May 24, 2008, Mt. Pilchuck via Heather Lake Gully
5/24/08
WA Cascades West Slopes Central
5266
2
Being the Mt. Pilchuck connoisseurs we are Jeff, John, and I had been talking about bagging this one for a while. Jeff made an aborted solo attempt a couple of years ago which almost got him avalanched into a moat. With the road still closed we figured it would be just as fast to hike to Heather Lake as walking 6 miles up the road on the normal approach, so this was the year to get up there and check it out.
We left the car around 8:45 and made good time to the lake. Snow started half way up, but it was easier to just keep booting it. The crux of the approach comes crossing the overhanging snow bridge piled up on the bridge at the outlet to the lake. A long branch helped distribute our weight as we scooted across. It had rotted even more on the way back so I'd climb down and cross on the bridge if I went back up.
The gully is quite obvious rising on the west side of the lake directly to the granite spire on Larrison Ridge.
The snow was perfect for step kicking on the way up and a breeze kept us at a perfect temperature. We didn't experience any rock fall, but many chunks littered the slopes, so Helmets are recommended. High in the gully Jeff headed left to check out a route while John and I turned right up a hidden gully that angles up directly to the ridge. A shrund near the top forced a traverse right onto a steep sidewall.
Once on the rolls of Larrison Ridge we put the skins on and climbed what we normally descend. Jeff and I continued to the top of the ridge to drop into The Barrel gully, while John cut over to kick good steps for us up The Gunsight. The snow in the Barrel was great, so dropping over the steep entrance lip felt better than my first time last year when I down climbed it.
It was quite a pleasure to eat lunch and sip our beers on top without another soul in sight. We had one of our best runs ever down the Gunsight on perfect smooth corn without any sluffs.
Near the bottom of Larrison Jeff headed down the route he had climbed, while John and I continued down to the top of our gully where we'd left his axe and my helmet. John decided to go back out our normal route to check out the road for future trips, while I continued down the steep gully, meeting up with Jeff where our routes intersected about half way down. I appreciated Jeff going first to smooth out the bumpy snow and knock the rocks out of the way for me.
The crowds were out in force so we cheerfully fielded many questions about skiing (and some advice about ski kiting as a better way to get up there) as we hiked out. Jeff and I beat John to the car so we put some beers in the stream and started walking up the road with his hiking boots. We were surprised to see him after about half a mile. He said that the road was bare about half way, but the outhouse at the trail head is buried up to the roof.
We all agreed that it was a great way to spend the day, and we were glad to have explored another niche of our favorite little mountain, but it isn't destined to become a classic.
We left the car around 8:45 and made good time to the lake. Snow started half way up, but it was easier to just keep booting it. The crux of the approach comes crossing the overhanging snow bridge piled up on the bridge at the outlet to the lake. A long branch helped distribute our weight as we scooted across. It had rotted even more on the way back so I'd climb down and cross on the bridge if I went back up.
The gully is quite obvious rising on the west side of the lake directly to the granite spire on Larrison Ridge.
The snow was perfect for step kicking on the way up and a breeze kept us at a perfect temperature. We didn't experience any rock fall, but many chunks littered the slopes, so Helmets are recommended. High in the gully Jeff headed left to check out a route while John and I turned right up a hidden gully that angles up directly to the ridge. A shrund near the top forced a traverse right onto a steep sidewall.
Once on the rolls of Larrison Ridge we put the skins on and climbed what we normally descend. Jeff and I continued to the top of the ridge to drop into The Barrel gully, while John cut over to kick good steps for us up The Gunsight. The snow in the Barrel was great, so dropping over the steep entrance lip felt better than my first time last year when I down climbed it.
It was quite a pleasure to eat lunch and sip our beers on top without another soul in sight. We had one of our best runs ever down the Gunsight on perfect smooth corn without any sluffs.
Near the bottom of Larrison Jeff headed down the route he had climbed, while John and I continued down to the top of our gully where we'd left his axe and my helmet. John decided to go back out our normal route to check out the road for future trips, while I continued down the steep gully, meeting up with Jeff where our routes intersected about half way down. I appreciated Jeff going first to smooth out the bumpy snow and knock the rocks out of the way for me.
The crowds were out in force so we cheerfully fielded many questions about skiing (and some advice about ski kiting as a better way to get up there) as we hiked out. Jeff and I beat John to the car so we put some beers in the stream and started walking up the road with his hiking boots. We were surprised to see him after about half a mile. He said that the road was bare about half way, but the outhouse at the trail head is buried up to the roof.
We all agreed that it was a great way to spend the day, and we were glad to have explored another niche of our favorite little mountain, but it isn't destined to become a classic.
Nice. Definitely one of my favorite ski descents off Pilchuck from years past.
Nice pics, as all ways Jim! It sure is nice to be strolling... back on the flanks of our little gem ;D
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