9.4 km to summit
20.7 km total
1,754 m start
3,226 m max
1,690 m gain
5 hr 26 min to summit
13 hr 34 min total
Collier - Pope's Peak traverse
20.75km with 1,963m gain in 13.5 hours car-to-car
Collier Peak
via SW ridge; PD+, low 5th class as described in David Jones' "Rockies Central" book, no surprises there
"Unnamed" (in the book or GR1074271)
via South Buttress; according to the book, supposed to be "PD, low 5th". In fact, was the most technical part of the traverse with a few steps of 5.5-5.6 moves.
Pope's Peak
a pleasant and mostly solid scramble from the "Unnamed". A descent via North glacier / NE Ridge. Advertised as "PD+, low-5h" and "one 30m rappel ... to the north glacier". Well, we did 4 30m raps: two full, one short and the last depends on where you want to land on the glacier; also on two of the raps, there were spots with negative (overhanding) features. Either way, that was more than advertised.
Exit via a hanging valley above Ross Lake is heinous and with bushwhacking off Narao shoulder.
routefinding, stream crossing, bushwhacking, rockfall/loose rock, snow on route, avalanche danger, crevasse danger, weather
ice axe, crampons, helmet, rope/harness, climbing rack, trekking poles, mountaineering boots, GPS device