The chimney system, starting in the shaded dihedra...
Description
Probably 6 pitches total if all pitches are roped. We roped up for 3 pitches, all squeeze chimney climbing P1 M4, P2 and 3 M1-2ish, P4 M4+, P5 M4+, P6 M2ish. P1 starts in the large dihedral at the head of the cirque and takes the left branch. The dihedral starts M2-3 and ends in a heel toe squeeze chimney M4, full 60 meter pitch. Pitches 2 and 3 wander mostly on snow with occasional headwalls to the base of the dark ugly chimney visible from the base M2? P4 is strenuous chimneying with small gear and hooks on the left wall M4+. P5 starts at the base of the next obvious dark and slightly overhanging squeeze chimney, there was a wee bit of ice here for us, but not screw worthy M4+. P4 and 5 may combine. P6 is easy mixed to obvious scrambling terrain up a short gully M2? From the top of the gully the descent couloir to sky pond is impossible to miss, head north. Some unreal chimney/squeeze on this route if you like that sort of thing.
Location
ENE face of Powell Peak at the far end of the cirque separating Thatchtop and Arrowhead. Obvious chimney system splitting the westernmost part of the cirque. Descend a couloir dropping North to Sky Pond.
Protection
Single rack to a #4, no big gear required despite the amount of chimney, offwidth. Twin or double ropes handy for all the pack hauling. No fixed gear found on our ascent, KBs and Bugaboos come in handy.
RSS Feed
Slideshow
