Forum Index > Trip Reports > McClellan Peak (Enchantments) - 6.9.2015
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ragman and rodman
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ragman and rodman
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PostFri Jun 12, 2015 7:57 am 
Taking advantage of the low snow year and fantastic weather window, BarbE, rocman and I were able to get this trip in before the lottery permit season starts on June 15... spending two nights at a nice campsite at the west end of upper Snow Lake (5420')... and carrying day packs to the McClellan summit on the second day of our three day trip. From Lake Viviane (6785') we followed the cairned trail for a couple hundred yards before leaving it and continuing along the east side of Leprechaun Lake... then started an uphill slog on a mixture of rock and snow as we worked our way over to a set of snow tracks on the west side of "The Prong" that led us to a 100 foot section of Class 2/3 rock which got us up near the ridge and our first good look at the McClellan summit block... leaving a short stroll to the ridge crest... where we crossed over onto the south side... then gave up a little elevation to get around a large rock outcropping before working our way up the west side (a couple of Class 4 moves) of the summit block to the top (8364'). A more prudent route up the summit block would have been to be a bit more patient and continuing around to the south side of the summit block before heading up on Class 2/3 terrain... which we used on our descent. Outstanding summit views that included lots of Teanaway Peaks and the entire Enchantments basin. We had ideal conditions for this climb... we carried spikes, but they weren't necessary as the snow was perfect for kicking steps. I would consider an ice axe mandatory. A few bugs, but nothing that required bug juice. We didn't see any snow until we reached Lake Viviane. There were dry campsites at Lake Viviane and Leprechaun Lake... with Viviane virtually melted out. Summit day from the west end of Snow Lake to the top of McClellan and back to camp was 6.5 miles, gaining ~3200 feet of elevation... with the entire 3 day trip being ~24 miles, gaining ~8000 feet of elevation. Photos, trailhead directions and downloadable GPS track of our trip to McClellan Peak. ..

"Teanaway 70" Peaks List... a guide to hiking and scrambling in the Teanaway Area. ----------------
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Randito
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Randito
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PostFri Jun 12, 2015 8:03 am 
Awesome trip!

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wildernessed
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PostFri Jun 12, 2015 8:12 am 
up.gif Good timing this year. I still need to get up McClellan and Enchantment Peak maybe in November.

Living in the Anthropocene
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olderthanIusedtobe
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PostFri Jun 12, 2015 10:28 am 
ragman and rodman wrote:
Outstanding summit views that included lots of Teanaway Peaks
I got several views of the Teanaway when I was up there recently. A few tiny snowpatches remaining but almost bone dry over there already, even north facing slopes. I was kinda shocked.

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BarbE
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PostFri Jun 12, 2015 11:24 am 
Timing is everything! A couple more pics biggrin.gif
first view of McClellan
first view of McClellan
evening at Snow Lake camp
evening at Snow Lake camp
outlet
outlet
McClellan above Lake Viviane
McClellan above Lake Viviane
Lake Viviane
Lake Viviane
Lake Viviane melting
Lake Viviane melting
Ragman on snow
Ragman on snow
heading for the Prong
heading for the Prong
steep transition
steep transition
Snow Lake below the Prong
Snow Lake below the Prong
Ragman leaving summit
Ragman leaving summit
Charlie heading down
Charlie heading down
skirting Leprechaun
skirting Leprechaun
don't slip
don't slip
Leprechaun
Leprechaun
last look back
last look back
Lake Viviane outflow
Lake Viviane outflow
our own island
our own island
evening at Snow Lake
evening at Snow Lake

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wildernessed
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PostFri Jun 12, 2015 11:43 am 
up.gif So from the basin your heading SSE towards the right of the prong as a landmark ?
heading for the Prong
heading for the Prong

Living in the Anthropocene
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Sadie's Driver
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Sadie's Driver
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PostFri Jun 12, 2015 12:17 pm 
Rog - you are right about being "patient" and finding the path of least resistance to the summit. We poke around long enough to find that southeastern approach - much less daunting! It was a great scramble. Beautiful picture from you and Barb. Nice trip. Rob, yes, they are heading s/se.

Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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raising3hikers
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raising3hikers
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PostFri Jun 12, 2015 4:50 pm 
great idea to take advantage of camping in the area before the permits start!

Eric Eames
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ragman and rodman
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ragman and rodman
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PostSat Jun 13, 2015 10:24 am 
wildernessed wrote:
So from the basin your heading SSE towards the right of the prong as a landmark ?
heading for the Prong
heading for the Prong
As Suzanne mentioned above... in Barb's photo we are heading SSE toward "The Prong"... which sticks out like a sore thumb. McClellan is one gnarly looking mountain... and "The Prong" is a beacon that will draw you to a line of weakness in the north wall that leads up to the ridge on Class 2/3 rock.

"Teanaway 70" Peaks List... a guide to hiking and scrambling in the Teanaway Area. ----------------
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wildernessed
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PostSat Jun 13, 2015 11:58 am 
up.gif Good Stuff and as usual with your trips great beta.

Living in the Anthropocene
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