Pete Vogt - Mt. Challenger
July 15 - 18, 2008
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| After two successful trips into the wild and
remote Pickett range over the last several years, Pete Vogt
joined Larry for the last major summit in the Picketts that
they had yet to explore; Mt Challenger. |
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| After riding the water taxi up Ross lake
to the Big Beaver trailhead, they began the 15 mile hike
to Beaver pass. The hike is largely through old growth
forest, and while extremely beautiful, is also extremely
long. |
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| Around mile 13 we were treated to our
first glimpse of the mountain through a break in the trees.
Still a long way away, our destination now seemed real. |
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| After spending the night at Beaver pass,
we began the morning of day two with several thousand
feet of steep off-trail travel. |
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| We finally broke out above treeline
and were rewarded with great views and easy travel. |
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| We took lunch and stripped off the long
pants that we only needed to protect us from the brush.
Here Pete stands in front of the amazing Luna Cirque. |
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| We continued up Wiley ridge toward Challenger,
via mostly snow travel. The weather could not have been
nicer. |
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| Our camp for the night was right up there
among the nicest campsites I have ever experienced in
the mountains. Dry ground, nearby water, a 360 degree
view and Mt Challenger close by, all combined to make
a most memorable evening. |
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| Luna Cirque, with Mt. Fury being the
tallest peak on the ridge and the McMillan Spires poking
up on the far left. |
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| Challenger as seen from our camp. The
route follows the prominent rib up the center of the glacier,
turns left and then climbs a final 50' of steep rock to
a tiny summit. |
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| We started early the day and had to climb
up and over Pt 7374 before dropping onto the Challenger
glacier. Here Pete climbs low on the glacier as the sun
breaks over the horizon. |
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| Higher on the glacier another perfect
day emerges. |
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| The route is capped with a short pitch
of steep rock climbing. Thankfully all protection is fixed
and the rock is quite solid. |
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| The views from the top were amazing
in every direction. To the west were Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan. |
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| Among the most impressive views is the
striking North Buttress of Mt Triumph. |
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| We made our way back down the glacier,
up and over Pt 7374, and back to camp. We were sad to
have to break camp so soon and begin the walk back along
Wiley ridge, and then, the dreaded bushwhack back to Beaver
pass. |
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| Another 15 miles of easy trail hiking
(in our tennies thankfully!) brought us back to the dock
and our rendezvous with the water taxi. Here Pete's smile
belies the fact that we still have a short but steep hike
from the lake up to our car. Luckily, a quick dip in the
lake and the satisfaction of an amazing 4 days kept us
smiling the whole way. |
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