Route Climbed: Gooseneck Couloir via Titcomb Basin Date Climbed: August 2, 2005
Weather was atrocious....set off at 4 am, but might as well have slept in a few hours more. Snow conditions up Dinwoody Pass and on the glacier were excellent, but we roped up just for kicks. A few crevasses were easily avoided. The sun hit the peak gloriously a little after 5 and as soon as it did, a bank of clouds moved in to obscure it completely. Snowbridge was in good shape, snow nice and firm going up the couloir but not TOO firm. Couldn't see a damn thing on top...visibility was about 25 ft. It snowed and blew. It rained. Thunder rumbled and ice axes buzzed. It took us a bit under 11 hours round trip from upper Titcomb Basin, with the hardest stretch being the climb back UP to the pass from the Dinwoody side.
Route Climbed: Gooseneck via Bonney pass Date Climbed: July 24 2005
climbed from base camp at 10800 ft in titcomb via Bonney pass in clear conditions and very slushy snow on return. adjustment to altitude slowed us down to a total roundtrip of 17 hours. Bergschrund bridge was in, and people were glissading over it.
Route Climbed: Gooseneck Glacier from Elkhart Park Date Climbed: 6 Jul 2005
Left Elkhart on 4 July and packed in almost to Island Lake. There was only a couple of patches of snow all the way there, and most were avoidable. Above Island Lake there was a lot of soft and quickly melting snow into Titcomb Basin. We camped in upper Titcomb Basin the next day and rested the afternoon. We cramponed up Bonney Pass in the early morning on firm snow and continued across Dinwoody Glacier roped up. There were no crevasses visible on the way to Gannett. The snow softened up some as the day went on but it was mostly stable and we only broke through occasionally. The bergschrund was almost completely closed up so the couloir to the ridge was just a steep snow climb. From there it was almost entirely snow to the top. We made several glissades on the way down and decided to go back across the glaciers unroped. On our way back up Bonney Pass you could see some crevasses starting to crack on the surface, but they were still bridged by feet of snow. We hiked out the following day. On the way down from Photographers Point the mosquitos were swarming bad, but further in were pretty minimal. It took 13 hours from our camp to summit and return, and total time hiking was around 40 hours over four days.
Route Climbed: Gooseneck via Titcomb Basin and Bonney Pass Date Climbed: August 8, 2004
4 day solo trip from Elkhart Park. This mountain is big and beautiful. Weather was great, mosquitos ruled the evenings, and the nights belonged to the rodents.
I was surprised by the number of people on the approach and on the actual climb. Everyone was very pleasant and considerate, but I was expecting a little more solitude. There were fewer people on Mt. Hood the last time I climbed it (not exagerating)!
Titcomb basin is stunning but I wouldn't choose this approach if I wanted to climb Gannet again. Going down Bonney Pass at the end of the day was brutal.
Added August 2005: I have since tried the Glacier Trail approach from Dubois. While there is the possibility of an easier summit day, (depends where you make your high camp) overall this is significantly more difficult than the Titcomb Basin approach. I think next time I might try a "thru hike" from south to north.
Route Climbed: Titcomb/Gooseneck Date Climbed: July 12, 2004
Compared to an unsuccessful attempt last summer, this year's climb was much easier because we ascended almost all snow. No bergshrund yet, just steep punchy snow. In August '03 we attempted the climb and there was a lot of loose rock, rockfall, ice sections, and crevasses. The only trade-offs this year were mosquitoes and muddy conditions on the approach - but this was OK with us.
We turned back from atop Bonney in a 5 am storm on July 11th and probably could have waited it out, but we retreated and did the whole climb the next day under cloudless skies. We summitted by 9:15 am and got back in camp by 2 pm for a 12-hour day. This was less extreme than we'd anticipated from various trip reports.
We had outstanding guidance from two super-porters from the Teton Climbers' Ranch (Kevin Hogan and Charlie Gorski) 307-733-7271. They'd be interested in returning to the Winds to help others, too.
Route Climbed: Glacier Trail, Gooseneck Date Climbed: June 15, 2004
Headed out solo on the Glacier Trail (Dubois) on a windy Sunday, June 13th 2004. Arrived at end of the largely deserted Glacier Trail Monday afternoon in improving weather - Elk & Moose-with-calf all along the trail. I set up camp just across the river and after dinner scouted out an easy route over the snow into the upper basin which was still a frozen wasteland. The weather cleared/calmed overnight and morning was breaking as I crunched on up towards the mountain at 5am. It was easy traveling on the firm snow and I followed the standard route up onto the ridge at the Gooseneck. I could see no evidence of a 'schrund at all, but my axe did plunge all the way through near the top of the chute, so there it was...safely snowed over. For the remaining ridge climb to the summit I was freshtracking in snow all the way and hit the summit at 9am. There were some sphincter-pinching exposures here and there but I felt well protected with just the axe and crampons. I could see that Titcomb Basin was still frozen solid. After an hour on the summit enjoying incredible cloudless views (a cell phone connection is possible) I headed back down in hot slushy conditions, but with very little postholing. Cooked up some grub, broke camp, and headed back down the trail to where it breaks away from the river towards the Honeymoon Lake switchbacks to spend a 3rd night out. By Wednesday morning cold windy weather moved back in and it was snowing hard up on the plateau as I hotfooted it back down to the trailhead. Made it out at 4pm Wednesday, June16th. The trip offered everything I hoped for and more - June is surely the best time to climb this peak if you enjoy strenuous but totally straightforward true-wilderness snowclimbing.
Route Climbed: Pole Creek Trail Date Climbed: July 7, 2004
Looooooong day, but what a great climb! We camped below Helen Peak. Conditions were great and we were able to avoid the steep coulior. Highly enjoyable climb in some wild country!
Route Climbed: Ink Wells/Glacier Date Climbed: 7/00 and 7/01
We went in via Ink Wells and out on the Glacier trail. This was a great way to go, because there was more flexibility in case of bad weather. We went up a steep couloir that leads to Petzoldt ridge and down the standard route. It was a very exciting climb. We only stayed on top for about 5 minutes, because a storm was moving in from the West. The views from the summit were unbelievable!! Probably the best views of any summit in the lower 48. Contrary to some, I do not think Gannett is a walk up. It may not be the most technically challenging peak, but the snow slopes are steep and when we were there we encountered some solid ice on some of the steeper sections. We also saw several crevasses that were opened up. The weather and altitude can also make this peak challenging. I recommend crampons, ice axe and a rope if the conditions warrant it. Basically, if the snow is hard and icy, the difficulty level really goes up. On our 2001 trip we encountered a mother bear and a cub on the trail. They came within 50 feet, but they hardly even looked at us. We also saw a bear on our 2000 trip.
7/14/17- 16 years to the day of my first Gannet summit, Craig Lloyd and I did Gannett in a "day" from Elkhart through Titcomb. Made a gnarly descent of Bonney Pass at midnight. Snow was icing up and we were tired from the long day.
Route Climbed: Titcomb Basin, Bonney Pass, Gooseneck Glacier Date Climbed: July 31, 2004
Went alone this time. Stayed at Seneca Lake one night then hiked to upper Titcomb and camped at 10.980'. Climbed Winnifred Peak on friday, and Gannett on Saturday. This place has gotten very, very busy. Many people coming and going. It has degraded the experience.
Route Climbed: Titcomb Basin/Bonney Pass/Gooseneck Glacier Date Climbed: June 23, 2000
Early season, very wet. Plenty of skeetrs down low but none at higher elevations. Camped right at the snowline at lower Titcomb Lake. Made an attempt on Mt Helen that got turned around due to storm. The following day we got a 4am start for Gannett. Icy up to the Bonney pass. Good firn snow on the upper Gooseneck. Made the summit by noon. Long, hot, wet trek bck accross the glacier and up to Bonney pass, excellent glissade back down to the Titcomb basin. Great trip, beautiful area.
After our exciting Spring break (we summit Mt. Rainier in the winter conditions) most of our climbing friends agreed upon the trip to Wyoming where we were planning to reach the highest point Gannett Peak (13,804 ft) which part of the Wind River Range. After 18 drive to PIndale we had a two day hike ahead of us. The hike was pretty straightforward up to the point when we hit the Bolder Field. Scrambling through the big rocks with a heavy backpack could be quite physical. Finally on the next day we reached the flats right before the huge rock "circle". On the summit we decided to go straight on the rock clif instead of going around it from the glassie side (exploration of the new route). After couple hours of climb we realize that we climbed on the wall that is separated from the summit. We get back safely. I was a little bit disappointed. However overall i enjoyed the trip.
Route Climbed: Upper Titcomb/Dinwoody/Goosneck Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2001/Aug 31, 1993
I climbed it first from upper Titcomb, 8 years later from Dinwoody (Bonny) Pass. I suggest you take minimum gear up Dinwoody and spend the night there. The climb is a lot more fun starting fresh in daylight than after a gruelling 2 hour climb up Dinwoody in the dark. We summitted in 4 hours! Climbing it with my son in 2001 has been one of the high points of my life.
Route Climbed: Dinwoody Pass, Gooseneck Ridge Date Climbed: August 1992
We used parts of three days to reach our base camp between Titcomb Lakes and Dinwoody Pass. On summit day the entire party set off at 5:45AM. One of the party was not able to keep up the kind of pace required for so big a day, so she turned around and went back with her companion after reaching Dinwoody Pass. But by that time we had lost much time and we worried not only about afternoon thunderheads but also of evening darkness. There was much bare ice on the crossing to Gooseneck Ridge. The climb of the ridge was uneventful except at one spot where we found more bare ice and had a few anxious steps without putting on our crampons. On the summit ridge not 500 feet from the top Leon petered out. We couldn't talk him into trying unfortunately. So three of us went on without him. The thunderclouds never materialized, much to our joy! On the way down off the ridge on a rather steep slope with not very deep snow over the rock-hard ice I was leading down toward a crevasse and couldn't keep my footing, arresting several times. During tte last arrest my crampons caught my pants and ripped them wide open, but happily my skin wasn't touched! Duane then backed down with his plastic boots reinforcing the front points, kicking great steps in the process. We all easily downclimbed in the steps. Then came the real test, climbing back up over Dinwoody Pass and then down the other side. We were all totally bushed by the time we reached the bottom of the steeper part of the climb to the pass. Every step up that slope seemed impossible. Once on top it was getting very late and we needed to carefully rush down to the bottom of the valley before dark for maximum safety. We had no time to spare and donned our headlamps as soon as the terrain leveled out. Then how would we find our camp in the dark? I led through the maze of boulders to the main valley, then kept what seemed to be about the right distance from the river on the right and the wall on the left, and amazingly we walked right into camp in that vast valley. Next morning we slept long and well, then spent the entire morning eating and packing up. It was exhaustion at its best! :-)
mr kieran - Aug 6, 2005 5:51 pm
Route Climbed: Gooseneck Couloir via Titcomb Basin Date Climbed: August 2, 2005Weather was atrocious....set off at 4 am, but might as well have slept in a few hours more. Snow conditions up Dinwoody Pass and on the glacier were excellent, but we roped up just for kicks. A few crevasses were easily avoided. The sun hit the peak gloriously a little after 5 and as soon as it did, a bank of clouds moved in to obscure it completely. Snowbridge was in good shape, snow nice and firm going up the couloir but not TOO firm. Couldn't see a damn thing on top...visibility was about 25 ft. It snowed and blew. It rained. Thunder rumbled and ice axes buzzed. It took us a bit under 11 hours round trip from upper Titcomb Basin, with the hardest stretch being the climb back UP to the pass from the Dinwoody side.
mheifets - Aug 1, 2005 3:41 pm
Route Climbed: Gooseneck via Bonney pass Date Climbed: July 24 2005climbed from base camp at 10800 ft in titcomb via Bonney pass in clear conditions and very slushy snow on return. adjustment to altitude slowed us down to a total roundtrip of 17 hours. Bergschrund bridge was in, and people were glissading over it.
Michael and Solomon Heifets
bc44caesar - Jul 9, 2005 1:51 pm
Route Climbed: Gooseneck Glacier from Elkhart Park Date Climbed: 6 Jul 2005Left Elkhart on 4 July and packed in almost to Island Lake. There was only a couple of patches of snow all the way there, and most were avoidable. Above Island Lake there was a lot of soft and quickly melting snow into Titcomb Basin. We camped in upper Titcomb Basin the next day and rested the afternoon. We cramponed up Bonney Pass in the early morning on firm snow and continued across Dinwoody Glacier roped up. There were no crevasses visible on the way to Gannett. The snow softened up some as the day went on but it was mostly stable and we only broke through occasionally. The bergschrund was almost completely closed up so the couloir to the ridge was just a steep snow climb. From there it was almost entirely snow to the top. We made several glissades on the way down and decided to go back across the glaciers unroped. On our way back up Bonney Pass you could see some crevasses starting to crack on the surface, but they were still bridged by feet of snow. We hiked out the following day. On the way down from Photographers Point the mosquitos were swarming bad, but further in were pretty minimal. It took 13 hours from our camp to summit and return, and total time hiking was around 40 hours over four days.
Chinese Rock - Feb 24, 2005 2:07 am
Route Climbed: Gooseneck Ridge Date Climbed: July 2001I've done this route toghether with Serge Ray. The snow couloir was in great condition. We were the only people on the mountain that day.
EC Ryder - Jan 17, 2005 6:54 pm
Route Climbed: Gooseneck Glacier Date Climbed: August 1993After 3+ days camped on glacier in blizzard conditions, made it to the top on a beautiful clear day
Paul Burkholder - Aug 11, 2004 2:53 pm
Route Climbed: Gooseneck via Titcomb Basin and Bonney Pass Date Climbed: August 8, 20044 day solo trip from Elkhart Park. This mountain is big and beautiful. Weather was great, mosquitos ruled the evenings, and the nights belonged to the rodents.
I was surprised by the number of people on the approach and on the actual climb. Everyone was very pleasant and considerate, but I was expecting a little more solitude. There were fewer people on Mt. Hood the last time I climbed it (not exagerating)!
Titcomb basin is stunning but I wouldn't choose this approach if I wanted to climb Gannet again. Going down Bonney Pass at the end of the day was brutal.
Added August 2005: I have since tried the Glacier Trail approach from Dubois. While there is the possibility of an easier summit day, (depends where you make your high camp) overall this is significantly more difficult than the Titcomb Basin approach. I think next time I might try a "thru hike" from south to north.
TeeLee - Jul 21, 2004 12:35 pm
Route Climbed: Titcomb/Gooseneck Date Climbed: July 12, 2004Compared to an unsuccessful attempt last summer, this year's climb was much easier because we ascended almost all snow. No bergshrund yet, just steep punchy snow. In August '03 we attempted the climb and there was a lot of loose rock, rockfall, ice sections, and crevasses. The only trade-offs this year were mosquitoes and muddy conditions on the approach - but this was OK with us.
We turned back from atop Bonney in a 5 am storm on July 11th and probably could have waited it out, but we retreated and did the whole climb the next day under cloudless skies. We summitted by 9:15 am and got back in camp by 2 pm for a 12-hour day. This was less extreme than we'd anticipated from various trip reports.
We had outstanding guidance from two super-porters from the Teton Climbers' Ranch (Kevin Hogan and Charlie Gorski) 307-733-7271. They'd be interested in returning to the Winds to help others, too.
ranjack - Jul 13, 2004 7:01 pm
Route Climbed: Glacier Trail, Gooseneck Date Climbed: June 15, 2004Headed out solo on the Glacier Trail (Dubois) on a windy Sunday, June 13th 2004. Arrived at end of the largely deserted Glacier Trail Monday afternoon in improving weather - Elk & Moose-with-calf all along the trail. I set up camp just across the river and after dinner scouted out an easy route over the snow into the upper basin which was still a frozen wasteland. The weather cleared/calmed overnight and morning was breaking as I crunched on up towards the mountain at 5am. It was easy traveling on the firm snow and I followed the standard route up onto the ridge at the Gooseneck. I could see no evidence of a 'schrund at all, but my axe did plunge all the way through near the top of the chute, so there it was...safely snowed over. For the remaining ridge climb to the summit I was freshtracking in snow all the way and hit the summit at 9am. There were some sphincter-pinching exposures here and there but I felt well protected with just the axe and crampons. I could see that Titcomb Basin was still frozen solid. After an hour on the summit enjoying incredible cloudless views (a cell phone connection is possible) I headed back down in hot slushy conditions, but with very little postholing. Cooked up some grub, broke camp, and headed back down the trail to where it breaks away from the river towards the Honeymoon Lake switchbacks to spend a 3rd night out. By Wednesday morning cold windy weather moved back in and it was snowing hard up on the plateau as I hotfooted it back down to the trailhead. Made it out at 4pm Wednesday, June16th. The trip offered everything I hoped for and more - June is surely the best time to climb this peak if you enjoy strenuous but totally straightforward true-wilderness snowclimbing.
Dave K - Jul 10, 2004 9:36 pm
Route Climbed: Pole Creek Trail Date Climbed: July 7, 2004Looooooong day, but what a great climb! We camped below Helen Peak. Conditions were great and we were able to avoid the steep coulior. Highly enjoyable climb in some wild country!
Scott Wesemann - Jun 10, 2004 12:55 am
Route Climbed: Ink Wells/Glacier Date Climbed: 7/00 and 7/01We went in via Ink Wells and out on the Glacier trail. This was a great way to go, because there was more flexibility in case of bad weather. We went up a steep couloir that leads to Petzoldt ridge and down the standard route. It was a very exciting climb. We only stayed on top for about 5 minutes, because a storm was moving in from the West. The views from the summit were unbelievable!! Probably the best views of any summit in the lower 48. Contrary to some, I do not think Gannett is a walk up. It may not be the most technically challenging peak, but the snow slopes are steep and when we were there we encountered some solid ice on some of the steeper sections. We also saw several crevasses that were opened up. The weather and altitude can also make this peak challenging. I recommend crampons, ice axe and a rope if the conditions warrant it. Basically, if the snow is hard and icy, the difficulty level really goes up. On our 2001 trip we encountered a mother bear and a cub on the trail. They came within 50 feet, but they hardly even looked at us. We also saw a bear on our 2000 trip.
7/14/17- 16 years to the day of my first Gannet summit, Craig Lloyd and I did Gannett in a "day" from Elkhart through Titcomb. Made a gnarly descent of Bonney Pass at midnight. Snow was icing up and we were tired from the long day.
mtn runr - May 17, 2004 9:45 pm
Route Climbed: Titcomb Basin, Bonney Pass, Gooseneck Glacier Date Climbed: July 31, 2004Went alone this time. Stayed at Seneca Lake one night then hiked to upper Titcomb and camped at 10.980'. Climbed Winnifred Peak on friday, and Gannett on Saturday. This place has gotten very, very busy. Many people coming and going. It has degraded the experience.
crag - Jan 23, 2004 1:53 pm
Route Climbed: Titcomb Basin/Bonney Pass/Gooseneck Glacier Date Climbed: June 23, 2000Early season, very wet. Plenty of skeetrs down low but none at higher elevations. Camped right at the snowline at lower Titcomb Lake. Made an attempt on Mt Helen that got turned around due to storm. The following day we got a 4am start for Gannett. Icy up to the Bonney pass. Good firn snow on the upper Gooseneck. Made the summit by noon. Long, hot, wet trek bck accross the glacier and up to Bonney pass, excellent glissade back down to the Titcomb basin. Great trip, beautiful area.
grandwazoo - Jun 30, 2003 12:07 pm
Route Climbed: Ink Wells - Gooseneck Date Climbed: August 10 2002Went across the Indian Reservation to save two days, we were heading to Granite after.
tonybell1 - Feb 26, 2003 6:23 pm
Route Climbed: Titcomb to Dunwoody to Gooseneck Date Climbed: July 20, 1989Dunwoody Pass was high, after which a substantial climb down to the glacier was required and then back up again to get to the summit
Zhenya77 - Jan 23, 2003 8:57 pm
Route Climbed: Date Climbed: August 10, 2001After our exciting Spring break (we summit Mt. Rainier in the winter conditions) most of our climbing friends agreed upon the trip to Wyoming where we were planning to reach the highest point Gannett Peak (13,804 ft) which part of the Wind River Range. After 18 drive to PIndale we had a two day hike ahead of us. The hike was pretty straightforward up to the point when we hit the Bolder Field. Scrambling through the big rocks with a heavy backpack could be quite physical. Finally on the next day we reached the flats right before the huge rock "circle". On the summit we decided to go straight on the rock clif instead of going around it from the glassie side (exploration of the new route). After couple hours of climb we realize that we climbed on the wall that is separated from the summit. We get back safely. I was a little bit disappointed. However overall i enjoyed the trip.
rmjwinters - Oct 5, 2002 9:36 pm
Route Climbed: Titcomb to Dinwoody to Gooseneck Date Climbed: August 26 1999Long day from Titcomb Basin. Climbed glacier direct left of Gooseneck. Ascended 55 degree chute to ridge. Great summit.
RCDeming - May 22, 2002 7:36 pm
Route Climbed: Upper Titcomb/Dinwoody/Goosneck Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2001/Aug 31, 1993I climbed it first from upper Titcomb, 8 years later from Dinwoody (Bonny) Pass. I suggest you take minimum gear up Dinwoody and spend the night there. The climb is a lot more fun starting fresh in daylight than after a gruelling 2 hour climb up Dinwoody in the dark. We summitted in 4 hours! Climbing it with my son in 2001 has been one of the high points of my life.
PS: This mountain scares me every time I see it.
Bob Bolton - Dec 19, 2001 9:32 pm
Route Climbed: Dinwoody Pass, Gooseneck Ridge Date Climbed: August 1992We used parts of three days to reach our base camp between Titcomb Lakes and Dinwoody Pass. On summit day the entire party set off at 5:45AM. One of the party was not able to keep up the kind of pace required for so big a day, so she turned around and went back with her companion after reaching Dinwoody Pass. But by that time we had lost much time and we worried not only about afternoon thunderheads but also of evening darkness. There was much bare ice on the crossing to Gooseneck Ridge. The climb of the ridge was uneventful except at one spot where we found more bare ice and had a few anxious steps without putting on our crampons. On the summit ridge not 500 feet from the top Leon petered out. We couldn't talk him into trying unfortunately. So three of us went on without him. The thunderclouds never materialized, much to our joy! On the way down off the ridge on a rather steep slope with not very deep snow over the rock-hard ice I was leading down toward a crevasse and couldn't keep my footing, arresting several times. During tte last arrest my crampons caught my pants and ripped them wide open, but happily my skin wasn't touched! Duane then backed down with his plastic boots reinforcing the front points, kicking great steps in the process. We all easily downclimbed in the steps. Then came the real test, climbing back up over Dinwoody Pass and then down the other side. We were all totally bushed by the time we reached the bottom of the steeper part of the climb to the pass. Every step up that slope seemed impossible. Once on top it was getting very late and we needed to carefully rush down to the bottom of the valley before dark for maximum safety. We had no time to spare and donned our headlamps as soon as the terrain leveled out. Then how would we find our camp in the dark? I led through the maze of boulders to the main valley, then kept what seemed to be about the right distance from the river on the right and the wall on the left, and amazingly we walked right into camp in that vast valley. Next morning we slept long and well, then spent the entire morning eating and packing up. It was exhaustion at its best! :-)