Forum Index > Trip Reports > Challenger, Whatcom, Easy, (Northern Pickets) July 13-16, 2018
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Gimpilator
infinity/21M



Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 1684 | TRs | Pics
Location: Edmonds, WA
Gimpilator
infinity/21M
PostTue Jul 17, 2018 3:08 am 
July 13 Josh wanted Challenger so we hiked over Hannegan, down to ford the Chilliwhack, and up to Easy Ridge. At the crest of the ridge we turned north to tag the first peak and then headed south to Easy Peak. We camped below the first major obstacle, some steep snow.
Ruth
Ruth
Copper
Copper
No Doubt
No Doubt
Indian
Indian
Whatcom
Whatcom
Easy Ridge summit
Easy Ridge summit
Easy Peak and snow formation
Easy Peak and snow formation
Golden Ears and Slesse
Golden Ears and Slesse
Indian, Bear, Redoubt
Indian, Bear, Redoubt
Sefrit
Sefrit
Tomyhoi, Chardonnay, Larrabee, American Border
Tomyhoi, Chardonnay, Larrabee, American Border
July 14 On day two we hiked over Easy Peak and down around the Imperfect Impasse, up to Perfect Pass. Josh stayed at the pass while I hiked up Whatcom Peak. The south ridge is a knife-edge scramble.
Blum
Blum
Easy
Easy
going down to Imperfect Impasse bypass
going down to Imperfect Impasse bypass
Imperfect Impasse
Imperfect Impasse
the bypass
the bypass
Josh above the dirty class 4 slabs
Josh above the dirty class 4 slabs
Perfect Pass above the mossy waterfall slabs
Perfect Pass above the mossy waterfall slabs
Whatcom
Whatcom
Challenger Glacier
Challenger Glacier
Perfect Pass cornice
Perfect Pass cornice
Whatcom Peak
Whatcom Peak
South Whatcom
South Whatcom
Whatcom summit panorama
Whatcom summit panorama
Chilliwacks
Chilliwacks
Redoubt is beastly
Redoubt is beastly
Spickard and Moxes
Spickard and Moxes
Jack and Luna
Jack and Luna
Little Beaver
Little Beaver
Brush Creek
Brush Creek
Baker, Shuksan, Icy, Mineral, Ruth, Easy, Sefrit
Baker, Shuksan, Icy, Mineral, Ruth, Easy, Sefrit
Triumph and Despair
Triumph and Despair
Challenger tomorrow
Challenger tomorrow
back down
back down
July 15 We got up before dawn and roped up for the Challenger Glacier crossing. Conditions were perfect. I led across the glacier and up to the base of the summit.
summit tower
summit tower
yeah!
yeah!
there it is
there it is
Kelsey and Anna
Kelsey and Anna
Josh led the 2 pitch climb which is one vertical pitch and one easy traverse with exposure. We ran into a couple of nice ladies who were doing the full Pickets traverse, Kelsey and Anna.
Challenger summit
Challenger summit
Fury
Fury
Toward Crooked Thumb and Phantom
Toward Crooked Thumb and Phantom
Baker and Shuksan
Baker and Shuksan
After our climb we moved camp back to Easy Peak.
waterfall rappel
waterfall rappel
below dirty class 4 slabs
below dirty class 4 slabs
plenty of this
plenty of this
July 16 I had plans to add on some more peaks, but getting honest with myself, there just wasn’t enough time or energy to add another 4k gain to the day. I told Josh that I would make the lazy choice and we should hike out for our commitments in town the next day.
Easy Peak panorama
Easy Peak panorama
Southern Pickets showing
Southern Pickets showing
Tabor and Pioneer
Tabor and Pioneer
Chilliwack ford
Chilliwack ford
the Pickets chewed up Josh's boots
the Pickets chewed up Josh's boots
I’d like to thank Josh for his patience with me since I’m not as confident of a climber as he is. I seriously could not have done this trip without him.

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iron
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Joined: 10 Aug 2008
Posts: 6391 | TRs | Pics
Location: southeast kootenays
iron
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PostTue Jul 17, 2018 9:30 am 
nice. where was that waterfall rappel? why didn't you take the higher route across PI?

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Gimpilator
infinity/21M



Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 1684 | TRs | Pics
Location: Edmonds, WA
Gimpilator
infinity/21M
PostTue Jul 17, 2018 11:59 am 
We ran into one group and heard of another that tried the high route and had to bail because it was out of shape, so we didn't even look at it. The waterfall was short, but mossy and slick. We wanted the rope going down it. Located somewhere between the two low angle snow slopes below Perfect Pass, where the trees are between two big waterfall gullies.

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iron
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iron
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PostTue Jul 17, 2018 12:01 pm 
interesting. well, you got a full(er) experience then.

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raising3hikers
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Joined: 21 Sep 2007
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raising3hikers
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PostTue Jul 17, 2018 5:07 pm 
looks like you guys had a nice trip up.gif I can't wait to get back in that area

Eric Eames
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DIYSteve
seeking hygge



Joined: 06 Mar 2007
Posts: 12655 | TRs | Pics
Location: here now
DIYSteve
seeking hygge
PostTue Jul 17, 2018 5:48 pm 
Gimpilator wrote:
I had plans to add on some more peaks, but. . . .
The Northern Pickets does that to people

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Malachai Constant
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Location: Back Again Like A Bad Penny
Malachai Constant
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PostTue Jul 17, 2018 8:47 pm 
Mission creep, sometimes a good thing hockeygrin.gif

"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
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Bike&Trek7
Id rather Be Outside



Joined: 10 Jul 2018
Posts: 8 | TRs | Pics
Location: Gold Bar
Bike&Trek7
Id rather Be Outside
PostSun Jul 22, 2018 10:44 pm 
Thanks for all the pictures, and I am glad to see there's still snow on some of the routes/peaks. It seems to be melting very fast this year.

Old Growth is irreplaceable, I need to see it all before its gone. Lets protect it so you can see it too.
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Brushbuffalo
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Location: there earlier, here now, somewhere later... Bellingham in between
Brushbuffalo
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PostMon Jul 23, 2018 6:40 am 
Nice work! Too bad you missed the fun of negotiating Perfect Impasse, its correct name by the way. I was with Rowland when he named it in July 1967. But I. I. fits too, especially when the snow has melted in it as you had heard! smile.gif (Iron abbreviated it correctly).

Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
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silence
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silence
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PostMon Jul 23, 2018 6:48 am 
up.gif up.gif up.gif up.gif up.gif Awesome climbing .... spectacular scenery! Thanks for sharing. Redoubt really is Beastly looking.

PHOTOS FILMS Keep a good head and always carry a light bulb. – Bob Dylan
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Distel32
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Distel32
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PostMon Jul 23, 2018 7:21 pm 
up.gif

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Popinmerf
Mer



Joined: 23 May 2017
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Location: South Wa
Popinmerf
Mer
PostSun Jul 29, 2018 6:29 pm 
So, we ran into you guys on the way down and then 5 days later ran into Josh. Funny thing, his other shoes looked like his boots! 😂🤯

Mer
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome



Joined: 26 Jul 2006
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
PostTue Feb 16, 2021 7:39 pm 
Good stuff bro

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Forum Index > Trip Reports > Challenger, Whatcom, Easy, (Northern Pickets) July 13-16, 2018
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