Last Updated: March 4, 2023



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  • Flute & Oboe - ski tour (March 2022)
  • Suicide Bluffs - snowshoe (April 2022)
  • Slalok Mountain - ski tour (April 2022)
  • Dam Mountain, Little Goat, Thunderbird Ridge - snowshoe (May 2022)
  • Leading Peak - hike/scramble (June 2022)
  • Camelshoof Mountain - hike (June 2022)
  • Askom Mountain - hike (June 2022)
  • Metal Dome - hike (July 2022)
  • Mount Sproatt - hike (July 2022)
  • Mission Ridge/Peak - hike (July 2022)
  • Harris Ridge & Nea Peak - hike (July 2022)
  • Three Brothers Mountain - hike (July 2022)
  • Zupjok, Llama & Alpaca Peaks - hike (July 2022)
  • Shulaps Mountain - hike/scramble (August 2022)
  • Mount Sheer & Ben More - hike/scramble (August 2022)
  • Cathedral Mountain - hike/scramble (August 2022)
  • Mount Penrose - hike/scramble (August 2022)
  • Caltha Peak - hike/scramble (September 2022)
  • Beauty Peak - hike (September 2022)
  • Markhor-Needle Traverse & Flatiron - hike/scramble (September 2022)
  • Conway Peak - hike (September 2022)
  • Green Mountain/Pk 2200 - hike/scramble (September 2022)
  • Mount Brew (Whistler) - hike (September 2022)
  • Mount Barbour - hike/scramble (October 2022)
  • Mount Gillespie - hike/scramble (October 2022)
  • Cougar Mountain - hike/scramble (October 2022)
  • Barn Bluff (Red Wing, MN) - hike (October 2022)
  • Mount Steele - hike/snowshoe (November 2022)
  • Hunter Lookout - hike (November 2022)
  • Belcarra Mountain - hike (November 2022)
  • Oyster Dome - hike (November 2022)
  • Mount Thom & Cilliwack Mountain/Hillkeep - hike (December 2022)
  • Frenchman Mountain (Las Vegas, NV) - hike (January 2023)
  • Rolley Peak/Lookout - hike (January 2023)
  • Round Mountain - ski tour (February 2023)
  • Blowdown Peak - ski tour (February 2023)
  • Silverdaisy Mountain - ski tour (March 2023)

*As of 03/07/2023


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| Featured Trip Report |



Last Updated: Mar. 25, 2002

Monte Cristo Peak - North Col (attempt), September 2001



Intrigued by the history behind the now virtually non-existent Monte Cristo townsite, I decided to experience the area for myself and climb the town's namesake peak located at the end of the valley. The route to Monte Cristo Peak involves a 4-mile bike ride from Barlow Pass to the old townsite. It used to be a mining mecca sometime in the late 1800's. Following natural and economic disasters, the town closed down in the early 20th century, leaving behind an eery collection of deserted shacks and mining equipment (some people still live up there today). With all the natural vegetation having reclaimed so much of what once was, it is hard to imagine that a town existed here at all. Frustrated by my previous failed attempt only less than a month earlier (poor weather), I returned to climb Monte Cristo. It was a crisp September morning when I arrived at Barlow Pass and started pedaling my bike. This time, I would encounter two others on bikes headed to Glacier Basin and a hiker whose destination was Blanca Lake. Aside from that, however, I would once again be completely alone.

The going up the loose rock/scree rib was worse than I had remembered. With the only remaining snow now locked deeply within the shady recesses up near the base of the summit, I spent most of my time scrambling up, over and around a crazy rock maze. Being already late September, the snow had turned to ice and had melted away from the walls of the main gully I was ascending, forming strange ice caverns and walls. I cut steps into the ice wall so that I could gain the main frozen snow ramp leading to the final scramble up the summit rocks. I carefully made my way up the steepening ice and became increasingly aware of the potential for serious injury should I loose my footing on the ice. (more...)

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