Tuesday, May 11, 2010

The First Washington Pass Trip of the Season!

I just got back from a trip to Washington Pass for the last two days of and AAI ice course. This was a back up plan due to terrible weather on Mt. Baker. These photos are from a climb of the the west gully on South Early Winters Spire.

Weather was great in the morning, however the snow conditions made for some difficult trail breaking.

Larches

The view of the peak from the approach. The route goes up a snow gully on the left side of the peak.

One of the rope teams at an anchor.

AAI's newest guide, Erin.

Snow seat belay.

Looking down the gully.

Blue Lake Peak as the weather worsened.

Charlie leading up the gully.

High in the gully.

Near the top.

Ski track between the larches below.

AAI guide Kurt Hicks.

Charlie


Summit joy.

Erin at the summit.



Summit shot.

Group shot on the summit.


--Alasdair Turner, Instructor and Guide
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4 comments:

  1. mtnsaremyhomeMay 11, 2010 at 12:11 PM

    How wide is the top of that Couloir, I hear its been skied over the years, pitch is in the 50's no?

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  2. mtnsaremyhomeMay 11, 2010 at 12:19 PM

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  3. American Alpine InstituteMay 11, 2010 at 1:01 PM

    It's probably 50 degrees maybe a little bit more. It gets pretty thin in the middle, maybe only three feet wide...but it wouldn't surprise me if it was skied. There are a lot of super strong skiers around here!

    Jason

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  4. ExtraHyperActiveMay 12, 2010 at 12:34 AM

    Great pics ! Would love to take one of your courses in the future...

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