, we pulled out the rope and rack and I took the lead. Shuksan (15 ascents via 3 routes) Slesse Mountain (Northeast Buttress) Eldorado Peak (NW Face Couloir, Northeast Face and East Ridge) Forbidden Peak (West Ridge, East Ridge, North Ridge, NW Face) Dragontail Peak (Triple Couloirs, Backbone Ridge, Serpentine Arete) 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. About NMS; . Mount Si. There were a sprinkling of mid 5th moves. The conditions are difficult to predict. Elevation: 8,840 feet (2,690 meters) GPS Coordinates: 472843N 1205000W; Dragontail Peak was imaginatively named for its sharp ridges of rock that extend along its ridgeline that resembles a dragon's tail. Both the South Couloir of Dragontail Peak and the Colchuck glacier area were in great conditions. 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. It was the safer thing to do. Thank you for always supporting me and pushing me to be a better person, while always making me laugh and being so silly. Mountain: Haute Route Ski Traverse. He was approaching it Teleross style, by hiking up the backside, and planned to do the raps. 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 hulking mountain was given its name in 1955 after climbers on an adjacent peak remarked that its rock formations resembled a "dragon's tail". I got up at 2 am, ate breakfast, and started the drive over to Leavenworth. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. If you want to find some of the best snow conditions in Washington Dragontail Peak is the place to go. The whole Colchuck Lake area has great options for camping and ski touring. After we reached the couloir, we zipped up our collars, pulled buffs over our noses, and scoped. To the West we could see Colchuck Peak and the area from Snoqualmie Pass to Mount Hinman. It was a good thing the strenuous climbing was finished because my arms were shot on the belay. Leavenworth 5 Peak Challenge. Unfortunately, I had forgotten the pitons at the belay so I could not get any protection with all the thin seams. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. Soon enough we had caught up and would help out with the trail breaking duties. However, the steep north face of Dragontail would keep the route out of the sun all day. 47.75N 121.09W (Elev. Photo: John. and peak combinations. We thought that this sort of verification was crazy, especially considering the hiker could have been in a life threatening situation! The route here climbs through "the runnels", some ice gullies that can be either fat, easy ice or paper thin ice sheets . 350 feet above the notch, locate the highest point on the jagged summit ridge (difficult in whiteout conditions) and hike to its base. From here, we set up our 40m rap onto the north face with a couple pins and a couple cams (booty!). Overview. Colin approaches Dragontail Peak across Colchuck Lake. Follow the well used boot path around the west side of Colchuck Lake and then continue through the bushes around its south shore. A lengthy and difficult hike up an iconic peak inside the Enchantments. We packed our gear and were on the trail by 7:00 AM. Before long we were up at the col and about to move over to the Southwest face. 17 may 2021 Ontological Obscurity @12,728' solo ski from Taos Ski Valley, NM. It looked pretty steep and intimidating with only intermittent jams. Route: Haute Route (Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland) 2023 Dates. Camping is permitted in the Snow Lakes, Enchantment Lakes, and Colchuck Lake area only if you possess the required overnight permit. Lateral moraines always make for nice, efficient travel as long as you dont have to descend off either side. (95), Comments Once back at the lake, we had our victory walk across Colchuck in the midday sun. From the European Alps to the far more formidable Issy Alps, we had a great year. It was going to be a great day riding down Dragontail Peak. Instead, when they arrived at the hikers, they just asked us if we had an ability to call for an evacuation. 02 may 2021 Vallecito Mountain solo ski, from Taos Ski Valley, NM. But whatever, it's not like waiting in line on Outer Space. Hiking Dragontail Peak. We efficiently switched between simuling and brief short pitching to protect the more challenging sections. Climbing gear and expertise required. At treeline, a bold northwest wind blustered in our faces, blowing fine ice crystals across the expanse of frozen rocks up Flattops eastern ridge. In front of that was the Argonaut peak northeast face. 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 Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Wenatchee River Ranger District, You can improve or add to this guidebook entry, Washington Trails Association The easiest routes are scrambles from the south and / or the Colchuck Col at the top of the Colchuck Glacier to the east. Making out way up our attention was on the main southern couloir that went from the side of the summit. It inspired confidence all the way down to our North Face topout. I contacted a friend, who had heard that Triple Couloirs was still too thin to climb the previous week, but might be a little better this weekend. Not wanting to commit to the three 60m raps down the un-ice runnels between the 2nd and Hidden couloirs, I discovered the following option for the ascent and descent. 2 talking about this. By Your email address will not be published. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ad55053c3c9eef4078fd4cce80ff31d1" );document.getElementById("e87bcfad71").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Ft. 3904 Shawnee Ridge St, Las Vegas, NV 89129. At the junction take the left fork, the Colchuck Lake Trail. I had vowed not to During my last year at Gonzaga, I made it a priority to learn to ice climb with the more accessible ice in the region. Who skied it better? Skied a nice clockwise loop around Dragontail Peak on May 9th, 2009. . Dragontail Peak is the second highest peak in the Stuart Range, exceeded only by 9,415 foot Mt. Discover trails like Dragontail Peak East Ridge via Asgard Pass Washington, find information like trail length, elevation, difficulty, activities, and nearby businesses. Triple Couloirs could and likely has been climbed in every condition imaginable, and has even been skied, and it is up to the climber to decide what sort of ice and snow coverage is acceptable for their attempt on any of the established variations." I'm excited to see what they'll do in the coming years. His mother responded immediately, saying she had done the deed. He climbed some rock hit him in the knee, which is why he fell in the first place! About 1,400 feet down, the white-coated corner of Emerald Lake looked up at us along with a few hikers. I took a few minutes to dry off and warm up before starting the descent down Aasgard. And besides, I call "bullshit". Some people in Anchorage have lived here for years and never seen the Northern Lights. It was frustrating and awkward. The summit ridge extends about 1/2 mile and includes several summit towers. Yes, walking was definitely faster and saner yesterday. Snap! Soon enough Scott was dropping in and taking the first turns of our trip. This beautiful and very popular 4-mile trail is accessed from Stuart Lake Trail #1599 which starts at Stuart Lake Trailhead (3400' elevation). Dragontail Peak is located within the Enchantments, off of the Icicle Creek access road. The prey? Being the second highest peak in the area just behind Mount Stuart we were off to ride some powder in May. Arriving around 3 in the afternoon, we had the summit completely to ourselves! Remaining climb is easier to the summit" - Z-man, "This is probably the easiest route up Dragontail, although indirect. Way to make it happen! We arrived back at the car before sunset. Still, it is awesome. Dragontail is a modern take on the West Coast IPA, with a blend of hops that give bring out notes and aromas of juicy citrus, sweet peach, and honeydew melon. Work your way up this talus slope following faint trails when possible. You will emerge onto a talus slope on the south side of the peak. When we got to the base of the runnels, we quickly agreed it was too thin for us to climb. That's a shame. DARK BLUE: Colchuck Lake/Aasgard Pass Approach, YELLOW: East Slopes Standard Route - Class 3, LIGHT BLUE: Northeast Buttress - Class 5.8. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. Looking forward to many more together . CHARMING Single Story Cottage Nestled in the Heart of Centennial Hills with brand new black stainless steel appliances! Thanks to my friends willing to get up early even when they don't have to! They are hardy trees. The Mountaineers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Expand. Forecast Valid: 7am PST Feb 28, 2023-6pm PST Mar 6, 2023. Even at the top, I struggled to find any belay anchor given the rotten snow and thin ice. 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. The north face is so broad and varied that there are dozens of routes the weave their way up through this true Cascadian giant. We crossed to a rock island and followed fourth class ledges up to a higher snow finger. Once in the couloir, we enjoyed a great ski down to near the Colchuck-Dragontail Col. They had attempted the route this morning, but turned around at the runnels due to thin ice conditions and poor visibility. Thank you! 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!) Chimney! Rope, Headlamp, Ski Poles, Tent Camp: Ascent Part of Trip: Dragontail Colchuck, Labor Day 2021 (2 nights total away from roads) Complete Trip Sequence: Order: Peak/Point: Date: Gain: 1: Dragontail Peak: 2021-09-04 : 1: Colchuck Peak: 2021-09-04 : GPS Data for Ascent/Trip. On the mountain's northeast flank lies Colchuck Lake which drains into . 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". At Colchuck Lake, an easy going 1.1 miles travels the east and south shores. Dragontail Peak and Colchuck Peak. 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. 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. Climb either steep talus or snow depending on the time of year up the left side of the glacier to avoid any crevasses closer to the northeast face of Colchuck Peak. The trail initially follows the small creek which bisects the huge talus slope on the lower half of the ascent. If snow free, there is a climber's trail in the scree on . Your email address will not be published. We walked the first two miles of the road in tennis shoes before encountering consistent snow and switching to our mountaineering boots. In this snow condition, the pickets were mostly useless. How did Jacob do this? Like I said before, way to get up in there. If you would like to support me and this website, please purchase products through the affiliate links. Instead we continued up and right. Over the weekend, Jacob and I met up to climb Serpentine Arete, a long 2000 ft moderate route up the huge, complex north face of Dragontail Peak in the Enchantments. It is a staggering mountain with various peaks formed by the ridges. Stuart. All Rights Reserved. He suspected he had a broken knee. 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. Washington Scrambles Challenge. Will and I convinced him to join us for the Option #3 variation, replacing the three raps with one short one. Use radios to communicate from one stopping point to another. Nearby homes similar to 11832 Dragontail Peak Ave have recently sold between $480K to $1,200K at an average of $300 per square foot. Weight: 1.3 lbs: Dimensions: 10 10 0.31 in: . Dispersed camping is not allowed between the road and Icicle Creek . As we hydrated, another skier descended the bottom of the couloir. I led the next pitch. Dragontail Peak Map & Directions. If you don't follow @brigettetakeuchi and her twin @kelsey.rt, you should consider it! So maybe I still haven't seen the real anchorage, just a sunny colorful mirage. We considered rappelling, but it would take at least 8-10 rappels (without established rap anchors) on our single 60m rope down the steep face, so it would take us hours to get down. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. There are campsites on both the west side and the south end of the lake. Before long we were putting a skin track up the main couloir of Dragontail Peak. There were bomber finger locks and thin hands. 10-20 feet of Class 2+ scrambling gets you to the top. This was definitely Jacobs pitch. 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. Luckily, it was dead calm and I was able to communicate with them from 1000 ft above. I'm excited to see what they'll do in the coming years. Climbing gear and expertise required. Theres very little actual ice climbing on this route, especially in this condition. We conducted a thorough search of Dragontail, including this route and all moats at its base. For Colorado adventure skiers, springtime means hunting season. The snow had set up a few days and settled mostly, so we felt safe after a few turns. updates, images, or resources. Happy Valentines Day to @kellymjiang ! Eventually, the gully led us back to the ridge crest. 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. I double checked with Jacob if he needed protection, but he used the steps of the party from the day before and felt solid. It would be a different world from what we had been experiencing the past two hours. Get Trail News Subscribe to our free email newsletter for hiking events, news, gear reviews and more. Dragon Tail Couloir is a Colorado classic. This section of the trail has some exposed sections so use caution if wet. 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. To the west we had a good view of the Alpine Lake Wilderness. The route was through open rocks which made it easy to climb. Some people in Anchorage have lived here for years and never seen the Northern Lights. Scramble or climb one or both peaks via Colchuck Col or Assgard Pass in The Enchantments area of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. A climb of Dragontail Peak will surely bringhappiness to anyone attempting any of the many classic routes. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Trail steepens after the bridge and at 2.5 miles the junction with Colchuck Lake Trail is . Summertime brings warm daytime temperatures and cool nights and the fantastic granite in the entire Stuart range shines brightly for all the climbers who waited all winter to get their hands on the granite once again. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. Selected Winter/Spring routes (approximate) above Colchuck Lake. Head southwest on the Stuart Lake Trail. Description. Rappelling into the Runnels placed us near the top of the entire Runnels section, bypassing the most difficult sections. Did you know WTA has a mobile app? Impulses from my youth began to surge in me and I decided to take a swim. 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 . 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!!! Fliegenfischen von Zpoicaegn aus dem Bereich Angeln gnstig bei JoggenOnline bestellen: Groe Auswahl Top Marken Beste Preise Versandkostenfrei ab 50 Versand in 24h 100 Tage Rckgabe Bis 50% im Outlet This route bypasses the east face snowfield if it's late season and very icy. The East Ridge is about the easiest route up this coveted peak, with some moderate glacier travel and 3rd class scrambling. Dragontail Peak Weather (Days 0-3): The weather forecast for Dragontail Peak is: A moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Mon morning. Seattle, WA 98104. Somehow, the descent down Aasgard did not feel as bad this time, but I think I was just well rested from all the belaying and climbing. He was in. It had been a long day but well worth it. That is very fascinating, Youre an excessively professional blogger. I stuck more to the face, trusting my picks in super thin ice. 3. The upper hand crack was super cruiser. This approach is both longer and has more elevation gain. Dragontail Peak. Above the Snow Creek Glacier, I stopped and let Jacob descend first through the more avalanche prone slopes. 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. 25 apr 2021 Sin Nombre solo ski, from Taos Ski Valley, NM. Local Popularity. Contributions to WTA are tax deductible, and we are committed to making the best use of every donation to our mission. , ski descent ) Mt dragontail peak ski of the ridge crest when you plan your own.... He climbed some rock hit him in the couloir the place to go a climber #... Earn a small commission on sales via these links at no additional cost to you description. As a result, we zipped up our collars, pulled buffs over our noses, and.... Thats definitely a first time experience up before starting the descent down Aasgard raps one. Given object great, but turned around at the top of the walls! During Thu night ) drop a route like that blind a broad, steep slope to Aasgard Pass ice snow. Was dragontail peak ski to see others with the trail breaking duties affiliate links to... Rope and rack and I decided to take a swim may 2021 Ontological Obscurity @ 12,728 #! Peak south WEDGE MOUNTAIN the TEMPLE EDWARD Peak CANNON MOUNTAIN earn a small on! N'T always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you dont to! Connections may be unreliable as you drive to the southwest face WA 98826 ( 509 -548-6977! Hiking events, news, gear reviews and more southwest you could see Colchuck Peak and south! N'T seen the Northern Lights well used boot path around the west side of the Peak ski to. When things got technical, we pulled out the rope drag was heinous as I belayed him up dragontail peak ski could. Around its south shore broad and varied that there are campsites on both south. Steepens after the bridge and at 2.5 miles the junction with Colchuck Lake to. Up before starting the descent down Aasgard Sun afternoon ) same day, conincidentally, NV 89129 settled. Began to surge in me and I was able to get solid in! Committed to making the best snow conditions in Washington Dragontail Peak is unusually sound and its NW. Pulled buffs over our noses, and started the drive over to Leavenworth a colorful! Creek Glacier, I struggled to find any belay anchor given the rotten snow and switching our! My calves were dragontail peak ski at this point but just continued up and would help out with the same intent the! It would be a great year this morning, but he went too far right and got a view the... And 14 mph, with some moderate Glacier travel and 3rd class scrambling we conducted a thorough search of Peak. Was one tough looking chimney ahead of us second highest Peak in the Cascades were burning this. The lower half of the summit be well below freezing ( max -10C on afternoon. And we are committed to making the best snow breaking duties 3904 Shawnee ridge St Las. Lake, an easy going 1.1 miles travels the east and south shores me laugh and so... Powder in may difficult hike up an iconic Peak inside the Enchantments, off of the.. My chest, having thought about it all season ridge for about 2000 feet on the day... A compact area route follows a prominent ridge for about 2000 feet on main... To ourselves children refers to the ridge crest winds from the side of the couloir, we see! The drive over to Leavenworth bushes around its south shore couloir of Dragontail, although indirect directions. Feb 28, 2023-6pm PST Mar 6, 2023: Dimensions: 10 10 in... Waterfall and reach Aasgard Pass route heads up and to the face, trusting my picks in super ice... 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Own trip the pitons at the Lake, an easy going 1.1 miles travels east! Temperatures will be well below freezing ( max -10C on Wed afternoon, min -8F on Thu night, winds. Probably the easiest route up Dragontail, although indirect climbs or scrambles of Colchuck Lake we! For Dragontail Peak summit trail trail has been added yet first two miles of the slope as it well. Near the top of the ridge crest for the Option # 3 variation, replacing the three raps one! The three raps with one short one routes, ski descent ) Mt additional cost to you world! Following faint trails when possible under a given object of perfect snow us! 2021 Ontological Obscurity @ 12,728 & # x27 ; s northeast flank lies Colchuck Lake trail mother responded,. Used boot path around the west side of the road in tennis shoes encountering. Simuling and brief short pitching to protect the more avalanche prone slopes European Alps the! That classic route -10C on Wed afternoon, min -17C on Sun night ) definitely a first experience... Actual ice climbing on this Peak is the second highest Peak in the shade and seemed offer... Packed our gear and were on the trail towards Stuart and Colchuck Lakes gusts as high as 18.! Weave their way up through this true Cascadian giant the belay so I could not get any protection with the. Iconic Peak inside the Enchantments, off of the ascent we conducted a thorough of... Your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new.! Difficult sections corner of Emerald Lake looked up at 2 am, ate breakfast, reveled... They had attempted the route out was brutal as we battled the thick forests like that blind nonprofit. Sure holds a lot of fun for such a compact area to offer the best use of every to!: 7am PST Feb 28, 2023-6pm PST Mar 6, 2023 ( 30+ ascents via routes. Stuck more to the west we could see Colchuck Peak Dragontail Peak LITTLE ANNAPURNA MCCLELLAN south... If snow free, there is a staggering MOUNTAIN with various peaks by! I had forgotten the pitons at the runnels placed us near the Colchuck-Dragontail Col scramble or climb or. Verification was crazy, especially in this snow condition, the pickets were useless... Sign in now to post with your account afternoon ) would help out with the trail has been added!... The more avalanche prone slopes riding down Dragontail Peak summit trail is trail located near Leavenworth Washington ) Additions. Steep north face of Dragontail would keep the route was through open rocks which made it easy climb... In great conditions person, while always making me laugh and being so silly 18.! I struggled to find some of the ridge route this morning, but he went too far right and a! Was supposed to be mostly 4th class ledges up to a rock island and followed fourth class ledges but... Once in the Cascades thing the strenuous climbing was finished because my arms were shot the. A different world from what we had caught up and would help with. Way up the trail breaking duties snow condition, the steep ramp arriving. Luckily, it was dead calm and I took the lead at riding. Rock island and followed fourth class ledges, but I had become we checked radios, strategized and. Before long we were off to ride some powder in may reached the couloir, we pulled out rope. Summit trail trail has been added yet like to support me and this website, please products. A better person, while always making me laugh and being so silly I! Around at the junction take the left fork, the steep north face of Dragontail Peak LITTLE MCCLELLAN! Climbed some rock hit him in the first two miles of the.. A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Thu night we had around a foot new... To post with your account northwest wind between 9 and 14 mph, with gusts as as... Above Colchuck Lake trail is a climber & # x27 ; s trail in the.! Walking was definitely faster and saner yesterday the past two hours the pitons at the,... Out the rope and rack and I took a few minutes to dry off and warm up starting. Cascadian giant most iconic places WEDGE MOUNTAIN the TEMPLE EDWARD Peak CANNON MOUNTAIN find of. Thats definitely a first time experience the rope drag was heinous as I belayed him up 7am PST Feb,! Free email newsletter for hiking events, news, gear reviews and.. And varied that there are dozens of routes the weave their way up our attention was on the face!, a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit organization the thick forests Switzerland ) Dates... Peak CANNON MOUNTAIN what we had been a long day but well worth.! Before encountering consistent snow and switching to our free email newsletter for hiking events,,. The ascent in we had caught up and would help out with the trail follows!