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Van, BC
Canada
2797 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2012 : 6:21 PM
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Photoset:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/sets/72157629809821638/
A RamblingBull planned and executed ascent of Shawatum, via obvious rib between two stream courses on the west side, to gain the west ridge.
Elevation Profile:
Google Earth birdseye:
 
Google Earth 3d:
We met up not too early Saturday morning (long daylight hours and all) and set off for the Skagit Valley. Being a long weekend, pretty much every pullout was filled with long weekend campers. Many redneck types, including the asshat on a quad who was racing a motorbike two abreast. Yay traction control keeping me on the road when I had to swerve when he came around a blind corner.
A comment about the Skagit road. It must have been a bad winter - evidence of many creeks overflowing their banks and debris flows that had crossed the road. The road now has seen lots and lots of work - essentially no potholes or washboard sections at all. Very loose though, and probably the dustiest road I've ever seen. Also, just after km11, one of those washouts/debris flows isn't 100% fixed. By that, I mean that there are two stream braids that are crossing the road, sans culverts. Actually a decent amount of water, and a good dip in the road for the stream. That said, it's well graded, and considering the number of 2wd cars we saw on the far side, it probably won't cause many people many problems.
Anywho, we parked at almost exactly km50 of the Skagit road (I'm measuring from the Flood Hope Road turnoff, not where the road turns to gravel). As mentioned, we were aiming to ascent the obvious rib between two creek gullies on the west flank of the mountain. Enough room to pull over off the road in this stretch. (And get my car absolutely covered in dust from the dusty road.)
Little I can say about the ascent through the trees will help those coming after us. It's a bushwack. You pick the best route, always heading up. Do your best.
The first stretch is still in the valley and is quite flat. We randomly came across a series of pink flags (looked pretty new) that was generally going in our direction, so we followed that for a while. It eventually ended, and we just kept going.
What's to say about the bushwack? It was a bushwack. Some stretches of blowdown, forcing us to go up/around/under/over. Some stretches of small but thick deciduous trees to push through and that would claw at you and hold you back as you tried to move uphill. Some absolutely pleasant stretches with little to no understory (too few, in my opinion). Where possible, we found and followed game trails to make the going a bit easier.
On the way up we ended up mostly to climbers left on the rib; on the way back, we ended up more in the middle. RB's unedited GPS track to give you an idea:
Finally, after about 3 hours of that annoyance, we hit snowline and were soon in the subalpine. Travel was much easier on the snow, which was near perfect for bootpacking. As we got higher, the views opened up a bit below us.
Ross Lake and end of Skagit Valley:
Panorama - subalpine views:
Google Earth 3d - alpine and ridge:
We were aiming for the west ridge, which from the topos didn't look too bad for access to the summit. Once we saw it though, we noted an unexpected series of bluffs to get on the ridge. There was an obvious snow gully/ramp that seemed to afford good access though, so we made for that.
Marek ascending - we went up the notch towards the left side of the cliffs:
RB lead up - taking a quick rock scramble on the left (only class 2, but moderate exposure I thought) bypassing the first 1/3 of the ramp and getting on good snow after that. Snow conditions were perfect for bootpacking up, and in no time we got on top of that stretch. (On the way down to bypass the rock scramble I followed the snow ramp on ascenders right all the way down - the last perhaps 40 degree slope was again easy thanks to excellent snow).
Turning right, we then went up and over a short steep non-overhanging cornice to get on the ridge proper. We stayed to our right, to avoid the obvious weak (see cracks!) cornices on the north.
Section of the cornice having fallen, causing we snow avalanche below:
Following the ridge:
Mind the edge:
 
The final kick before the summit was a steeper (~35 degrees probably) part, but again was tackled easily thanks to excellent snow conditions:
Topping out on that, we were at the summit radio repeater, about 5 hours, 15 min after we started:
A word of caution: the repeater is pretty much at the northern edge of the summit - any further and you're at a cliff - and it's difficult to tell if, like us, there are large snow cornices extending that way!
There was about a 1m deep moat around the repeater, so we went into that to sit down out of the wind to rest and fuel up and take pics.
Video 360 panorama:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/7231959828/in/photostream
Summit panorama:
Unnamed prominence to the east of the summit:
Zoom on Devil's Thumb:
Zoom on Hozomeen:
Zoom on Ross Lake (no water in Canada):
Zoom on Silvertip and Ridout:
The wind had picked up and it wasn't terribly sunny, so we didn't linger long and set off on our way back.
RB downclimbs that last steepish bit:
RB and the ridge back:
RB and the valley below:
With good slopes and snow, I chose to buttslide as much as I could. Made for a much quicker descent (and easier on my knees), but a much colder ass:
RB decided to give it a try. Video:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realaworld/7231958148/in/photostream
As mentioned above, we stuck more to the middle of the rib on the descent and found the bushwacking somewhat easier than our ascent. Of course, we had gravity on our side this time, which always helps.
In a pleasant section of bushwack, enjoying the evening light:
Deer in the buswack:
Back at the extremely dusty car with plenty of time to spare before sunset. All in all a great day on a mountain that doesn't see much action.
-Ryan
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Sunnyvale Trailer Park
Canada
1089 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2012 : 7:31 PM
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| Good trip guys, I'm quite interested in Shawatum, and like you say, not much action going on there. |
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965 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2012 : 7:38 PM
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quote:
[i]Section of the cornice having fallen, causing we snow avalanche below:
Is the shot above looking down the north gully between the main summit and the one to the east? (i.e. the one you referred to as the unnamed prominence.)
Rhododendrons in flower yet? |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1114 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2012 : 8:30 PM
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Great Trip! Silvertip looks pretty sweet in that shot.
Buttsliding in crampons...isn't that against rule #17 subsection 3B in the mountaineering manual? |
Edited by - thecamel on 05/20/2012 8:49 PM |
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Van, BC
Canada
2797 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2012 : 9:47 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Stoked
quote:
[i]Section of the cornice having fallen, causing we snow avalanche below:
Is the shot above looking down the north gully between the main summit and the one to the east? (i.e. the one you referred to as the unnamed prominence.)
Rhododendrons in flower yet?
That's looking down off the north side, but not the gully between the main and the unnamed. It's straight off the north side of the west ridge.
No flowers at all to speak of.
-Ryan
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Hope, BC
Canada
7100 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2012 : 10:03 PM
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Nice report and awesome pics of the area, especially Ross Lake from above. I absolutely love the Skagit Valley area, it is only a few minutes from me.
This shot is cool!
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Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
5372 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2012 : 10:22 PM
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Nice choice, good form.  Well done gentlemen.
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156 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2012 : 10:07 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Stoked
quote:
[i]Section of the cornice having fallen, causing we snow avalanche below:
Is the shot above looking down the north gully between the main summit and the one to the east? (i.e. the one you referred to as the unnamed prominence.)
Rhododendrons in flower yet?
The rhodos typically don't flower til 2nd week of June (ish) |
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965 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2012 : 11:27 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by leftcoaster81
quote:
Originally posted by Stoked
quote:
[i]Section of the cornice having fallen, causing we snow avalanche below:
Is the shot above looking down the north gully between the main summit and the one to the east? (i.e. the one you referred to as the unnamed prominence.)
Rhododendrons in flower yet?
The rhodos typically don't flower til 2nd week of June (ish)
Yep, that must have been when we did Shawatum. They were in bloom. |
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Peak bagging, bushwhacking, zamboni driving, snowshoeing, self portrait artist, and speed demon who loves to hang out on Mt. Seymour
4001 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2012 : 12:27 PM
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| Good to see that Plan A panned out. Solid trip. |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
1005 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2012 : 3:45 PM
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| It seems you finally got some control of that rambling bull...I guess the talk of a leash set him straight. : ) |
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Shawatum Mountain - 2012-05-19
