Climbing Emblem Peaks of the Western U.S. (2022 trip)

PanShiBo · 发表于 2022-8-12 06:20:10

2022 JUL-10 Day 17/36

Gannet Peak WY, Day 5/5
Star Lake -> Car (19.3km)

Last camp at Star Lake.

Water level in Double Lake creek not too high in the morning

Double Lake

Arrow Pass

Rest stop, on return every 50 minutes

Back on good trail

Gannet Peak was our 12th State High Point

googoo · 发表于 2022-8-12 09:55:43

thank you for sharing! Epic experience !

PanShiBo · 发表于 2022-8-12 15:17:55

2022 JUL-11 Day 18/36

En route to Montana

Before the trip, Vera didn't know that the standrad route to the highest peak (Granite at 3,901m) in Montana will not be "just a hike": long approach, steep snow, exposed rock and route finding makes it one of the hardest among State High Points (Denali in Alaska being the hardest).

PanShiBo · 发表于 2022-8-12 15:35:36

2022 JUL-12 Day 19/36

En route to Glacier Peak, WA

Weather forecast for Montana has chanded to "chance of thundersorms" which is really equal to "a chance of getting into epic", so we dropped our original plan for Montana until the weather improves. "It may never improve" I was informed as if I didn't kmow that too. So we collectively agreed to climb Glacier Peak in WA which had been on your wish list for many years.

This basic rest area Google Maps doesn't know about.

Instant noodles with salsa for dinner. Simple and tasty.

PanShiBo · 发表于 2022-8-12 16:07:47

Glacier Peak, WA
Standard Route 55km round trip
3 days, 2 nights

PHOTO of Glacier Peak taken from the summit of Labyrinth Peak 4 years ago.

PanShiBo · 发表于 2022-8-12 17:31:05

2022 JUL-13 Day 20/36

Glacier Peak, WA
Day 1/3
Hike in, 17.8km

Self-registration

Nice bridge

Rest-stop

Nice trail

We pitched our tent after standard c/g at White Pass but before High Camp. Tomorrow 19km round trip to the summit.

Glacier Peak

Dinner is getting ready

Solo hiker looking for some flat spot to spend the night. There is not much choice untill High Camp.

PanShiBo · 发表于 2022-8-14 06:08:02

2022 JUL-14 Day 21/36

Glacier Peak, WA
Day 2/3
Summit, 19km round trip

White Mountain as seen from our camp

Rainier - our first State High Point back in 2014 (8 years ago)

Climbing Marmot Knob

View of Glacier Peak from Marmot Knob

White Mtn.

Glacier Peak - isn't it beautufl!?

Black Mtn and Glacier Gap Lake

Snow caps

Passisng high camp - that's where commercial trips stay before their summer bid

Mount Sloan is a popular objective

On the summit block

Mt. Adams?

Last steps to the summit

Done!

Took some time to shake off that moment when we heard a roar and before realizing what it was, I saw a US Air Force jet dropping from the sky right on the summit, and disappearing in the valley below. Impressive.

California Climbers' Salute at Glacier Peak, the most isolated of the five major stratovolcanoes in the U.S state of Washington.

Glacier Peak was our 117th summit above 3,000m

This peak certainly has a name but I don't know what it is

Glacier Gap Peak

Back to sun caps

Spot our tent in this photo

Our tent just below Marmot Knob

PanShiBo · 发表于 2022-8-15 05:27:15

2022 JUL-15 Day 22/36

Glacier Peak, WA
Day 3/3
Hike out, 18km

PCT trrail crossing White Pass, Mt. Sloan at the back

PanShiBo · 发表于 2022-8-15 05:31:46

2022 JUL-16 Day 23/36
En route to Montana
Weather forecast for Granite, MT showed 90kmh winds but clear skies, so we decided to give it another try.

Breakfast in Best Western

Lunch break after shopping stop in Costco

PanShiBo · 发表于 2022-8-15 16:27:52

2022 JUL-17 Day 24/36
En route to Montana - it took us two days of driving

Gear have been sorted out and ready for tomorrow

Topo of the route was essential of the success

PanShiBo · 发表于 2022-8-15 16:43:41

Granite Peak, at an elevation of 12,807 feet (3,904 m) above sea level, is the highest natural point in the U.S. state of Montana, and the tenth-highest state high point in the nation. Granite Peak is often considered the second most difficult state high point to climb after Denali in Alaska, due to technical climbing, poor weather, and route finding.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granite_Peak_(Montana)

PanShiBo · 发表于 2022-8-15 16:56:22

2022 JUL-18 Day 25/36

Granite Peak, MT
Route: standard from Mystic lake
Round Trip: 45km, 3 days (2 nights)

Day 1/3 Hike in: 18.5km
This peak required no permits! Not for backpacking, not for climbing! Freedom.

Mystic Lake

Was pleasnatly surprised with the good quality of the Phantom Creek Trail

Mystic Lake started showing white waves - the wind is picking up the speed, with the upgraded forecast 100kmh.

Good habit to rest stop every 40 minutes. We had a few moments of occasional rain, which as often in this area, was brief - the phenomenon we are not accustomed to.

Infamous Froze-to-Death Plateau, many climbers avoid camping here because of the strong winds.

End of the trail, from here on is an open country. Every other third trip report mentions how easy it is to get lost here without GPS loaded with correct route.

The wind got strong as predicted, so it knocked us from our feet a few times. That was the first and only time when we used all available guy lines on our tent, and still I was sceptical that the tent will survive that night and that it would not be shredded before tomorrow's sunrise.

PanShiBo · 发表于 2022-8-16 06:40:35

2022 JUL-19 Day 26/36

Granite Peak, MT
Summit Day 8km round trip

The wind blew hard all night and never abated until late morning. So we dropped our hopes to climb the summit for that day.

We decided to take a look at the route and perhaps climb to the "notch" which is about 60 meters below the top. We set our turn back time at 2:00 p.m.

Suprisingly, it was ovenight freeze.

Passing another tent site. No running water though.

This is the end of Froze-to-Death Plateau.

Granite Peak just before we have to drop down to the saddle with Tempest.

Always a question - do we put crampons or not? This stretch is super short, but it is icy.

No clouds, only blue sky. Rare conditions for this area.

Hard snow

Now on the rock.

Infamous "snow bridge" is actually a chute, steep and exposed can be seen on Google Earth. We have to cross it twice.

First pitch.

There are at least 6 rap stations on the route, which is always a good sign telling we are on the correct path.

We had no other climbers on the route. Chimneys like this can be a bottleneck, e.g. if there is a commerical team of 6+ coming up or down.

Dry and stable rock - many parties have passed by over years and all loose stones are gone.

Which way to go? Many climbers get lost and return from here, just less than 100m below the summit. The photo was taken from the nortch which we set as an objective to the day, but it was only 11:52 a.m. so we pressed forward.

Exposed moves. Handrail above helps for the balance, but many don't know about it.

We cross this section only once, will rappel down on the way back.

The summit! 1:15p.m.

At the top of Granite Peak (MT), our 13th State High Point.

It was zero wind and blue skies. And not even smoke from wildfires!

California Climbers' Salute at the summit of Granite Peak, MT

Selfie at the top.

Time to go down. Passing the "keyhole".

Five rappels on a single 30m dynamic rope and a static cord, we have trained this setup before.

Some yoga strecth for variety.

Last rappel is the longest, full 30m.

Back from the snow bridge.

This is Tempest Mountain - often those who fail the Granite, will hike it as a consolation.

PanShiBo · 发表于 2022-8-17 06:23:35

2022 JUL-20 Day 27/36

Granite Peak, MT
Hike Out, 18.5km

A very polite mountain goat kept respectable distance.

Froze-to-Death Plateau (FTD)

Looking back

Snow was firm

Back on trail

Mystic Lake

Never get tired of instant noodles with salsa

PanShiBo · 发表于 2022-8-18 07:46:46

2022-JUL-21 Day 29/36

Our trip's objectives have been now 100% complete, and the weather still looked good, but only in California. So we headed to High Sierra once again.

Early breakfast

'

Passing Nevada. Rest areas over there are below national average, but still better than nothing.

PanShiBo · 发表于 2022-8-18 07:59:23

2022-JUL-23 Day 30/36

Back to California. Our objectives: Ritter and Banner as seen from highway.

Getting our backpacking permits at Rangers in Mammoth Lakes

PanShiBo · 发表于 2022-8-18 08:24:20

Mount Ritter (4,008m) is made of strikingly dark rock and is quite prominent due to its height and isolation.It is in the middle of the Ritter Range, which includes neighboring Banner Peak and the Minarets. The prominent and memorable shape of the Ritter–Banner pair is visible from high elevations far to the north and south in the Sierra Nevada.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Ritter

PHOTO: Mount Ritter (on the left) from the John Muir Trail

PanShiBo · 发表于 2022-8-18 08:30:06

Banner Peak is the second tallest peak in the Ritter Range of California's Sierra Nevada. The mountain is 12,942 feet (3,945 m) tall, and there are several glaciers on its slopes. It lies within the boundaries of the Ansel Adams Wilderness; at the foot of the peak lie Garnet Lake, Lake Ediza, and the famous Thousand Island Lake.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banner_Peak

PHOTO: Banner Peak (right) and Mount Ritter from Garnet Lake.