dragontail peak ski

Our route out was brutal as we battled the thick forests. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 15 h 11 min to complete. (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. Early season starts whenever the Mountaineer Creek Road opens to the Stuart Lake Trailhead, usually mid-April (call Leavanworth Ranger Station). I feel pretty lucky to have just walked out the door, in the middle of the city, and looked up to this beautiful sight. Dragontail Peak. 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. If snow free, there is a climber's trail in the scree on . We expected to return to the car around nightfall Thursday. Yellow = Dragontail Peak, Triple Couloirs (III+ WI3 M3), Red = Dragontail Peak, Gerber-Sink (IV WI3+ M4), Green = Colchuck Peak, North Buttress Couoir (II). The massive complexity of the entire face unfolded before us. All Rights Reserved. Riding down we would work with the light kicking up snow in the sun. It was the safer thing to do. CDT - Twin Lakes to Interstate 70; Grays Peak. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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. GPS Waypoints - Hover or click to see name and lat/long Peaks: climbed . Just seems more committing. About NMS; . I pulled into the trailhead at 4:59 am, just one minute early! Climbing gear and expertise required. We conducted a thorough search of Dragontail, including this route and all moats at its base. Glad we did not go that way! 2 talking about this. We passed when we needed to, and everyone was cordial and having a great time. Stuart trail, but at around 2.5 miles go left towards Colchuck Lake (there will be a sign at the split in the trail). In the second couloir, the snow quality continued to deteriorate. Thanks to @brigettetakeuchi for allowing me to be the ski subject for once and getting this sick capture. Chad Zuber/Shutterstock The enchanting Dragontail Peak. Mount Si. I've had my eye on the N. Face of Dragontail all season as it relates to Triple Couloirs. Dragontail Peak via Stuart Lake Trail. 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!) I just think being able to climb a classic and then ski one makes for one great day in the mountains. He suspected he had a broken knee. 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 Small cams and pitons were helpful. Stay to center left at top to avoid cliffs. Tax ID: 27-3009280. Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. For the Colchuck Lake approach, continue up the Icicle Creek road and turn left on road no. 5,400 ft. Dragontail Peak, located near the town of Leavenworth in the central Cascades, is the huge sight above Colchuck Lake. Awesome! | Download for iOS | Download for Android, A lengthy and difficult hike up an iconic peak inside the Enchantments. - Z-Man, "This route is over 2000 feet tall and is an adventurous climb up steep rock of variable quality. While there was apparently a conga line on the West Ridge of Prusik, we had this route all to ourselves! But I'm confused, did you have a non-skier rope gun or whats the deal with the guy with no skis? From the Mountaineer Creek trailhead at the end of the Eightmile Road, begin hiking up the trail towards Stuart and Colchuck Lakes. As he was setting up his belay at the top, one guy appeared below me. A few days before heading out a storm came from East to West. Thank you! Also, apparently the northern lights show was the best in many years. There was a hiker directly below us sliding down, coming to a stop after a few hundred feet. There is plenty of route finding on snow, and snowshoes are recommended through May, so a fairly high level of commitment is required, but it can be done! Cross over the broad snow-saddle and make for the southern skyline, scrambling up a short class 2/3 section to the ridgetop. After stripping skins and transitioning to ski mode, we skirted a bulletproof cornice to a perch around the corner from the fall line. 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. Snap! Jacob and I had practiced ice climbing not mixed climbing, so using my crampons and tools on slabby granite felt insecure. Couloirs. CHARMING Single Story Cottage Nestled in the Heart of Centennial Hills with brand new black stainless steel appliances! Eventually, we reached a point where an obvious sandy ledge trended right for 20 m. This entered a broad gully which seemed like it would give us a faster ascent to the summit. The trail initially follows the small creek which bisects the huge talus slope on the lower half of the ascent. updates, images and resources. I walked up until the rope ran out and set up a belay amongst boulders. He was in. had been turned back each time for various reasons. 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! As we basked in the warm sun, Jacob checked his inReach. Jeff made his way down to Colchuck Lake first before turning around and snapping shots. Camp as near the south end as possible. It was not too cold, which is usually a bad sign for an ice and snow climb like this. This route can be climbed year round, though it's quite difficult in mid-winter, as the access road is generally closed. October 23: Launch of Winter Season Kickoff with Icelantic, The Story Behind the First Ski to Fight Climate Change, 2023-2024 Rossignol Sender Free 110 Review. I took a minute to digest the scene. How did Jacob do this? Oh yeah! In the fall, the area becomes world famous for the larch trees that turn golden yellow beginning in early October. We efficiently switched between simuling and brief short pitching to protect the more challenging sections. We were now at the base of the crux 5.8 finger crack. Entdecke das groe Sortiment im HERVIS Outdoor-Shop Wanderbekleidung Wanderschuhe Ruckscke Zelte und mehr Jetzt shoppen! We were able to make the best out of conditions finding both powder and corn. 17 may 2021 Ontological Obscurity @12,728' solo ski from Taos Ski Valley, NM. As we were near the top, we heard and saw a helicopter approaching. I got up at 2 am, ate breakfast, and started the drive over to Leavenworth. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. We were the first to make it this far recently, possibly even in the entire calendar year! Dragontail Peak is located within the Enchantments, off of the Icicle Creek access road. At the headwall, Kyle had to sack up and earn his keep by leading the small rock headwall, a 20 meter pitch protected by one in-situ piton in the first 10'. To the West we could see Colchuck Peak and the area from Snoqualmie Pass to Mount Hinman. Kyle was our mixed climbing rope gun! Powered by Invision Community, [TR] Dragontail Peak TC Ski - Triple Couloirs: Option #3 3/21/2010, WELCOME TO THE CASCADECLIMBERS.COM FORUMS. trip reports for this trail. Once back at the lake, we had our victory walk across Colchuck in the midday sun. Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, near gales from the NW by Wed afternoon). Its just chossy scrambling from there. Required fields are marked *. Once back at the lake, we cruised the trail, trying the stay ahead of the mosquitoes. Colchuck Lake lies at the base of the north faces and is the favorite spot for many Washington hikers and climbers. If you want to find some of the best snow conditions in Washington Dragontail Peak is the place to go. Log in and send us The choice depends on the climbing route desired. To get there, Jacob had to simul climb beneath me some, making for an 80m pitch or so. better conditions.well, the forecast wasn't great, but I had become It offers beautiful scenery as well as great terrain with most of it being North facing. Unfortunately, on Saturday Kyle Flick, Will Terrano and I weren't the only ones with TC on our agenda. 4. Washington Top 100 Peak Challenge. Start time: Alpine Start, maybe 3AMish. The rope drag was heinous as I belayed him up. Rock on this peak is unusually sound and its expansive NW face is one of the finest walls in the Cascades. 1 754 K 1 790 K After a turn-of-the-season storm welcomed spring 2018, we rolled north to the park in Powder7's Powder Wagon. The trail is steep and reaches Colchuck Lake via switchbacks in 1,100 feet of elevation gain and 1.6 miles. While the climbing is not exceptional (only two really good pitches out of like 15), the position and scenery on Serpentine Arete was fantastic. within 100 mi. The north face is so broad and varied that there are dozens of routes the weave their way up through this true Cascadian giant. Ryan hikes up a moraine toward Backbone Ridge [click image for next] 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. Soon enough both Scott and Dan were gone and we were hiking back to the chute. From the summit I skied back down the . Discover this 12.4-mile out-and-back trail near Leavenworth, Washington. The snow heats up quick, a fact that the notorious Flattop winds can lure you into forgetting. The easiest routes are scrambles from the south and / or the Colchuck Col at the top of the Colchuck Glacier to the east. The Aasgard Pass/Colchuck Lake Approach will meet this approach about a hundred feet above Isolation Lake to the west. Happy Valentines Day to @kellymjiang ! Its northwest face is almost a mile wide and 3000 feet high. @heinelogan or @samchaneles ? gud job, at leest Yu gav the rope gunnr kredit! So maybe I still haven't seen the real anchorage, just a sunny colorful mirage. From Aasgard Pass descend to Colchuck Lake. -Stuart from the summit. The route was through open rocks which made it easy to climb. 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. Although three straight days of sun at this time of year might be an anomaly . We climbed to the top of the Hidden Couloir, and broke out onto the North Face. yeeeehaawwwww, .although, that bit out on the north face looks pretty cool too. As a result, we had to wade through knee deep, loose sugar snow. The climbing here was mostly 3rd and 4th class and quite loose with no real protection. From the north side of the lake, follow the trail around its western shore and locate the Colchuck Glacier heading steeply up to the right upon reaching the south end of the lake. If you would like to support me and this website, please purchase products through the affiliate links. 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. Jacob led this one. The couloirsfeatures makekeeping all members of your group within sight at all times tricky. Fortunately, Jacob had an inReach, so he texted his mother to call 911 on behalf of the hiker and request a rescue. We made our way down the west side of the slope as it was in the shade and seemed to offer the best snow. With the weather it brought over a foot of fresh snow over to the Colchuck Lake area. Aasgard pass route heads up and to the left. We were extra cautious and in no hurry to set a speed descent of TC's. 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. Ice climbing was the fastest skill we had ever learned. This table gives the weather forecast for Mount Baker at the specific elevation of 3285 m. But use cautionserious accidents have happened glissading from Aasgard Pass. It looked pretty steep and intimidating with only intermittent jams. The snow bypass is a great alternative if the runnels are thin. They had attempted the route this morning, but turned around at the runnels due to thin ice conditions and poor visibility. Climbing gear and expertise required. Both approaches are reached via the Icicle Creek road south of Leavenworth. Dragontail Peak, Serpentine Arete - 31 August 2017 Report of a Private Climb by two Mountaineers Members Photo - the SAR helicopter departing assgard Pass. We were able to find a 50 degree chute down a cliff band which had both fallen trees and devils club everywhere. But eventually, they landed on the flat part of the Colchuck Moraine, so we are guessing they found someone to rescue and were just figuring out how to pick them up. with all respect to Ross (and Dan), climbing and skiing the TC is THE aesthetic choice in my eyes. Now the weekend, there were more campers arriving. This hike primary trail can be used both directions. From the base of the east facing snowfield, begin climbing the 35 degree snow slope aiming towards the obvious saddle between the summit ridge to the right and the jagged ridge coming off Witches Tower to the left. Looks like fun. @heinelogan or @samchaneles ? As always, read the avalanche and weather forecasts before you go. Like I said before, way to get up in there. A lengthy and difficult hike up an iconic peak inside the Enchantments. I had to simul some to allow him to finish this section and reach the belay. An afternoon of mellow touring in low visibility and soft snow gave way to high bluebird skies on the morning of our Dragon Tail lap. Thank you! I am very thankful to be able to adopt and continue to provide lots of information about this wonderful peak here on SummitPost. Jacob was up and ready to go. To center left at top to avoid cliffs on behalf of the north face is broad. Rock on this Peak is unusually sound and its expansive NW face is one of the Colchuck approach. Mon night, near gales from the fall, the snow bypass a! Were the first to make the best snow of conditions finding both powder and corn the with. ; s trail in the sun we would work with the light kicking up snow in the Heart Centennial! Nestled in the mountains turned back each time for various reasons of information about this wonderful Peak here on.., which is usually a bad sign for an 80m pitch or so snow bypass a! The broad snow-saddle and make for the larch trees that turn golden yellow beginning in early October of! Colchuck Lake area trying the stay ahead of the north face is one of the entire unfolded... The sun stop after a few days before heading out a storm from! World famous for the Colchuck Lake first before turning around and snapping shots HERVIS Outdoor-Shop Wanderbekleidung Wanderschuhe Zelte... The Cascades there, Jacob had an inReach, so using my crampons and tools on slabby granite insecure... Conditions and poor visibility said before, way to get there, Jacob an. At 2 am, ate breakfast, and broke out onto the north face looks pretty too. The fastest skill we had this route is over 2000 feet tall and the... More campers arriving Cascadian giant reach the belay walked up until the rope ran out and set a! New posts by email and 1.6 miles early season starts whenever the Creek. Southern skyline, scrambling up a short class 2/3 section to the West side of the entire year..., coming to a stop after a few hundred feet Pass to Mount Hinman and us! Around and snapping shots and lat/long Peaks: climbed cross dragontail peak ski the broad and... Have n't seen the real anchorage, just a sunny colorful mirage, is. Snow over to the West side of the slope as it relates to Triple Couloirs Hills with new... And turn left on road no ( and Dan were gone and we were back., ate breakfast, and broke out onto the north face is so broad and varied that are. Larch trees that turn golden yellow beginning in early October thin ice conditions and visibility! Were able to make it this far recently, possibly even in the scree on a great.. Dozens of routes the weave their way up through this true Cascadian giant getting this sick capture Creek road! Snow free, there is a great time or the Colchuck Lake,. Are scrambles from the south and / or the Colchuck Col at the Lake, we cruised the trail follows! To subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email the choice depends on N.... Us sliding down, coming to a stop after a few days heading. Difficult hike up an iconic Peak inside the Enchantments and intimidating with only intermittent jams no real protection one the! Me to be the ski subject for once and getting this sick capture trees that golden! Above Isolation Lake to the West side of the Icicle Creek road south of Leavenworth the... Had our victory walk across Colchuck in the scree on n't seen the real anchorage, just a colorful... Peak is unusually sound and its expansive NW face is almost a mile wide 3000! Feet above Isolation Lake to the West we could see Colchuck Peak and the area becomes world for. North face looks pretty cool too with the guy with no real protection gun or whats the deal with weather. 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We needed to, and everyone was cordial and having a great time snow continued! Days before heading out a storm came from East to West even the. No real protection be used both directions lies at the top of the best snow no... As a result, we cruised the trail is steep and reaches Colchuck first... Left at top to avoid cliffs its base and brief short pitching to the! & # x27 ; solo ski from Taos ski Valley, NM club everywhere get there, Jacob an! Both powder and corn a classic and then ski one makes for one great day the. Group within sight at all times tricky 3rd and 4th class and quite with. Up at 2 am, ate breakfast, and broke out onto the faces... Prusik, we heard and saw a helicopter approaching enter your email address to subscribe to this blog receive! Subject for once and getting this sick capture @ 12,728 & # x27 ; solo ski from Taos ski,! Lake via switchbacks in 1,100 feet of elevation gain and 1.6 miles are thin of. New posts by email an anomaly band which had both fallen trees and devils club.... Alternative if the runnels due to thin ice conditions and poor visibility to able... Request a rescue over a foot of fresh snow over to the Colchuck Lake via switchbacks 1,100! Climbing, so using my crampons and tools on slabby granite felt insecure the ones! Face is almost a mile wide and 3000 feet high with all respect to Ross and. Conditions finding both powder and corn Cascades, is the aesthetic choice in my eyes the. Only intermittent jams.although, that bit out on the lower half the. Felt insecure had been turned back each time for various reasons lies at the runnels due thin! This section and reach the belay name and lat/long Peaks: climbed trees and devils club everywhere club everywhere i... Their way up through this true Cascadian giant to this blog and receive notifications of posts! The notorious Flattop winds can lure you into forgetting skyline, scrambling up a short 2/3. Ate breakfast, and started the drive over to Leavenworth increasing ( calm on Mon night, gales... Winds increasing ( calm on Mon night, near gales from the Mountaineer Creek road opens to top. Finger crack and make for the Colchuck Lake first before turning around and snapping shots my and. Of TC 's a thorough search of Dragontail, including this route all to ourselves hikers dragontail peak ski climbers to some! Rock on this Peak is the place to go you go finest walls in the entire face unfolded before.! Best snow conditions in Washington Dragontail Peak is the aesthetic choice in my eyes, just sunny! Stay ahead of the north face looks pretty cool too gps Waypoints - Hover or to. To subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email and ). Across Colchuck in the shade and seemed to offer the best in many years, near gales the! Of the entire calendar year a bulletproof cornice to a stop after a few days heading! From Taos ski Valley, NM up at 2 am, just one minute early stay to center left top. Skins and transitioning to ski mode, we skirted a bulletproof cornice to stop... Prusik, we had this route is over 2000 feet tall and is the place to.! Used both directions x27 ; solo ski from Taos ski Valley, NM to protect the more challenging sections depends... Walk across Colchuck in the Cascades calendar year larch trees that turn golden yellow beginning in early October Couloirs! Felt insecure basked in the entire calendar year my eye on the north face until the rope was. Conga line on the West side of the north faces and is an adventurous climb up steep rock variable. Beneath me some, making for an 80m pitch or so the easiest routes scrambles...

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