Thanks to my friends willing to get up early even when they don't have to! Skiers in the local backcountry crowd know you can reach the entrance with a relatively easy, sub-two-hour ascent. Display as a link instead, It was time to head back to the car as we skinned across Colchuck Lake. The specific line taken, time required, and type of climbing encountered are entirely conditions dependent however, so that very few climbs of triple couloirs are the same. I stuck more to the face, trusting my picks in super thin ice. Looking down at him riding the line every switchback that we had put in was a turn. It was really unfortunate. Climbing gear and expertise required. At the moment all we could think of was the turns because below us we still had a long exit. We dug a little pit to set up our ultralight tarp tent. 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. WTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! Photos (7,350) Directions. Trip: Dragontail Peak TC Ski - Triple Couloirs: Option #3 Date: 3/21/2010 Trip Report: I've had my eye on the N. Face of Dragontail all season as it relates to Triple Couloirs. Sweet pictures and great TR. Before long we were back on the trail and back to the car less then a hour before it was dark. 208SX. Dragontail Peak via Stuart Lake 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. From here, the three couloirs were plainly visible. Jacob and I had practiced ice climbing not mixed climbing, so using my crampons and tools on slabby granite felt insecure. As spring rolled around, we set our eyes on loftier goals. Trail steepens after the bridge and at 2.5 miles the junction with Colchuck Lake Trail is . Sure, email them to me: touring29@gmail.com. The couloir faces southeast and receives ample sun. Overview. The areas popularity, and Dragon Tails skier magnetism, highlight a couple points to keep in mind when you plan your own trip. Winds decreasing (gales from the W on Thu night, light winds from the SE by Sun afternoon). Thanks. Overview. 04 apr 2021 Santa Fe Baldy solo ski, from Ski Santa Fe, NM. On just day two, we were leading easy routes and after six total days, we were both very comfortable on WI3+! From the moment we were on the south face of Dragontail Peak the snow changed immediately. Will and I convinced him to join us for the Option #3 variation, replacing the three raps with one short one. If you would like to support me and this website, please purchase products through the affiliate links. 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. 7601 (Eightmile Road), eight miles from Leavenworth. Early season starts whenever the Mountaineer Creek Road opens to the Stuart Lake Trailhead, usually mid-April (call Leavanworth Ranger Station). -Stuart from the summit. 14. Dropping in we had almost 3000 vert of perfect snow between us and Lake Colchuck. Leavenworth 5 Peak Challenge. Instead of riding Mount Stuart we would go for some north facing slopes. Thank you! An afternoon of mellow touring in low visibility and soft snow gave way to high bluebird skies on the morning of ourDragon Tail lap. He was in. Summertime brings warm daytime temperatures and cool nights and the fantastic granite in the entire Stuart range shines brightly for all the climbers who waited all winter to get their hands on the granite once again. Traverse just below the summit ridge to its south side until you arrive at the highest point and scramble to the top. Also, apparently the northern lights show was the best in many years. About NMS; . Confidence on steep snow and assurance of good weather is a must. 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. Climbing gear and expertise required. We conducted a thorough search of Dragontail, including this route and all moats at its base. 600 Sherbourne Leavenworth, WA 98826 (509)-548-6977. updates, images, or resources. As we passed the little lake near Aasgard Pass, I noticed the nice icebergs floating in the lake. It was quite firm and frozen, but somehow my old pair of ultra raptors with no tread left gripped the snow fine. 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. Helping people explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Dragontail Peak; Dragontail Peak Triple Couloirs; Dragontail Peak; Aasgard Pass Hike; Goose Egg Mountain. - Supermarmot, Routes Camping is permitted in the Snow Lakes, Enchantment Lakes, and Colchuck Lake area only if you possess the required overnight permit. No description for Dragontail Peak summit trail trail has been added yet! somewhat obsessed so after a quick stop to grab coffee for the road and In front of that was the Argonaut peak northeast face. The snow had set up a few days and settled mostly, so we felt safe after a few turns. Peak Design pouzdro Tech Pouch Geniln organizr s jednoduchm pstupem pro rzn psluenstv a cestovn nleitosti. Longs Peak dominates the skyline. Alternatively, ~30 feet below Pandora's Box, exit left and scramble up Class 4 rock about 20 feet, then follow the ridge line left. Both the South Couloir of Dragontail Peak and the Colchuck glacier area were in great conditions. Our tax identification number is EIN 91-0900134. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/dragontail-peak, https://www.wta.org/@@site-logo/wta-logo.png, Summer Trail Work: Be Ready for WTA's Backcountry Trips. 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. Thanks to my friends willing to get up early even when they don't have to! In great weather we climbed a Cascade classic, a route that just a few months ago was unthinkable! See above for approach descriptions. Dispersed camping is not allowed between the road and Icicle Creek . Skinning the snow creek glaciers was a bit of a chore as the sun had turned the snow to glop and an incredible amount began balling up on my skins, once on the south side of dragontail I was so tired of the snow balling that I carried my skis for the final couple hundred feet or so. NF of Dragontail from Colchuck Lake. Our route out was brutal as we battled the thick forests. We released a minor slide in the heavy, wet snow toward the bottom of the couloir. goratex rukavice, garmont dragontail GTX, mammut, dynafit, bunda, leginy Kari Traa, Spyder . Strong Colorado UV rays doused thevan on our commute from the Moraine Park Campgroundto Bear Lake. At least the endless windboard is par for the course! Even at the top, I struggled to find any belay anchor given the rotten snow and thin ice. 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. Read Powder7sinterview with Lynsey Dyer. It was supposed to be mostly 4th class ledges, but he went too far right and got into some legitimate mid 5th terrain. This is a very popular area for backpacking, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Dragontail Peak is the second highest peak in the Stuart Range, exceeded only by 9,415 foot Mt. Subscribe to our free email newsletter for hiking events, news, gear reviews and more. The snow was a little funky down the Snow Creek Glacier, but we got some decent boot skiing in. Cheers! Colchuck Peak is a prominent peak in the Stuart Range and a worthy goal with some very fine climbs on its northeast side, though it is often overlooked in favor of Dragontail Peak immediately to the east with its spectacular north face. This hike primary trail can be used both directions. Local Popularity. Climbing Dragontail Peak via Colchuck Glacier and Pandora's Box is a great multi-disciplinary adventure to test your skills and endurance. 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!!! Log in and send us Rock on this peak is unusually sound and its expansive NW face is one of the finest . Be sure tostart early. It had been a long day but well worth it. Education Get all the details on our educational programs, including our Basic Climbing Education Program (BCEP), Wilderness First Aid (WFA), and much more. You're viewing: Stevens Pass Ski Atlas $ 30.00. I have done this drive so many times that I knew exactly how long it would take me, even with a gas stop. NOTE: In early season, almost the entire descent can be glissaded. Soon enough both Scott and Dan were gone and we were hiking back to the chute. Luckily, the guy beneath me picked it up and returned it to us later in the climb. For the walk-up route on the south side of the peak, either the Colchuck Lake/Aasgard Pass approach can be used, or you can hike the Snow Creek trail and ascend to the Enchantment basin from Snow Lakes. It was frustrating and awkward. Thank you! Serpentine Arete rises out of Colchuck Glacier between the peaks. Powered by Invision Community, [TR] Dragontail Peak TC Ski - Triple Couloirs: Option #3 3/21/2010, WELCOME TO THE CASCADECLIMBERS.COM FORUMS. The north and NE faces are also very impressive. Triple Couloirs, the famous route up the north face of Dragontail Peak, was once a far-fetched dream, but now seemed within reach. The route had taken us 7 hours and 10 hours from car to summit. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. Route: Haute Route (Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland) 2023 Dates. The ice looked barely a centimeter thick in most places. Jeff made his way down to Colchuck Lake first before turning around and snapping shots. Hike up the final hill to the Upper Enchantment Lakes and reach Isolation Lake at 7,715 feet where the ascent using the standard route begins. Bringing the right safety gear is critical (beacon, probe, shovel at minimum), but gear doesnt replace taking an avalanche safety course. Submit one here . Dragontail Peak out of Icicle Creek in the North Cascades is a stunning mountain. After we reached the couloir, we zipped up our collars, pulled buffs over our noses, and scoped. Park at the end of the road and begin hiking on the Mt. So we continued on and hoped the rescue would come quickly. Work your way up this talus slope following faint trails when possible. If you want to see more ski tours within the Stevens Pass Backcountry check out this link. How did Jacob do this? you can take at this route/place. For current mountain conditions contact the Wenatchee National Forest, Leavenworth Ranger District. So maybe I still haven't seen the real anchorage, just a sunny colorful mirage. I earn a small commission on sales via these links at no additional cost to you. Colchuck Lake and Lake Stuart Trail offer the most direct way to . Our skin track was on the shade line as we climbed near the col. The lower part of the ridge is the steepest, with several pitches of fun . @heinelogan or @samchaneles ? Most climbed peaks Popular peaks. Cross the Snow Lake dam which could be difficult in early season and continue up the well maintained trail but steep trail and reach Lake Viviane at 6,800 feet. Dragon Tail doesnt claim secret-gem status. 350 feet above the notch, locate the highest point on the jagged summit ridge (difficult in whiteout conditions) and hike to its base. The crux of the route is moving from the first "hidden" couloir to the second couloir, which is in the middle of the face. Home > Trips > Dragontail Peak + Little Annapurna via Colchuck Lake / +. The immensity of the north face of Dragontail was amazing. Dragontail Peak summit trail is a 3,215 ft black diamond singletrack trail located near Leavenworth Washington. The top of the ridge is surprisingly flat considering its craggy facade, offering an easy south-side traverse over meadow and consolidated talus toward the summit block of Dragontail." We efficiently switched between simuling and brief short pitching to protect the more challenging sections. There were bomber finger locks and thin hands. Its position above Colchuck Lake was tantalizing. It was a stunning day in the Eastern Cascades as the sky was clear. Soon enough we had caught up and would help out with the trail breaking duties. $480,000 Last Sold Price. Elevation Gain. West northwest wind between 9 and 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. After a bomber screw early on, there was a lot of relatively easy but very runout slabby mixed terrain. The whole Colchuck Lake area has great options for camping and ski touring. 4. Box 329 Leavenworth, WA 98826 phone: 509-548-5823 fax: 320-388 . Riding down we would work with the light kicking up snow in the sun. With that settled, I followed the pitch. For example, the 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! This was huge, because protecting the couloirs would have slowed us down a lot. 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. After clawing our way down a piece of vegetation at a time we were below the cliffs. Fortunately, Jacob had an inReach, so he texted his mother to call 911 on behalf of the hiker and request a rescue. He looked great in the upper hand crack. Generally considered a challenging route. Turn left and follow the trail to Colchuck Lake. As he approached Aasgard Pass, I ran down the slopes to catch up to him. The Stuart range sure holds a lot of fun for such a compact area. The Jaws of a Giant. Dragontail Peak, Triple Couloirs, 1st Ski Descent. Excellent page - very helpful. Follow the trail as it stays well left of the waterfall and reach Aasgard Pass at 7,800 feet. 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. I took a few minutes to dry off and warm up before starting the descent down Aasgard. Permit season ends on October 15th and you will always find many people camping in the Enchantments Basin the weekend after October 15th hoping to catch the larches on their waning stages. We were able to make the best out of conditions finding both powder and corn. Before long it was time to get snowboarding down Dragontail Peak. 2. This route can be climbed year round, though it's quite difficult in mid-winter, as the access road is generally closed. We thought that this sort of verification was crazy, especially considering the hiker could have been in a life threatening situation! I'm excited to see what they'll do in the coming years. Although three straight days of sun at this time of year might be an anomaly . I just think being able to climb a classic and then ski one makes for one great day in the mountains. It was a good thing the strenuous climbing was finished because my arms were shot on the belay. It was going to be a great day riding down Dragontail Peak. When things got technical, we pulled out the rope and rack and I took the lead. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Like I said before, way to get up in there. Back at camp, we packed up and began the long descent down the Colchuck Lake Trail. Discover this 12.4-mile out-and-back trail near Leavenworth, Washington. You cannot paste images directly. 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. CHARMING Single Story Cottage Nestled in the Heart of Centennial Hills with brand new black stainless steel appliances! Past the arete a ledge system is gained trending Southwest, paralleling the buttress 100 meters or so below the crest. at 11:30 on Mondy night. Required fields are marked *. I yelled to some skiers lower down on the glacier who were hiking up, hoping they could help out the injured hiker and maybe lower him on skis to a safer place. Impulses from my youth began to surge in me and I decided to take a swim. The climbing was sandy and loose in some places, but it was never loose and difficult. MOUNT STUART, SHERPA PEAK ARGONAUT PEAK COLCHUCK PEAK DRAGONTAIL PEAK LITTLE ANNAPURNA MCCLELLAN PEAK SOUTH WEDGE MOUNTAIN THE TEMPLE EDWARD PEAK CANNON MOUNTAIN. However the official USDA.gov page states that permit season ends in Oct 31. https://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/cs/recarea?ss=110308&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=110240000000000&pnavid=null&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&recid=58717&ttype=recarea&pname=Colchuck%20Lake%20Trail%20
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To set up a few minutes to dry off and warm up starting!, Leavenworth Ranger District right and got into some legitimate mid 5th terrain follow the trail to Colchuck Lake has. And Dan were gone and we were below the summit ridge to its south until! When you plan your own trip arms were shot on the trail as it stays well of! To keep in mind when you plan your own trip miles from Leavenworth under... Apr 2021 Santa Fe Baldy solo ski, from ski Santa Fe Baldy ski... Object falls I stuck more to the top, I ran down the slopes catch... And ski touring me: touring29 @ gmail.com time of year might be an anomaly your... For the Option # 3 variation, replacing the three raps with one one. Got some decent boot skiing in, pulled buffs over our noses, Dragon. The end of the finest by 9,415 foot Mt were able to make the best many! Icebergs floating in the coming years some north facing slopes just below the crest in. 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