Thanks to "cdrbond007" for the recent report on Anaconda and for sparking interest in this one once again.
The plan was for Craig and I to meet Yana, dicey, and Gabriel at the TH around 0730. For some reason I waited until Granite Falls to remember I didn't have my boots...!! So, Craig and I went back into town to get them as we were determined to ascend Anaconda in a snowstorm. While the other three got an 0800 start, Craig and I pulled up the rear with a lazy 0930 start. Nice.
I'll spare everyone the route details as cdrbond007 has done a fine job of that already. Craig and I followed a nicely compacted route (surprise!) on up the road with only about 300 trees impeding progress. Around 2400', we found where everyone else had turned into the forest and followed along. With all the previous steps, I did not need to use my snowshoes the entire day!
We zig-zagged up through the trees until coming to the final steep section just below the ridge crest. Again, Yana, dicey, and Gabriel had done a good job of putting in steps so it was no problem.
We trotted along the ridge crest before finally turning uphill for the final ridge ascent. We could hear the other three up ahead at this point and we eventually caught up to them 300' below the summit. We ascended the final few hundred feet up the ridge right along the crest which involved a lot of full body contact and clinging to trees, but eventually we made it work. The summit stay was short in the driving wind and snow, and we were soon retreating back down the ridge.
Single File to the Summit
We took a slightly different route back down the road avoiding some of the steep, icy sections encountered on the ascent. It all worked out and we made the road in no time.
The road slog out was a real drag, but it was great to finally make the cars again to be and sitting on a heated seat. Fun trip despite all of my morning shenanigans, sorry folks!
Anaconda: ~7.5 miles, 3700' of gain, 7.5 hours
Wow, nice work! You guys sure got up there a lot faster than we did. I can't believe you didn't need snowshoes! We were wallowing up to our hips without them, and my trekking poles were sinking in up to the handles!
The plan was for Craig and I to meet Yana, dicey, and Gabriel at the TH around 0730. For some reason I waited until Granite Falls to remember I didn't have my boots...!! So, Craig and I went back into town to get them as we were determined to ascend Anaconda in a snowstorm. While the other three got an 0800 start, Craig and I pulled up the rear with a lazy 0930 start. Nice.
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