[awilsondc]

Mesahchie and Katsuk - Video by Adam Walker

My very first trip to the North Cascades was to Ragged Ridge in 2016. I picked it because I love scrambling and Ragged Ridge is like, all scrambling. I got more than I bargained for, and my footwear choice left me with painful blisters with all the side hilling. I was going for all 4 Ragged Ridge peaks but only ended up getting Kimtah. The trip kicked my ass. It remains the worst I've ever felt after a trip. I was a little nervous when Adam invited me to join him and Chandler on a trip to Mesahchie, a peak Adam has been after for some time, but I was also eager to get revenge on Ragged Ridge and bag a couple peaks I had left behind. We considered the east ridge via Kitling, but ended up deciding on the standard high traverse. We met at the trailhead in the wee hours of the morning and were on the trail by 4am. The trail went easy for the first few miles and soon we had views of Graybeard, Honeymoon Hump, and some mild dawn and sunrise colors. We got to Easy Pass right around sunrise, welcomed by alpenglow on Arches and Fisher, and some nice colors out towards Logan. We took a break here for a few minutes to eat some food and take in the sights. As the alpenglow began to fade we noticed clouds materialize right before our eyes. They didn't blow in from anywhere they literally began to form right in front of us. It was pretty cool. Soon we departed and headed off trail for the traverse. Since I had been there before I led the way.

Dawn

Chandler on the trail to Easy Pass

Sunrise

Nearing Easy Pass with Arches alpenglow

Logan and the boys

Fisher Creek Basin

Easy pass panorama at dawn

This is where the trail ends - Mesahchie looms

I mostly used route finding on the traverse, but Adam had my back with GPS track checks. I stayed "on track" pretty easily and before we knew it we were half way across. We were making great time! We stayed around 6400 ft on the traverse, but ascended to 6550 for the final waterfall crossing which I remembered from last time. Slight descent back to ~6400 after that, then a final uphill section up and over to reach the basin commonly used as a camp site. Nostalgia poured over me as we reached the basin. I had spend two memorable nights here a few years ago and it felt like a home coming being back here again. Plus, we totally crushed the traverse! 3 1/2 hours from the car! It took me 4 1/2 when I did it in '16 albeit with an overnight pack but we were feeling pretty good about our pace. We took another break here to eat and fill up on water before heading up to gain the ridge that would lead us to the saddle between Katsuk and Mesahchie.

Starting out on the traverse

Tiny waterfall

Traversing

More traverse

Chandler at the final waterfall along the traverse

Filling up on water at the camp basin

A cornice blocked the usual ramp to the ridge so we went slightly climber's right to gain the ridge. Once on the ridge we took some time to admire the views. We didn't know it, but Alden Ryno was RIGHT THERE packing up his stuff. We didn't even see him, but I can pick him out in several pictures I took. The views were incredible with peaks jutting out above the clouds and playing peek a boo through the swirling mist. Chandler was particularly stoked. He said he had never been this deep in the mountains this early in the morning and it definitely left an impression. We were all feeling good. Stoke was high and the fun part was just about to begin! We hiked up the ridge with the terrain gradually steepening as we ascended until we reached a blocky gully. This was where I had bailed in 2016 due to blister pain and not having fun anymore years ago. I was having fun this time. Chandler and I took a class 4 route up the right side of the gully, while Adam found a class 3 route which went up the center then the left side of the gully, then crossed back over to the right. Once above we traversed over to the summit block of Mesahchie.

Chandler ascending out of the camp basin

I love Ragged Ridge

Chandler - the stoke is high! 1000 bonus points if you can spot Alden Ryno

Arches

Scoping out the start of the scrambling

Adam where the gully narrows

Adam on the class 3/4 section

Adam searching for a hold

Scramblin' w/ Logan as a backdrop - life is good

Views are good though

Scrambling a big 'ol pile 'o choss

Nearing Mesahchie's summit block

The route up the summit block follows the obvious lightning strike gully system from lower right to upper left. It was loose and we all took extreme care to not kick rocks down on each other. We stayed close together or stayed on opposite sides of the gully taking care not to be in the fall like of another climber. Despite it's reputation as a horrible pile of choss I quite enjoyed the route. In fact I really enjoyed it. Soon we found ourselves at the summit. It was mostly cloudy but we didn't mind. We had lunch and signed the register. 6 hours car to summit.

Mesahchie summit block

Climbing the final choss gully up Mesahchie

The boys topping out on the summit block of Mesahchie

Adam reaching Mesahchie's summit

Mesahchie register

Mesahchie summit

Adam - stoked to get this summit

After a brief stay, I dunno 40 minutes or so, we departed for Katsuk. It was a bit harder to not knock loose rocks down the gully but we continued to be extremely self aware, and aware of our climbing partners location and we descended without incident. On the traverse over to Katsuk the clouds really rolled in and it was near white out at times. I got a bit off route when Adam and Chandler descended under a rib, I tried a high approach but passed on a class 4 traverse only to find an even worse class 5 descent back down to the route they were on. Soon we were all on the summit in mostly a white out. The original Roper register was wet, but we were able to dry it out enough to sign it. We stayed for a bit and as we were ready to descend the clouds began to clear.

Descending from Mesahchie

Making our way towards Katsuk

Adam and Chandler topping out on Katsuk

The original Roper Katsuk register

Our Katsuk register

Katsuk summit views

The descent back was kinda tricky. Hard to remember exactly where he had come up, but GPS kept us on track. Soon were were back down the class 3/4 section and reached the corniced ridge. We took some snow down for a bit which was nice standing glissading and plunge stepping. The good mood was dampened when we heard Adam say "ummmm, we have a problem".

Crooked Finger

Adam descending Katsuk

Traversing back from Katsuk

Heading back down towards the gulley

Chandler descending some class 3/4

Adam was hiking in new boots. Well, they were 10 year old boots he had bought on ebay, an older model he loved that he was able to find a new pair of at a great deal. Unfortunately the tread of the boot had de-laminated from the body of the boot and the heel section through mid foot of the sole was flapping loose, barely held on by the toe. It was happening on both boots, we figure triggered by the water (snow). We were still five hours from the car, and still had the entire traverse to go plus the trail down Easy Pass. Oh boy. Adam and I both had duct tape around our trekking poles we used to tape the soles to the body of the boot. It might have held ok, but wouldn't have been good. Chandler came to the rescue with some straps that came with his backpack. They were the perfect size. Thank you Black Diamond! Boot soles secured, well... "good enough", we finished the descent to the basin and began the traverse back to Easy Pass. We took it slow and Adam's boots just barely held up. We soon found ourselves back at the car, 14 hours c2c. It was a kick ass trip. We all had a good time and were stoked to get these peaks.

North Cascades Splendor

Adam's messed up boots

Fisher Creek and flowers

Adam giving the dogs a break

Evening light

Stats are about 16 miles with 7250 ft gain.

[Bootpathguy]

[Bootpathguy]

[Michael Lewis]

[Fletcher]

Excellent!

[Gimpilator]

The bad news is the boots are toast. First two pairs I had didn't do that. Great trip guys, and awesome job on this report Aaron.

Mesahchie

Graybeard

Chandler

Logan

Katsuk

summit

class 4

[MangyMarmot]

Nice trip guys. Well done! Great photos.

[Matt Lemke]

Brings back memories of Josh and I being up there in 2014 the day after we were both turned away from Canada... Ragged Ridge 2014 Damn that was 5 years ago; I am starting to transition into one of the "has beens"!

[contour5]

Great trip report and photos!

[adam.rhoda1]

I did that exact same trip last year (minus the boot kerfuffle) and my GPS tracked it at 15.6 miles and 7230' elevation gained and lost, so pretty spot on with your estimate!

[awilsondc]

Thanks guys!

[Snidely Whiplash]

That is just awesome! I caught Adam's video on Youtube. I don't know your setup, but your pictures always look so much better than mine. I guess it helps that you do more spectacular stuff than I do.

[Alden Ryno]

[awilsondc]

[ozzy]

Congrats on your redemption Aaron! Killer daytrip for sure! That area is amazing though I have yet to venture onto ragged ridge! Nice trip yall.