Hello Climbers (this applies to basic students, basic grads, and intermediate students and grads),
I am considering leading a six day outing of the INSPIRATION GLACIER TRAVERSE from Thursday, July 22nd through Tuesday, July 27th. I wanted to make sure that there is enough interest within the club to fill the climb before I post it. This is a high alpine traverse through remote areas of North Cascades National Park. Potential summits that we would climb along the way include: Primus Peak, Tricouni Peak, Austera Peak, Klawatti Peak, Dorado Needle, and Eldorado Peak. The route is well described in Peggy Goldman's guidebook: Washington's Highest Mountains - Basic Alpine and Glacier Routes.
To let you know a few pertinent details about myself, I have been an active Seattle Mountaineers climb leader since 2001. I am drawn to the more remote climbs, especially high alpine traverses. I successfully led a 5-day outing with the Mountaineers that summitted Challenger in the northern Pickets. I have also led private outings of the Ptarmigan Traverse and the Bailey Traverse. I only mention these things to show my credentials for leading a multi-day outing.
Requirements for participants: I am not a fan of making climbs "Leader's Permission Only." I figure that only those who are up for the outing will inquire. I believe that experience with multi-day outings (such as previous backpacking experience) is more important than your level of climbing experience for this outing. That is why I am opening it up to current basic students as well as grads. However, I would strongly recommend that any participants have at least one glacier climb under their belt prior to commencing on this outing.
Such a trip requires vacation planning for most people. So if enough people show interest, I will post it for sign-up almost immediately. That way people can make plans accordingly. This is not a climb that I want people cancelling from at the last moment, so please be committed when you sign up. I want to keep the group somewhat small: 3 rope-leads and 3 basics (total of 6 people on the outing).
If you are interested or if you have any questions, please e-mail me at: RobertB.Brown@Seattle.Gov. Thank you, and see you in the mountains!
Rob Brown