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A Walk in The Park
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A Walk In The Park 

A Walk In The Park 

5.6

   
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FA: Richard Rossiter, 11 August 2009
New Route: Yes
Type: Trad, Alpine
Consensus: 5.6 [details]
Length:  Grade IV
Season: Late July to early September
Views: 246 page views

Submitted By: Richard Rossiter on Oct 6, 2009


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BETA PHOTO: Tower Two, Tower One (Keyboard of the Winds) and t...


Description 

This ultra marathon spans (counter clockwise) the entire rim of Glacier Gorge traversing 8 summits in perhaps 13 miles. The 7 towers along the Keyboard of the Winds are not climbed. Begin at the Glacier Gorge Bus Stop. Take the Glacier Gorge Trail and ascend the Regular Route on Thatchtop. Traverse the summit and gain the Continental Divide via the Northeast Ridge of Powell Peak. Traverse Powell Peak and descend into McHenrys Notch. Climb east out of the notch (5.5, 300 feet) and traverse McHenrys Peak (Northwest Ridge/Stone Man Ridge), Chiefs Head Peak (Northwest Ridge/East Ridge), Pagoda Mountain (Northwest Face/East Ridge), Longs Peak (Southwest Ridge/Keyhole Ridge), Storm Peak and finally Half Mountain. Descend a talus gully on the northwest side of Half Mountain and regain the Glacier Gorge Trail at Mills Lake. Run the final 2.5 miles back to the GG Bus Stop. This is a very long and demanding circuit with various challenges beyond sheer endurance such as the Northeast Ridge of Powell Peak, McHenrys Notch, the Northwest Face of Pagoda Mountain and the south ridge of The Dark Tower. The descent of the Keyhole Ridge is not trivial. Best time to date: 13 hours, R. Rossiter, 11 August 2009. I am just an old guy. Someone younger and faster could probably do this in half the time.


Location 

This spectacular outing follows the complete rim of Glacier Gorge and tops every summit except the towers along the Keyboard of the Winds.


Protection 

Free solo. If you need a rope and a partner, you can forget about it. You don't have time to eat much less belay.



Photos of A Walk In The Park Slideshow Add Photo
A Walk In The Park begins with the Regular Route on Thatchtop Mountain. This view looks down the key second gully (of the Regular Route) to the Loch Vale Trail, whereas one leaves easy hiking behind for a very long way.

A Walk In The Park begins with the Regular Route o...

This view is to the north from McHenry's Notch. The col between Powell Peak and Thatchtop Mountain is in the middle distance. The Mummy Range is on the horizon.

BETA PHOTO: This view is to the north from McHenry's Notch. Th...

This is the summit of McHenry's Peak shot across McHenry's Notch from Powell Peak. Long's Peak is on the left, Chiefs Head Peak is on the right.

This is the summit of McHenry's Peak shot across M...

This is the summit of McHenry's Peak, looking ahead to Chiefs Head Peak, Pagoda Mountain and Long's Peak. Mount Meeker looms in the background to the right of Long's Peak.

BETA PHOTO: This is the summit of McHenry's Peak, looking ahea...

Self portrait atop Pagoda Mountain with yet a long row to hoe.

Self portrait atop Pagoda Mountain with yet a long...

This view is to the northwest, looking down the Keyhole Ridge. Storm Peak and the long north ridge of Longs Peak appear to the right.

This view is to the northwest, looking down the K...

USGS Bench Mark, summit of Long's Peak.

BETA PHOTO: USGS Bench Mark, summit of Long's Peak.

This shot is from the summit of Half Mountain looking back whence I came up the very long north ridge of Long's Peak. To the right is the Keyboard of the Winds, Pagoda Mountain and Chiefs Head Peak. As you can see it is rather late in the day and it is still a long way back to the car.

BETA PHOTO: This shot is from the summit of Half Mountain look...