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Page Type:
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Trip Report |
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Lat/Lon:
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47.46239°N / 120.8052°W |
Date Climbed/Hiked:
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May 17, 2014 |
Activities:
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Hiking, Bouldering, Scrambling |
Season:
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Spring |
Failed Approach (though in hindsight, we could have) and Lessons learned
I'm of the opinion that this hike would be better suited for a time when more snow is present. Getting up to a consistent snow level was pretty difficult, but once we hit the snowfields, our progress was significantly faster. Also to forewarn you of my skill level, this was my first ever attempt to summit anything really other than Ben Nevis in the UK (4,400 feet). Ive had some backpacking experience in the army but no mountaineering/pseudomountaineering experience. Someone who has undergone a bit more would probably not have trouble doing this summit.
Stick to the yellow dang it. Dont get sucked into Crystal Creek.
At around 7ish miles up the Ingalls creek trail (check WTA for that), my girlfriend and I just started taking off towards the summit using the spur between the two creeks as a guide upwards towards Crystal lake, but we eventually veered west and funneled into crystal creek to guide us up. Do not take Crystal creek as a guide for your approach. Take the unnamed creek slightly to the east (we figured this out on the way down) because it took four plus hours for us to get from the trail to the point where it levels out just south of the enchantments; a mere 1.5 miles and 2000 feet or so from the trail. A side note, there are the makings of a lake there, but as of now, its a snow field.
At around 5000 feet of elevation, you will start to hit snow, but also some lovely rocky terrain. If you get stuck in Crystal creek, you are practically going to be bouldering your way up the draw. The unnamed creek approach has much more manageable terrain. Tired and almost out of water and dismayed by our dismal progress, we decided to camp on a snowfield next to a large boulder at about 6000 feet. The next day, we went down the unnamed creek and made it to the trail in a little over two hours with plenty of stops now that we weren't pressed for time. In hindsight, we could have summited, but our morale was shattered by the strenuous approach and by our lack of experience. Unsure of the obstacles ahead, we decided to prudently allow the mountain to win.Still, got some great views, some good experiences and got to put some of my gear to the test...but rest assured, I'll be back.
Our view from our campsite