Symmetry Spire approach
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I'm planning to climb SW Ridge route of Symmetry Spire next week and I'm looking for more info on the approach. I've got the Ortenburger guide and the relevant bits of the Rossiter guide are viewable on Google Books. Both contain good information, but I'm not sure how clear the route is once you get off of the standard trails. Does anyone have any suggestions on landmarks to specifically watch out for or avoid? Or are the two descriptions that I have more than sufficient? |
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Hi Dave, |
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went up there a couple of years ago and caught the first boat across the lake & only got a one-way ticket. The trail is pretty obvious and it runs up the gully forever. We didn't have too much trouble finding the raps in the dark on the way down either, plenty of cairns. 3 hours sounds about right for a moderate pace, enjoy! |
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The point where the climber's trail leaves the horse trail is often marked with a small cairn, and it heads up through thick willowy brush until almost the first cliff band. That section of trail is the only part that is likely to be confusing. Just keep looking at your feet: many feet have packed the earth. |
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Thanks to all for the helpful responses. I've often found locating and reaching climbs to be more difficult/stressful than actually doing the climbing, and this is probably the longest approach I've ever attempted. Knowing that the trail isn't too bad definitely brings the anxiety down a couple of notches. |
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Make sure you are confident walking in crampons on consolidated snow. |
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Approach shoes are all you need. Symmetry and SW Couloirs are completely dry - even at the beginning of July we found axes unnecessary. |
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Completely dry approach means a lot less weight in the ole pack! |
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"Is the "small stream", just beyond the point where you leave the more established trail, easy to miss?" |
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Just did this climb a few days ago. No snow travel, just approach shoes. Took the boat across jenny lake at 7am. Last boat back is at 6pm. Even with the boat ride, its a long day because of the steep approach/descent that is often on somewhat loose rock at the top of the colour. The trail was pretty well defined, as described above. There is a spot where we scrambled up about 15 ft of rock wall on the approach. Its not hard to pick the trail back up after that point. The trail will keep taking u up to the top of the gulley, then finally cut across to the climbers right. There's a small pine tree by the start of the route. The actual climbing is fantastic. Have fun. |