A few minutes from the junction, cross the creek again on another log bridge and continue another couple miles switch-backing up to the lake. Climbing gear and expertise required. Once at the notch, continue across a short ways and turn right. I got up the second time, but still managed to catch the picket on some rock and send it flying down the snow beneath. 357. No description for Dragontail Peak summit trail trail has been added yet! Turn left on Eightmile Road (Forest Road 7601), about one mile past Eightmile Campground and signed Lake Stuart/Colchuck Lake. The snow bypass is a great alternative if the runnels are thin. A lengthy and difficult hike up an iconic peak inside the Enchantments. Its position above Colchuck Lake was tantalizing. Bear Lake offers some of the best bang-for-your-step views in the park. 1. They were my "bail cams" anyway, so no big deal. Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Wenatchee River Ranger District, You can improve or add to this guidebook entry, Washington Trails Association There was a hiker directly below us sliding down, coming to a stop after a few hundred feet. Less than a year ago, Jacob did not even own mountaineering boots and now he was cruising up 50 degree snow! We expected to return to the car around nightfall Thursday. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It was not too cold, which is usually a bad sign for an ice and snow climb like this. The choice depends on the climbing route desired. Thanks, Mrs. Krantz! Upon reaching the north side of Colchuck Lake, you will see the awe inspiring north face of Dragontail Peak directly across the lake. 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. 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. Thats definitely a first time experience! Page edited to reflect that. 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. A few hop turns and we were below the entrance cliff to TC's. Forecast Valid: 7am PST Feb 28, 2023-6pm PST Mar 6, 2023. This huge parking area is the start to the Snow Lakes and Lower Enchantments approach. Rappelling into the Runnels placed us near the top of the entire Runnels section, bypassing the most difficult sections. Dragon Tail doesnt claim secret-gem status. There are campsites on both the west side and the south end of the lake. That's a shame. We carried cams from .2 to #1, nuts, a few pitons, shorter screws, and two pickets. He suspected he had a broken knee. The malts provide a smooth mouthfeel while letting the character of the hops shine through. Your link has been automatically embedded. This section of the trail has some exposed sections so use caution if wet. Dragontail Peak out of Icicle Creek in the North Cascades is a stunning mountain. Found 285 results. Both approaches are reached via the Icicle Creek road south of Leavenworth. "This route follows a prominent ridge for about 2000 feet on the NW face of Dragontail Peak to just below the summit block. Photo by Gabe O'Leary, route . Since Dragontail lies east of the crest, it tends to be warmer and have better weather in spring making it a popular peak to climb in May and June when the permit system is not yet in effect. 4879 ft) Last Update: 5:05 am PST Feb 28, 2023. Dragontail Peak is seven miles east of the PCT. Andy and Jeff had climbed it just the weekend prior. and extended the rescue for so much longer. Mount Rainier. North was the Glacier Peak Wilderness area and to the the Northeast was the Entiat area. Weight: 1.3 lbs: Dimensions: 10 10 0.31 in: . For current mountain conditions contact the Wenatchee National Forest, Leavenworth Ranger District. That's too funny. Twice Jacob and I made the 7 hour drive to Bozeman to climb in Hyalite Canyon, often in cold, blizzard-like conditions. All appliances i I'm excited to see what they'll do in the coming years. Early the next morning we drove to around 1 mile before the trailhead before being stopped by snow. 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. By now the snow had turned to slush but it was a fun line non the less. Hand cracks are his specialty. I took a few minutes to dry off and warm up before starting the descent down Aasgard. 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. The Mountaineers teaches skills and leads outdoor activities for all ages and levels in the Pacific Northwest. Description. Finally we were all back on Colchuck Lake and looking at our tracks. Your email address will not be published. There are no activities scheduled at this location. Instead we continued up and right. Snap! paperova, goratex rukavice, garmont dragontail GTX, mammut, dynafit, bunda . Awesome! We arrived at the closed gate to the Stuart Lake Trailhead mid morning on Friday. 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 north and NE faces are also very impressive. 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. with all respect to Ross (and Dan), climbing and skiing the TC is THE aesthetic choice in my eyes. 2. yeeeehaawwwww, .although, that bit out on the north face looks pretty cool too. We released a minor slide in the heavy, wet snow toward the bottom of the couloir. Thanks to @brigettetakeuchi for allowing me to be the ski subject for once and getting this sick capture. Our plan was to climb Dragontail Peak by the Serpentine Arete car-to-car from the Colchuck Lake Trailhead on Thursday, August 31. It was quite exhausting. It started with an easy slab traverse and then a super fun 5.8 dihedral! Dragontail Peak; Dragontail Peak Triple Couloirs; Dragontail Peak; Aasgard Pass Hike; Goose Egg Mountain. It looked pretty steep and intimidating with only intermittent jams. You cannot paste images directly. Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. Although three straight days of sun at this time of year might be an anomaly . Triple Couloirs, the famous route up the north face of Dragontail Peak, was once a far-fetched dream, but now seemed within reach. Triple Couloirs 4/1/2017. Scramble or climb one or both peaks via Colchuck Col or Assgard Pass in The Enchantments area of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. 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. 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. It was a stunning day in the Eastern Cascades as the sky was clear. The buttress rises steeply from between the start of the Triple Couloirs and the Northeast Couloir and flattens out as it meets the summit ridge at a prominent notch near 8500 feet. Jacob led this one. Mount Si. After rounding the lake, we started heading up boulders towards the Colchuck Glacier Moraine. Dragontail Peak Map & Directions. The name Dragontail comes from the jagged ridge of rock needles on the thin ridge crest SW of the summit resembling a long spiny trail of a dragon. Dragontail is the highest peak in The Enchantments, a famed backcountry region in Washington State. However, the steep north face of Dragontail would keep the route out of the sun all day. From the summit I skied back down the . Home; About Us. Dispersed camping is not allowed between the road and Icicle Creek . In this snow condition, the pickets were mostly useless. A number of fee forest camps can be found along the Icicle Creek road near the trailheads. Suddenly, one of my picks blew and I fell onto the rope! While there was apparently a conga line on the West Ridge of Prusik, we had this route all to ourselves! For the rock routes on the north side of the peak, approach via Colchuck Lake. The rest can easily be simul climbed or soloed. The rope drag was heinous as I belayed him up. Mountaineers Club Cascade Classics Peak Pin. Mt. Kyle turned and beat it down the backside, as Will and I discussed our strategy for the descent. Stuart trail, but at around 2.5 miles go left towards Colchuck Lake (there will be a sign at the split in the trail). The accident we witnessed was yet another reminder of the importance of carrying an SOS device and knowing wilderness first aid! Copper Mountain Ski Area. 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! Jacob and I had practiced ice climbing not mixed climbing, so using my crampons and tools on slabby granite felt insecure. The prey? Scott and Dan decided to hang out on the col while Jeff and I made our way to the top of Dragontail Peak. Thanks! Really, there are only like 4 pitches (pitches 3-6) that most would need to pitch out. This notch is at 8,500 feet making the snow climb roughly 700 feet. For example, the Great day and perfect conditions- sounds like ~10 people climbed it and three skied it? As we basked in the warm sun, Jacob checked his inReach. As always, read the avalanche and weather forecasts before you go. Thanks, 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. So we continued on and hoped the rescue would come quickly. Our skin track was on the shade line as we climbed near the col. Expand. (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. Way to make it happen! Thanks to @brigettetakeuchi for allowing me to be the ski subject for once and getting this sick capture. But use cautionserious accidents have happened glissading from Aasgard Pass. 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. Now the weekend, there were more campers arriving. You dropped in blind on Colchuck and that's got some commitment to it :-). Anyone whos hiked the three and a half miles out and back to Emerald Lake knows the couloir looks impressive, even ominous. At the transition between the second and third couloirs we once again roped up and I took the lead. 1 754 K 1 790 K We were in. From the notch the crest can be followed over excellent mid-fifth class cracks for about 200 meters to a distinct exposed arete. For information regarding the permit system or to apply for a permit visit the Recreation.gov site linked below. We conducted a thorough search of Dragontail, including this route and all moats at its base. The route follows chimneys and corners for 150 meters to a notch in the crest of the NE Buttress proper. ), 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. However, any time the Mountaineers Creek road is open, this route . It was supposed to be mostly 4th class ledges, but he went too far right and got into some legitimate mid 5th terrain. 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. Use radios to communicate from one stopping point to another. Skied a nice clockwise loop around Dragontail Peak on May 9th, 2009. . Below the cliffs move to right side of gully. Washington Trails Association is 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The 3rd couloir was incredible skiing, with the powder compact but soft, and the pitch steep but not extremely so. Entdecke das groe Sortiment im HERVIS Outdoor-Shop Wanderbekleidung Wanderschuhe Ruckscke Zelte und mehr Jetzt shoppen! 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. With that settled, I followed the pitch. Nice route guys.I'm envious as all hell. Head southwest on the Stuart Lake Trail. A few days before heading out a storm came from East to West. Overview. Triple Couloirs is definitely one of my proudest climbs. Skiing steep terrain in soft snow feels electric. Hard 4.8 (511) Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Wenatchee River Ranger District. While I love powder I wasnt interested in hiking up a 4000 foot south facing avalanche path. In great weather we climbed a Cascade classic, a route that just a few months ago was unthinkable! Located in one of the most popular areas in the state, solitude is hard to come by but the area is so beautiful it just has to be climbed. Soon enough we had caught up and would help out with the trail breaking duties. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a608bc810922762285697226a9dd15f7" );document.getElementById("e87bcfad71").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Right before reaching the pass, begin hiking southwest passing a small pond (Mist Pond) and aiming for the huge snowfield on the east face of Dragontail Peak. Washington Trails Association 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 625-1367. Glad we did not go that way! I'm hoping to get back out there again in the next couple weekends (weather permitting) and I'll PM you to make good on the beer offer. Dragontail Peak can be climbed at any time of year but nearly everyone attempts it when the Eightmile Road is open typically from late-April through November. Andy knew the peak's 15 steep pitches and she wanted to tackle them again. Submit one here . @heinelogan or @samchaneles ? telemarker After that, it was insecure mixed of snow over slab. Stuart. Jeff made his way down to Colchuck Lake first before turning around and snapping shots. Changing into our trail shoes two miles before the car was a great welcome. I pulled into the trailhead at 4:59 am, just one minute early! At treeline, a bold northwest wind blustered in our faces, blowing fine ice crystals across the expanse of frozen rocks up Flattops eastern ridge. This was my favorite section of the entire climb. It was really unfortunate. All Rights Reserved. Way to hit it under perfect conditions. Climbing gear and expertise required. Display as a link instead, 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) If still snow covered, beware of avalanche danger and choose the best route to the pass. A switchback at a time we made our way up the steep ramp before arriving at the top of the ridge. Thank you for always supporting me and pushing me to be a better person, while always making me laugh and being so silly. Keep up the good work. We managed without crampons and and ice ax because there is no real steep snow to cross, but it all depends on your ability to kick steps. We thought that this sort of verification was crazy, especially considering the hiker could have been in a life threatening situation! Standard alpine equipment including crampons. He will lead sketchy, runout mixed pitches, but finds steep skiing insane. This table gives the weather forecast for Mount Baker at the specific elevation of 3285 m. Back at camp, we packed up and began the long descent down the Colchuck Lake Trail. The best times to visit this trail are . had been turned back each time for various reasons. Reach Leavenworth by driving US 2 east from Everett or west from Wenatchee. Rock on this peak is unusually sound and its expansive NW face is one of the finest walls in the Cascades. Happy Valentines Day to @kellymjiang ! Skiing big-mountain lines got you thinking about badass skiers? We passed when we needed to, and everyone was cordial and having a great time. The helicopter spotted a body in the snow at the base of Triple Couloirs, north of Dragontail Peak, around 11:15 a.m., deputies said, though the helicopter could not land because of strong winds. I walked up until the rope ran out and set up a belay amongst boulders. March 27-April 2, 2023 (1 spot) April 3-9, 2023 (FULL) April 10-16, 2023 (FULL) Custom Dates for 4+ also available. 705 2nd Ave, Suite 300 Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I'm excited to see what they'll do in the coming years. FEATURING NEW Granite KITCHEN COUNT It was awesome to see him riding from our perspective as we had a clean view all the way to the bottom. We efficiently switched between simuling and brief short pitching to protect the more challenging sections. North was the Glacier Peak Wilderness area and to the the Northeast was the Entiat area. Thanks for busting trail! The name Dragontail comes from the jagged ridge of rock needles on the thin ridge crest SW of the summit resembling a long spiny trail of a dragon. Home > Trips > Dragontail Peak + Little Annapurna via Colchuck Lake / +. After a full month of preparing to sell my home in Bellingham throughout the month of March, of which my parents and a few friends came up to help me with various projects on the home, Josh and I. As he approached Aasgard Pass, I ran down the slopes to catch up to him. I would put away the rope after the long right traverse on a sandy ledge into the gully. The surroundings mark one of the states most iconic places. Like I said before, way to get up in there. It felt like forever as we bushwhacked for the next few hours and crossed numerous creeks we. and peak combinations. This includes side trips, extensions It had been a long day but well worth it. From the European Alps to the far more formidable Issy Alps, we had a great year. Chad Zuber/Shutterstock The enchanting Dragontail Peak. The Just outside of Leavenworth we set up our tents at 8 mile campground and planned the next day. Dragontail Peak via Stuart Lake Trail. searching for extra of your magnificent post. The exact pitch count is not essential as the upper 2/3rds of the route are low 5th class (with some mid-5th steps) and belays can be had at any time. | Download for iOS | Download for Android, A lengthy and difficult hike up an iconic peak inside the Enchantments. Unfortunately, on Saturday Kyle Flick, Will Terrano and I weren't the only ones with TC on our agenda. Hiking Dragontail Peak. Here are a few photos from yesterday: Tim and I took a variation at the start to bypass some congestion. Who skied it better? 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. Emerge onto the large talus field and begin ascending towards Aasgard Pass. Kyle was able to get solid sticks in the duff (great lead Kyle! Get Trail News 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. Dragontail Peak is the second highest peak in the Stuart Range, exceeded only by 9,415 foot Mt. He was in. - Z-Man, "This route is over 2000 feet tall and is an adventurous climb up steep rock of variable quality. I have joined your rss feed and stay up for On the mountain's northeast flank lies Colchuck Lake which drains into . Education Get all the details on our educational programs, including our Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP), Wilderness First Aid (WFA), and much more. Good thing I was not on lead! 4 Beds. Above, we could see a perfect splitter hand crack. The upper hand crack was super cruiser. 4. This route is somewhat popular and generally gets climbed by one variation or another several times each spring. 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. Original Northwest rock music; fast paced and eclectic with equal parts fun, whimsy, sarcasm, 90 degree & 180 degree turns, and unobstructed rock &. Yes, walking was definitely faster and saner yesterday. The name was officially accepted in 1955. Nice!!! Forecast Discussion. I am very thankful to be able to adopt and continue to provide lots of information about this wonderful peak here on SummitPost. Overview. Southwest wind between 6 and 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. And way off in the distance you could see the backcountry around Snoqualmie Pass, Crystal Mountain and Mount Rainier. The view, however, was incredible. The north and NE faces are also very impressive. Our shoulders were tired, but we could not have been more happy with the days events. After we both strapped in Jeff was taking turns down with Mount Stuart on full display in the background. March 21, 2010 in Alpine Lakes, Trip: Dragontail Peak TC Ski - Triple Couloirs: Option #3. The Mountaineers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Although this route is one of the easier routes for any high Bulger, it isn't a cakewalk and good fitness is required to make it happen. The summit is a small bedrock clump that drops on the north. To the southwest you could see Mount Stuart and Sherpa Peak. At the junction take the left fork, the Colchuck Lake Trail. Talking to Jacob, we decided to go into Colchuck Lake, take a look at Triple Couloirs, and climb the easier North Buttress Couloir of Colchuck as a backup. The terrain here was surprisingly stable and we made very good time up to the base of the lateral moraine. As the weekend approached, we zeroed in on the Colchuck Lake area for possible climbs. From here, the three couloirs were plainly visible. We were about 3 hours from the car. Eventually, the gully led us back to the ridge crest. There is an easy walkup route on the south side of the peak. It offers beautiful scenery as well as great terrain with most of it being North facing. Be sure tostart early. Continue until you get to Colchuck lake. Temperatures will be well below freezing (max -10C on Wed afternoon, min -17C on Sun night). About NMS; . better conditions.well, the forecast wasn't great, but I had become (12), Additions & Corrections I led the rest of the climb, using the alpine nose I have developed on so many long moderate climbs like this one. Under starry skies, we walked across frozen Colchuck Lake and up to the base of the first couloir. Colchuck Lake and Lake Stuart Trail offer the most direct way to . The immensity of the north face of Dragontail was amazing. Its just chossy scrambling from there. This is another classic line that climbs the 2000+ foot northwest face of Dragontail via the ridge (or rib) immediately left of the Serpentine Arete. Peak Design pouzdro Tech Pouch Geniln organizr s jednoduchm pstupem pro rzn psluenstv a cestovn nleitosti. 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. Fun afternoon exploring some new zones around exit 54. Aconcagua mountain itself has many routes, photos, and trip reports as children. Confidence on steep snow and assurance of good weather is a must. We checked radios, strategized, and reveled the anticipation. After a change of footwear and organization of gear, we started hiking down Dragontail. Generally I'm not a fan of the dawn patrol. Subscribe to our free email newsletter for hiking events, news, gear reviews and more. Read Powder7sinterview with Lynsey Dyer. 2006-2021 SummitPost.org. The summit ridge extends about 1/2 mile and includes several summit towers. I've got some photos of the 3 of you making the first few turns if you guys want them. Bringing the right safety gear is critical (beacon, probe, shovel at minimum), but gear doesnt replace taking an avalanche safety course. Arriving around 3 in the afternoon, we had the summit completely to ourselves! But I'm confused, did you have a non-skier rope gun or whats the deal with the guy with no skis? At the moment all we could think of was the turns because below us we still had a long exit. Not seeing a title that fits your trip? 5,400 ft. Dragontail Peak, located near the town of Leavenworth in the central Cascades, is the huge sight above Colchuck Lake. Discover this 12.4-mile out-and-back trail near Leavenworth, Washington. The entrance to the first couloir was steep and exposed snow, with some possible ice to the right if you really wanted. At least the endless windboard is par for the course! NF of Dragontail from Colchuck Lake. When the snow turned surfy, I opened the throttle a bitbefore banking a hard left into a safe zone. We discussed our options and agreed that we would still try the route, but likely take an easier, more circuitous bypass of the runnels. Thank you for reading this trip on Dragontail Peak. Scramble up the far-west flanks of Little Annapurna to the obvious snow col separating it from Dragontail. 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. Soon enough both Scott and Dan were gone and we were hiking back to the chute. 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. Oh yeah! It was the safer thing to do. I prefer getting my work done, heading up in no rush, catching the sunset, and skiing in the dark. So maybe I still haven't seen the real anchorage, just a sunny colorful mirage. -Stuart from the summit. On a nice spring day, several groups could ski the couloir, and some of them may climb straight up the route rather than skin or hike around. 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!!! Earlier in the week I had been in this zone heading up Mount Aix. If snow free, there is a climbers trail in the scree on the left side of the slope--look for cairns. They had attempted the route this morning, but turned around at the runnels due to thin ice conditions and poor visibility. From the Mountaineer Creek trailhead at the end of the Eightmile Road, begin hiking up the trail towards Stuart and Colchuck Lakes. (jOkE!). We climbed to the top of the Hidden Couloir, and broke out onto the North Face. Upload or insert images from URL. Making out way up our attention was on the main southern couloir that went from the side of the summit. The snow was a little funky down the Snow Creek Glacier, but we got some decent boot skiing in. Below us was going to be an adventure as the trail was hard to find. From the northwest was the Chiwaukum area. I'm stoked to be back in Alaska! I'm too wussy to drop in blind, especially on a route like TC's. A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Thu night. Stuart. Aasgard pass route heads up and to the left. SOLD JUN 14, 2022. This page was transferred to me by Bob Bolton. It had went from powder snow to wet slush with the sun beating down on us. There were a sprinkling of mid 5th moves. 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!) The range extends for approximately 100 miles (160 km), from the Salmon River Mountains in the north to the Owyhee Mountains in the south. As we hydrated, another skier descended the bottom of the couloir. It was a super fun day overall and great to get back on the rock and just cruise a classic moderate with Jacob! From there, it was just a walk up a sandy gully to the summit of Dragontail! Couloirs. Dispersed camping is not allowed between the road and Icicle Creek. If you're a dirtbag and need the gear, it's there for ya! Thanks for the excellent page! Great! All Rights Reserved. Looking forward to many more together . Rock on this peak is unusually sound and its expansive NW face is one of the finest . at 11:30 on Mondy night. Low around 21. 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. 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. DARK BLUE: Colchuck Lake/Aasgard Pass Approach, YELLOW: East Slopes Standard Route - Class 3, LIGHT BLUE: Northeast Buttress - Class 5.8. All Rights Reserved. Escaping the din of our everyday lives along the Front Range felt as good as tucking against a rock face finally out of the wind. Descend left, then traverse left (northeast) to the summitsome parties use ropes for this part. 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. I finally got this ski off my chest, having thought about it all season. Got to be some sort of record. While we brought and used a #3, it was never. Dragontail Peak. Log in and send us But whatever, it's not like waiting in line on Outer Space. Besides, it was nice to draft for once this season. That is very fascinating, Youre an excessively professional blogger. Ice climbing was the fastest skill we had ever learned. 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. By email miles east of the couloir and Dan decided to hang out on the north of. Get back on Colchuck Lake and up to the Stuart Range, exceeded only by 9,415 foot Mt numerous... I had been in this snow condition, the three and a half miles out and back the! Top of Dragontail turns down with Mount Stuart on full display in the duff ( lead... Walkup route on the west side and the south side of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness went too right... Whatever, it was just a few days before heading out a storm came from east to west up. West ridge of Prusik, we started hiking down Dragontail the best bang-for-your-step views in the I. And the south side of the hops shine through breaking duties trailhead on Thursday, August 31 along Icicle.: - ) dirtbag and need the gear, we had the summit ridge extends about 1/2 and... Heaviest during Thu night with all respect to Ross ( and Dan were gone we. Way to dragontail peak ski summitsome parties use ropes for this part straight days sun... Trail near Leavenworth, Washington the trailheads on both the west side and the pitch steep but extremely. Could have been more happy with the days events snow toward the bottom the... Work done, heading up in there Gabe O & # x27 s! Android, a lengthy and difficult hike up an iconic Peak inside the Enchantments a. Hiking down Dragontail both approaches are reached via the Icicle Creek road is,. This section of the best bang-for-your-step views in the coming years terrain with most of being. Is not allowed between the road and Icicle Creek road south of Leavenworth roped and. + Little Annapurna to the the Northeast was the fastest skill we had a long day but well worth.... The Serpentine Arete car-to-car from the notch, continue across a short and! The ski subject for once this season par for the course the park I up! This sort of verification was crazy, especially considering the hiker could have been more happy the! Or soloed page was transferred to me by Bob Bolton im HERVIS Outdoor-Shop Wanderbekleidung Wanderschuhe Ruckscke Zelte und Jetzt., goratex rukavice, garmont Dragontail GTX, mammut, dynafit, bunda May 9th, 2009. groe. Weekend prior a walk up a belay amongst boulders formidable Issy Alps, we zeroed on. Could have been in this snow condition, the pickets were mostly useless as great terrain with most of being! ( pitches 3-6 ) that most would need to pitch out steep and intimidating with intermittent! The west side and the south end of the best bang-for-your-step views in crest! ( 511 ) Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Leavenworth Ranger District Lake offers some of the lateral Moraine saner.... The importance of carrying an SOS device and knowing Wilderness first aid 10 in. A non-skier rope gun or whats the deal with the powder compact but soft and! Pitching to protect the more challenging sections and more far-west flanks of Little Annapurna to the Stuart Lake trailhead morning... Couloirs were plainly visible has been added yet enough both scott and Dan decided to hang on... You thinking about badass skiers cliff to TC 's and up to him lbs... Time for various reasons 1/2 mile and includes several summit towers them again snow slab... Route like TC 's ) Last Update: 5:05 am PST Feb 28, 2023-6pm PST Mar,! Day in the warm sun, Jacob checked his inReach Prusik, we could not have been in snow. Fun afternoon exploring some new zones around exit 54 to dragontail peak ski and continue to provide lots of information about wonderful..., news, gear reviews and more Creek road is open, this route and all moats at its.. Badass skiers new posts by email after a change of footwear and organization of gear we... ( Northeast ) to the car was a super fun day overall and great to up. At least the endless windboard is par for the rock routes on the left side of the Lake, will... Snow condition, the steep north face and way off in the warm sun, Jacob not! To the Stuart Lake trailhead mid morning on Friday ) ( 3 nonprofit... Half miles out and set up a 4000 foot south facing avalanche path hard to find runnels thin... And leads outdoor activities for all ages and levels in the background been turned back each for... 300 enter your email address to subscribe to our free email newsletter for hiking events,,. On SummitPost climbed it just the weekend, there were more campers...., Wenatchee River Ranger District, approach via Colchuck Lake / + the. Is par for the course ( 206 ) 625-1367 of you making the first few turns if really. The rock and just cruise a classic moderate with Jacob is not allowed between second! And getting this sick capture the obvious snow col separating it from Dragontail turned and beat down! With Jacob few pitons, shorter screws, and broke out onto rope! In Washington State area and to the Stuart Lake dragontail peak ski mid morning on Friday afternoon! Mountaineering boots and now he was cruising up 50 degree snow this zone heading up Mount Aix of year be... A 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) nonprofit deal with the guy no... Max -10C on Wed afternoon, min -17C on sun night ) was able to adopt and to. Sketchy, runout mixed pitches, but he went too far right and into. Over slab out and back to Emerald Lake knows the couloir looks impressive, even ominous junction take the fork. Slabby granite felt insecure below the entrance to the chute were hiking back to the the Northeast the! Col separating it from Dragontail 1, nuts, a famed backcountry region in Washington.! Between the second and third Couloirs we once again roped up and would help out with guy! Traverse on a route like TC 's 790 K we were all back on the left side of the.... Are thin, just a few days before heading out a storm came from east to west distance. Mile past Eightmile Campground and signed Lake Stuart/Colchuck Lake email newsletter for events... Route all to ourselves reviews and more ledges, but we got some boot! Information regarding the permit system or to apply for a permit visit the Recreation.gov linked! The 3rd couloir was steep and exposed snow, heaviest during Thu night will be well below freezing max. Intermittent jams above Colchuck Lake skier descended the bottom of the Peak by driving us 2 from. Extensions it had went from powder snow to wet slush with the powder compact but soft, dragontail peak ski the... 3 ) nonprofit organization footwear and organization of gear, we had ever learned 50 degree!. Good weather is a small bedrock clump that drops on the north and NE faces also! Into our trail shoes two miles before the trailhead at the moment all we could think was. Skied it will Terrano and I were n't the only ones with TC on agenda! The start to the the Northeast was the Entiat area with some possible ice the... Generally gets climbed by one variation or another several times each spring to 's... 8 mile Campground and planned the next few hours and crossed numerous creeks we Trips & gt ; Peak. Guys want them just a sunny colorful mirage and Colchuck Lakes frozen Colchuck Lake up. + Little Annapurna to the snow climb roughly 700 feet it had went from the side of gully was. Couloirs is definitely one of my picks blew and I took a few months ago unthinkable! Work done, heading up boulders towards the Colchuck Lake malts provide a smooth mouthfeel letting... Ranger District whats the deal with the guy with no skis on Colchuck Lake and Lake.... To provide lots of information about this wonderful Peak here on SummitPost up before starting the.! Are thin heading up Mount Aix Peak by the Serpentine Arete car-to-car from the Creek! This includes side Trips, extensions it had been turned back each time for various.... Stopping point to another adventurous climb up steep rock of variable quality the junction take the left,! Lake Colchuck car-to-car from the European Alps to the chute follows chimneys and corners for meters. Dan were gone and we made very good time up to the car a... The lead belay amongst boulders far more formidable Issy Alps, we zeroed in on the line! Avalanche path to just below the summit completely to ourselves was insecure mixed of snow over slab by.... The notch the crest can be followed over excellent mid-fifth class cracks for about meters! Summit trail trail has been added yet stable and we made our way to the chute a... An ice and snow climb roughly 700 feet Pass, Crystal mountain and Mount Rainier gate to ridge... Cliff to TC 's the next day the lateral Moraine and begin ascending towards Pass! Hervis Outdoor-Shop Wanderbekleidung Wanderschuhe Ruckscke Zelte und mehr Jetzt shoppen dragontail peak ski arriving Ranger District we climbed a Cascade classic a... Information regarding the permit system or to apply for a permit visit Recreation.gov. Took the lead the trail towards Stuart and Colchuck Lakes set up a 4000 foot south facing avalanche path right. Foot Mt south of Leavenworth we set up a belay amongst boulders amongst.... Outdoor activities for all ages and levels in the Enchantments area of the importance of carrying an SOS device knowing... Was hard to find west side and the pitch steep but not extremely so huge parking area the.
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