Thursday, July 10, 2014

AMTL Part 3: Picket Traverse - Final Dispatch

Trip Dates: June 29 - July 10, 2014

Guide:
Alasdair Turner

Climbers:
Claysn Studer
Samuel Boyce

Update Received: July 9, 2014. Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership (AMTL) Part 3: Picket Traverse.

Everyone has made it out safely the evening of the 9th and are headed home. Everyone had a great experience traversing and exploring the range.

Alasdair is going to write up trip details with his photography and post it the AAI blog. Stay tuned for more details. 

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

AMTL Part 3: Picket Traverse - Dispatch 5

Trip Dates: June 29 - July 10, 2014

Guide:
Alasdair Turner

Climbers:
Claysn Studer
Samuel Boyce

Update Received: July 8, 2014 at 12:39pm PST. Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership (AMTL) Part 3: Picket Traverse.

Claysn, Samuel and Alsadair, were able to summit Luna Peak this morning.  They are beginning the long and arduous descent of 18 miles through brush, mosquitoes, and all the wonderful things that the North Cascades has to offer. They will heading out through Access Creek and will not have any reception until they get back to Bellingham.  Everyone is doing well! 


Photo courtesy of AAI Collection. 

Monday, July 7, 2014

AMTL Part 3: Picket Traverse - Dispatch 4

Trip Dates: June 29 - July 10, 2014

Guide:
Alasdair Turner

Climbers:
Claysn Studer
Samuel Boyce

Update Received: July 7, 2014 at 4:50pm PST. Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership (AMTL) Part 3: Picket Traverse. 

Calling in from Luna Col about 1200' below Luna Peak. Today they moved from a camp down in Luna Cirque and up 3000' elevation gain, a short day but a hard day. They plan to climb Luna Peak on the 8th. Beginning on the 9 they will start their hike out via Access Creek. They expect it will take two full bushwhacking and mosquito filled days to get out.


Photo courtesy of AAI Collection. 

AMTL Part 3: Picket Traverse - Dispatch 3

Trip Dates: June 29 - July 10, 2014

Guide:
Alasdair Turner

Climbers:
Claysn Studer
Samuel Boyce

Update Received: July 6, 2014. Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership (AMTL) Part 3: Picket Traverse. 

Sam called in with the update. Sunday morning the three woke up to thick fog limiting their ability to get up and going as early as they had hoped. Still under less than ideal temperatures they went up to the summit of Mt. Challenger.  On the descent down, Sam dropped his ice axe, which may lead to leading to some route plans changes to accommodate being down one tool.  The plan is a push for a summit of Luna Peak in the next few days if the the weather holds. They are camping in a basis below Mt. Fury.   

Photo courtesy of AAI Collection. 

AMTL Part 3: Picket Traverse - Dispatch 2

Trip Dates: June 29 - July 10, 2014

Guide:
Alasdair Turner

Climbers:
Claysn Studer
Samuel Boyce

Update Received: July 5, 2014. Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership (AMTL) Part 3: Picket Traverse. 

Alasdair called in from the base of Mt. Challenger the weather has been patchy the past few days so they've had to adjust their plans accordingly . Since their last update, they have moved from their bivy site on the North Ridge Mt. Whatcom and made a high traversed around Whatcom Peak on the Whatcom Glacier to Perfect Pass. They were also able to climb Whatcom Peak from the south side. From Perfect Pass they traversed around Eiley-Wiley Ridge where they will sit tight until the weather clears. The plan for the next move it to traverse Mt. Challenger down into Luna Creek. 



Photo Courtesy AAI Collection. 

Thursday, July 3, 2014

AMTL Part 3: Picket Traverse - Dispatch 1

Trip Dates: June 29 - July 10, 2014

Guide:
Alasdair Turner

Climbers:
Claysn Studer
Samuel Boyce

Update Received: July 3, 2014. 3:15pm PST. Alpine Mountaineering and Technical Leadership (AMTL) Part 3: Picket Traverse. Today the group checked in at the ranger's station at 8:00am before heading out to catch the boat at Ross Lake. After a quick ferry, they began their hike around 10:30am and were about 11 miles up the trail at the time they called in the dispatch. The plan is to go about 6.5 more miles to Whatcom Pass where they will set up camp for the night.