Type: Trad, Alpine, Grade III
FA: unknown
Page Views: 7,537 total · 42/month
Shared By: Doug Hemken on Aug 14, 2009
Admins: Mike Snyder, Taylor Spiegelberg, Jake Dickerson

You & This Route


12 Opinions
Your To-Do List: Add To-Do ·
Your Star Rating:
Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty Rating:
-none- Change
Your Ticks:Add New Tick
-none-
Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

Description Suggest change

Overall, this route presents a little less 4th class and much more solid rock than the standard SW Couloir. If I were peak bagging (which I was the day I did it), I would prefer the East Ridge.

The crux is either gaining the East Ridge, or descending via the SW Couloir (you could also descend via the East Ridge). Jackson & Ortenberger describe heading up toward the base of Symmetry, then traversing left on a ledge system. Instead, I headed up the rocks for the lowest trees between Sam's Throne and the East Ridge (4th class, cleaned up some rap slings). It also looks possible to scramble up a loose, dirty gully from near the mouth of the Cube Point/Sam's Throne gully.

Once you gain the ridge, W of Sam's Throne, scramble to the summit via easy 3rd class.

Location Suggest change

Follow the NPS-maintained (but undocumented) trail from the NW side of Jenny Lake up past Ribbon Cascade to Hanging Canyon. From the boulders near Arrowhead Lake, head for the col between Sam's Throne (the pinnacle W of Cube Point) and Symmetry Spire.

Protection Suggest change

A good pair of hiking boots or shoes. You may want an axe if you descend via the SW Couloir and it still holds snow.

Photos

loading