Pyramid Agassiz Price Traverse

Lyons Creek to Pyramid

Just back from a July 30, 2011 trip with dog Otter to Pyramid, Agassiz and Price. My main concern before the trip was negotiating the Pyramid to Agassiz section with a dog, however athletic. I had heard tales of nasty class 4 scrambling rhat I was not sure my dog could do. It turned out to be no problem. Departed Lyon's Creek TH with dog tethered to waist at 8:30. Trail was wet and muddy from previous thunderstorms, oh boy. Leash management was a dirty issue. Hurrying along, we lost the trail just after the Lyons Lake, Sylvia Lake fork with snow patches, and just headed up the valley, finally reaching the first lake (still snowed over) above Sylvia (never saw Sylvia). Negotiated a couple "crevasses" on the snow and headed up to a snow field on Pyramid's NW side that still held a big cornice above. I would have used crampons if had them, but the snow was firm, but not icey, so just the ice ax was OK. Although Otter had no ax, he is gifted on snow, and scampered right up. Probably around 45 degrees. Arrived at the summit at 11:10 and found a coupple there who had come up from the East side. .

Pyramid to Agassiz

Otter and I descended big talus from Pyramid N towards Agassiz until reaching snow, then contoured the E slopes below the ridge until under an unnamed peak between, where we scrambled up, then descended the W side to contour over to Agassiz. It was actually pretty straightforward. Agassiz has a weird summit. I scrambled up to just beneath it on the S side and had to make a vertical bouldering move to the top. Otter could not do that. On the top I found a slightly easier way down on the N side, where Otter had found his way. We summited at 12:40.

Agassiz to Price to TH

We descended more big talus to the low point between Agassiz and Price, then made a gradual ascent over snow patches and scrub pines to Price, arriving at 1:10. The view back to Agassiz was amazing with its distinctive profile. Otter and I lingered awhile, then began a descent to Lyon's Lake. The descent was over snow, slabs, near waterfalls, eventually arriving at tourist filled Lyons Lake, followed by what felt like a long, but otherwise uneventful return to the TH at 3:30.