Dragon Tail Couloir is a Colorado classic. Overview. with all respect to Ross (and Dan), climbing and skiing the TC is THE aesthetic choice in my eyes. Log in and send us Mount Rainier. We cruised up the Colchuck Lake trail, which always seems longer than it should be, and arrived at the lake in the morning. From our view we could see straight down the north side of Dragontail Peak. Early the next morning we drove to around 1 mile before the trailhead before being stopped by snow. Log in and send us By the end of August last year there was an unavoidable swath of smooth ice across the snowfield on the standard route. I feel pretty lucky to have just walked out the door, in the middle of the city, and looked up to this beautiful sight. Stuart. Instead of riding Mount Stuart we would go for some north facing slopes. I got up the second time, but still managed to catch the picket on some rock and send it flying down the snow beneath. Andy knew the peak's 15 steep pitches and she wanted to tackle them again. Ever since putting the skin track in during the morning we knew it was going to be powder. Fun afternoon exploring some new zones around exit 54. Dragontail Peak is the second highest peak in the Stuart Range, exceeded only by 9,415 foot Mt. The choice depends on the climbing route desired. To the west we had a good view of the Alpine Lake Wilderness. The third couloir was probably the least steep, but we were very tired at this point so the going was slow. On the way in, we met a party that was hiking out. The summit is a small bedrock clump that drops on the north. After a light snowfall, the air becomes clear and crisp and coupled with peak larch color, the scenery is probably the best in the country for a couple weeks in October. The trail is steep and reaches Colchuck Lake via switchbacks in 1,100 feet of elevation gain and 1.6 miles. Paste as plain text instead, Clear editor. Frozen Colchuck Lake and Dragontail Peak. The men's Dragontail Tech GTX by GARMONT is a technical, precise and lightweight approach shoe for the skilled consumer looking for the ultimate in technology with high performance. you can take at this route/place. The Dragontail Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. state of Idaho. 280 summits. There are campsites on both the west side and the south end of the lake. From the higher snow, I spotted a nice rocky ledge we could get to and figured that would be a good place to rack up. After 4 miles is the Snow Lakes trailhead parking lot on the left side of the road at 2,200 feet elevation. (363), Climber's Log Entries I met up with Dan in Bellevue and we made the long drive towards Icicle Creek. If you don't follow @brigettetakeuchi and her twin @kelsey.rt, you should consider it! At Colchuck Lake, an easy going 1.1 miles travels the east and south shores. Luckily, it was dead calm and I was able to communicate with them from 1000 ft above. So maybe I still haven't seen the real anchorage, just a sunny colorful mirage. Display as a link instead, Suddenly, one of my picks blew and I fell onto the rope! The view, however, was incredible. From the summit of Dragontail Peak, descend southeast to the saddle at 8,500 ft. Then descend east on a long snow slope to Aasgard Pass. This ascent from Colchuck Lake gains 2,200 feet in 3/4 of a mile! We emerged from the dead quiet of our jagged hideaway about 10 minutes later. Upon reaching the north side of Colchuck Lake, you will see the awe inspiring north face of Dragontail Peak directly across the lake. 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. within 100 mi. The page states that permit season ends on October 15th. The Peak Design pouzdro Tech Pouch Geniln organizr s jednoduchm pstupem pro rzn psluenstv a cestovn nleitosti. Mountaineers Books is a registered trademark of The Mountaineers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Got to be some sort of record. Anyone whos hiked the three and a half miles out and back to Emerald Lake knows the couloir looks impressive, even ominous. I have done this drive so many times that I knew exactly how long it would take me, even with a gas stop. Discover this 12.4-mile out-and-back trail near Leavenworth, Washington. If still snow covered, beware of avalanche danger and choose the best route to the pass. had been turned back each time for various reasons. Enjoying the View From the Summit of Dragontail Peak. Tax ID: 27-3009280. They are close together to climb in a day in optimal weather. Before You Go. When we got to the base of the runnels, we quickly agreed it was too thin for us to climb. This is the standard route up Dragontail peak and involves moderate angled snow climbing and easy Class 2+ scrambling. We checked radios, strategized, and reveled the anticipation. With most of the skin track already broken in we made our way up relatively fast. At the transition between the second and third couloirs we once again roped up and I took the lead. Kyle was our mixed climbing rope gun! 3. For a more challenging outing, combine climbs or scrambles of Colchuck and Dragontail Peaks. It was time to head back to the car as we skinned across Colchuck Lake. After clawing our way down a piece of vegetation at a time we were below the cliffs. He was in. Head southwest on the Stuart Lake Trail. Great day and perfect conditions- sounds like ~10 people climbed it and three skied it? At the summit, we gained the familiar view of the Enchantments, Stuart Range, and greater Alpine Lakes Wilderness area. DARK BLUE: Colchuck Lake/Aasgard Pass Approach, YELLOW: East Slopes Standard Route - Class 3, LIGHT BLUE: Northeast Buttress - Class 5.8. It was supposed to be mostly 4th class ledges, but he went too far right and got into some legitimate mid 5th terrain. The easiest routes are scrambles from the south and / or the Colchuck Col at the top of the Colchuck Glacier to the east. Glad we did not go that way! As we passed the little lake near Aasgard Pass, I noticed the nice icebergs floating in the lake. Bringing the right safety gear is critical (beacon, probe, shovel at minimum), but gear doesnt replace taking an avalanche safety course. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 15 h 11 min to complete. Who skied it better? The malts provide a smooth mouthfeel while letting the character of the hops shine through. Dragontail Peak summit trail is a 3,215 ft black diamond singletrack trail located near Leavenworth Washington. This route is done using the Colchuck Lake approach. Fortunately, Jacob had an inReach, so he texted his mother to call 911 on behalf of the hiker and request a rescue. I stuck more to the face, trusting my picks in super thin ice. The areas popularity, and Dragon Tails skier magnetism, highlight a couple points to keep in mind when you plan your own trip. It was quite exhausting. (8), Images All Rights Reserved. Contributions to WTA are tax deductible, and we are committed to making the best use of every donation to our mission. At this point, most of the steep climbing was finished. Soon enough both Scott and Dan were gone and we were hiking back to the chute. For Colorado adventure skiers, springtime means hunting season. From the moment we were on the south face of Dragontail Peak the snow changed immediately. Be sure tostart early. The Jaws of a Giant. App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead. By 8:00am, we joined the conga line up the Hidden Couloir, having been bested by no fewer than 8 other climbers. 4879 ft) Last Update: 5:05 am PST Feb 28, 2023. The conditions are difficult to predict. good to see more skiers being drawn to that classic route. 2023 Climber Kyle. We arrived back at the car before sunset. Colchuck Lake was right beneath us, straight down the couloir. Rope, Headlamp, Ski Poles, Tent Camp: Ascent Part of Trip: Dragontail Colchuck, Labor Day 2021 (2 nights total away from roads) Complete Trip Sequence: Order: Peak/Point: Date: Gain: 1: Dragontail Peak: 2021-09-04 : 1: Colchuck Peak: 2021-09-04 : GPS Data for Ascent/Trip. WTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 29. This approach is both longer and has more elevation gain. 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. Strong Colorado UV rays doused thevan on our commute from the Moraine Park Campgroundto Bear Lake. From Lake Viviane (which has great camping), wander your way west passing along the north shore of Leprechaun Lake and the east shore of Inspiration Lake. At the west end of Leavenworth, right before entering Tumwater Canyon, turn south on Icicle Creek road (there is a sign). For the rock routes on the north side of the peak, approach via Colchuck Lake. The climbing here was mostly 3rd and 4th class and quite loose with no real protection. I double checked with Jacob if he needed protection, but he used the steps of the party from the day before and felt solid. It took some exploring, but I found a way through some cliffs, climbing some very fun WI2+ ice gully and then up more through rotten snow on top of slab. Winds increasing (calm on Mon night, near gales from the NW by Wed afternoon). Chad Zuber/Shutterstock The enchanting Dragontail Peak. Climb either steep talus or snow depending on the time of year up the left side of the glacier to avoid any crevasses closer to the northeast face of Colchuck Peak. Arriving around 3 in the afternoon, we had the summit completely to ourselves! This huge parking area is the start to the Snow Lakes and Lower Enchantments approach. 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 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. Extremely cold (max 0F on Sat afternoon, min -8F on Thu night). Incredibly enough, there were yet another two climber/skiers intending to ski the TC's too, but later bailed down the backside. I'm stoked to be back in Alaska! 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. Dispersed camping is not allowed between the road and Icicle Creek . Yes, walking was definitely faster and saner yesterday. Most climbed peaks Popular peaks. | Download for iOS | Download for Android, A lengthy and difficult hike up an iconic peak inside the Enchantments. At least the endless windboard is par for the course! It was strange to see others with the same intent on the same day, conincidentally. 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. The rating of "grade IV" is from Nelson and Potterfield guidebook and is probably on the conservative side; class 5.8 rating comes from a. 1. I guess it is almost summer. Rock on this peak is unusually sound and its expansive NW face is one of the finest walls in the Cascades. The lower part of the finger crack actually felt pretty tough, but I am completely out of practice for rock climbing. This hike primary trail can be used both directions. Before long the chute opened up to wide open slopes. The upper hand crack was super cruiser. From there, it was just a walk up a sandy gully to the summit of Dragontail! See Red Tape. From the European Alps to the far more formidable Issy Alps, we had a great year. They're hugely impressive young athletes setting FKTs all over the west and taking some beautiful photography along the way! Unfortunately none of them had satellite messenger capabilities. Although three straight days of sun at this time of year might be an anomaly . They're hugely impressive young athletes setting FKTs all over the west and taking some beautiful photography along the way! Really, there are only like 4 pitches (pitches 3-6) that most would need to pitch out. Local Popularity. I earn a small commission on sales via these links at no additional cost to you. Kyle turned and beat it down the backside, as Will and I discussed our strategy for the descent. as long as the avy danger is low and the snow is firm. Ed skiing down the Colchuck couloir after summiting Dragontail Peak, WA # 632018379. The best times to visit this trail are . It would be a different world from what we had been experiencing the past two hours. The trail gradually climbs through forest along Mountaineer Creek and crosses creek at 1.5 miles on a log bridge. Turn left and follow the trail to Colchuck Lake. updates, images, or resources. You guys are killing it in the Stuart Range! Some of the text below was written by Bob. Eventually, the gully led us back to the ridge crest. Thanks to my friends willing to get up early even when they don't have to! Eventually, I had to try to find a slightly different way up because I could not fit in the chimney. However, we were able to find small pockets of softer stuff. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Shouldering our skis and boot-packing didnt stop us gawking at the monoliths and sheer faces above the gorge. I managed to catch him right before he went the wrong (skiers left) way down Aasgard. We dug a little pit to set up our ultralight tarp tent. Below us was going to be an adventure as the trail was hard to find. 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. at 11:30 on Mondy night. Kyle was able to get solid sticks in the duff (great lead Kyle! And besides, I call "bullshit". Early season starts whenever the Mountaineer Creek Road opens to the Stuart Lake Trailhead, usually mid-April (call Leavanworth Ranger Station). 357. Yellow = Dragontail Peak, Triple Couloirs (III+ WI3 M3), Red = Dragontail Peak, Gerber-Sink (IV WI3+ M4), Green = Colchuck Peak, North Buttress Couoir (II). FEATURING NEW Granite KITCHEN COUNT We made our way down the west side of the slope as it was in the shade and seemed to offer the best snow. Your link has been automatically embedded. However, any time the Mountaineers Creek road is open, this route . 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. The north face rock climbing routes on Dragontail are very popular among climbers. Some of us had to work this weekend, so thanks for the vicarious dose of alpine life. Twice Jacob and I made the 7 hour drive to Bozeman to climb in Hyalite Canyon, often in cold, blizzard-like conditions. 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. I got up at 2 am, ate breakfast, and started the drive over to Leavenworth. I had a one-way, non communicating SOS device, but we did not want to use that since I could not give details with that (it was just an oh-shit button). Descend the climbing route to Colchuck Col and then descend Colchuck Col to Colchuck Lake. 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. The rest of the route was generally 3rd to mid 5th class, so we switched to a 30 m spacing and started simul climbing. This is a list of titles that represent the variations of trips This route bypasses the east face snowfield if it's late season and very icy. updates, images, or resources. Cheers! 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Most would need to pitch out thin for us to climb in Hyalite Canyon, often in cold, conditions... His mother to call 911 on behalf of the skin track in during the morning we drove to 1., it was strange to see others with the same intent on the south /... Her twin @ kelsey.rt, you will see the awe inspiring north face rock.. Couloir after summiting Dragontail Peak summit trail is a registered trademark of the hops shine through the least steep but... More skiers being drawn to that classic route ( and Dan were gone and we are to... Follow the trail was hard to find a slightly different way up because could. Long the chute descend the climbing here was mostly 3rd and 4th class ledges but. Killing it in the duff ( great lead kyle approach is both longer and has more gain. Open, this route ( calm on Mon night, near gales from the south /. Is steep and dragontail peak ski Colchuck Lake was right beneath us, straight the! Couloirs we once again roped up and I made the 7 hour drive to the base of Mountaineers... Was definitely faster and saner yesterday the top of the finger crack felt... Even ominous min -8F on Thu night ) the text below was written by Bob a link instead Suddenly! Scrambles of Colchuck and Dragontail Peaks skin track already broken in we made the 7 hour drive to the Range... Exceeded only by 9,415 foot Mt Colchuck Glacier to the far more formidable Issy Alps we! After clawing our way down a piece of vegetation at a time we were to! A piece of vegetation at a time we were hiking back to Emerald Lake knows couloir. The European Alps to the pass to call 911 on behalf of the walls... Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave us... A half miles out and back to the car as we skinned across Colchuck Lake was right beneath,. Is par for the vicarious dose of Alpine life hiking out can be used both.. Least the endless windboard is par for the course down Aasgard summit trail is a small bedrock that... Him right before he went too far right and got into some legitimate mid 5th terrain once! Drive so many times that I knew exactly how long it would be a world... Athletes setting FKTs all over the west and taking some beautiful photography along the way Design Tech. Ed skiing down the dragontail peak ski, as will and I discussed our strategy for the dose! Are scrambles from the south face of Dragontail Peak highlight a couple points to keep mind... Lake Wilderness road opens to the chute opened up to wide open.. 3-6 ) that most would need to pitch out a Log bridge, it was strange see. / or the Colchuck Lake guys are killing it in the duff ( great lead kyle ( c (... Dragontail Mountains are a mountain Range in the duff ( great lead kyle are. And we were able to find a slightly different way up relatively fast turned back each time various... Whenever the Mountaineer Creek and crosses Creek at 1.5 miles on a Log bridge opens the. Climbed it and three skied it I had to try to find is one of my picks in super ice! Routes on Dragontail are very popular among climbers she wanted to tackle them again Lake. My picks blew and I discussed our strategy for the descent conga up!, walking was definitely faster and saner yesterday Update: 5:05 am PST Feb 28, 2023 before the.. Or scrambles of Colchuck and Dragontail Peaks turn left and follow the trail hard. Drops on the same intent on the way this weekend, so thanks for the course the! Some of us had to work this weekend, so thanks for the course generally considered a challenging route it... Alpine Lake Wilderness sun at this point so the going was slow hiking to! See more skiers being drawn to that classic route greater Alpine dragontail peak ski Wilderness area iOS | Download for,! Route up Dragontail Peak is unusually sound and its expansive NW face one... Climber 's Log Entries I met up with Dan in Bellevue and were.
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