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mtn.climber
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Joined: 29 Jul 2008
Posts: 1202 | TRs | Pics
Location: The Lost Horizon
mtn.climber
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PostMon Jul 16, 2018 11:53 am 
Spent the weekend climbing Argonaut peak (8457') with my son and some friends. We started at the Beverly Creek trailhead, and made it to our camp beside Ingalls Creek in three hours. We relaxed, soaked in the creek, and enjoyed the beers that we carried in.
Argonaut (l) and others from the pass
Argonaut (l) and others from the pass
Argonaut from 4th Creek
Argonaut from 4th Creek
Camp life
Camp life
Fridge
Fridge
Headed up Argonaut at 6 a.m. We spent the first hour in the forest, but managed to avoid most of the alder. We couldn't stop or we would have been eaten alive by mosquitoes. We broke out in the bug-free open area at about 5700', and enjoyed our first break. We continued upwards, and dropped into the main gully at about 6400'. We stayed on climbers right as we passed the waterfall slabs. It was a warm day, so we we're glad there was plenty of water enroute.
We reached the split at 7100', and took the left option. There was firm snow in the gully above this point, but we were able to stay on rock. We kept climbing the class 2-3 gully until we reached the crux chimney under the summit ridge. Neil and I scrambled up, and then I placed a handline through a rap ring to help everyone else.
We avoided the firm snow in the gully by staying on rock
We avoided the firm snow in the gully by staying on rock
Derek climbing the chimney
Derek climbing the chimney
Above the crux chimney, summit in sight
Above the crux chimney, summit in sight
We all reached the summit by 11 using the airy ledge (easy) rather than the keyhole, which looked more difficult. Views and weather were great.
Stuart
Stuart
Enjoying the summit
Enjoying the summit
Colchuck, Dragontail and other Enchantment peaks
Colchuck, Dragontail and other Enchantment peaks
Kudos to my son, who climbed Argonaut for the second time just to join me.
Kudos to my son, who climbed Argonaut for the second time just to join me.
We needed to use caution on the descent, as several loose rocks were dislodged, causing some narrow misses. After being baked by the sun for several hours, the forest offered some relief. Once again, we we're able to avoid most of the alder, although the devil's club and downed trees were a pain. We made it back to camp four hours after we left the summit. After packing up, we made our way out. All of us were pretty beat, but we still reached the cars in three hours. Guess the cold beers Neil left in his truck cooler gave us some extra motivation. Great time with everyone. Thanks to my son, who climbed Argonaut for the second time just to join me on the summit. Other things. Don't believe it when someone says M&Ms won't melt. I have a gooey bag of melted ones that prove otherwise. High up in the gully, Derek's water bottle slipped out of his pack and shot down the steep snow before hitting a rock, launching itself about 20 feet in the air and disappearing from view. We found it on the way down, mostly unharmed, except for a broken cap. Danny lost a camera lens cap around 6300', just before we entered the gully. A quick search proved fruitless. But on the way down, trying to figure out if we were on our track, it somehow appeared at our feet, confirming beyond all doubt that we had stood in this same place a few hours earlier. Trip was about 17 miles, with over 8500' of elevation gain.

Reach for the sky, cuz tomorrow may never come. Live the life of love. Love the life you live.
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rocknclimb
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Joined: 10 Sep 2010
Posts: 474 | TRs | Pics
Location: Wenatchee Valley
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PostMon Jul 16, 2018 12:10 pm 
Another great weekend in the mountains!!!
Argonaut and Colchuck
Argonaut and Colchuck
Argonaut detail
Argonaut detail
Crossing Ingalls Creek
Crossing Ingalls Creek
Neil enjoying camp
Neil enjoying camp
Welcome to the jungle
Welcome to the jungle
Crew nearing the gully
Crew nearing the gully
Middle of the gully
Middle of the gully
Looking down at Ingalls Creek
Looking down at Ingalls Creek
Danny heading up the gully
Danny heading up the gully
Neil leading the way
Neil leading the way
Rest break in the heat
Rest break in the heat
Dad at the crux
Dad at the crux
Liz carefully traversing the ledge
Liz carefully traversing the ledge
Neil on the crux
Neil on the crux
Enchantments
Enchantments
Danny and Liz
Danny and Liz
Summit
Summit
Neil on the summit
Neil on the summit
Rainier and others
Rainier and others
Stuart
Stuart
Hand line for the class 4 move
Hand line for the class 4 move

When asked "Why do you climb"? Simply respond "Why don't you"?
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wildernessed
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Joined: 31 Oct 2004
Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics
Location: Wenatchee
wildernessed
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PostTue Jul 17, 2018 4:58 am 
up.gif

Living in the Anthropocene
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JasonK806
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Joined: 15 Jul 2016
Posts: 64 | TRs | Pics
Location: Olympia, WA
JasonK806
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PostWed Jul 18, 2018 8:17 pm 
Was there a hand line at the crux? I placed one there for the way down because it was more sketchy coming down then up. I stole it off the anchor area. This is the first TR I've seen for the argonaut south route since I did it car to car 2 years ago.

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mtn.climber
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Joined: 29 Jul 2008
Posts: 1202 | TRs | Pics
Location: The Lost Horizon
mtn.climber
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PostWed Jul 18, 2018 8:26 pm 
No handline at the crux. Just a couple of slings thru a rap ring. I climbed up, and placed a line to help some of the others. We all used the line on the descent.

Reach for the sky, cuz tomorrow may never come. Live the life of love. Love the life you live.
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