Route Climbed: North slopes Date Climbed: June 19, 2005
My intention was to climb DT from Aasgard quickly and be down before the afternoon thunderstorms hit the mountains. I always hear horror stories about hiking to Aasgard pass but there was a decent path from Colchuck lake to the pass so made good time. Snow on the glacier was very soft and some point release debris were visible but it was very straightforward. Finally caught up with a very fast paced climber, Jeff, on the summit. It was still around 10 and he suggested to climb Witches Tower and Little Annapurna. So we first went down the south ridge of DT and off the ridge steep soft snow on to the south side of Witches tower and scrambled up a class-3 route to its cool summit. From there a gentle raising traverse to Little Annapurna. After a well earned lunch break and exchanges of our climb stories back down to the pass and at 5pm arrived at the car. Admired the climbers on the rocks along Icicle road as I drove back to L-worth and eventually made it back to Portland before midnight.
I had a great day in one of the most beatiful places and dedicated this little trip on Father's Day to my dad who passed away a year ago and is missed dearly...
Route Climbed: North slopes Date Climbed: 3 July 2004
Partners: Jeff Lambert, Ingrid Cook
Perfect, perfect day. Lots of snow....with a few rocky "islands" that we hop-skipped-and jumped to on our way to the summit. Summit mostly bare of snow & sporting surprisingly deep "trenches" to the 3 unusual summits. On the Enchantments Plateau, tarns just starting to break up....many little waterfalls. Ice axe handy but not required. Amazing summits...even more amazing views, esp. of Nightmare Needles. Wish there was a summit register! This was an amazing scramble to mark my return to the mountains after last summer's pesky "misadventures" resulting from a sports injury, subsequent surgery, then life-threatening complications.
Route Climbed: North slopes Date Climbed: Sep 2, 1984 and Sep 5, 1987
On both trips, camped near Freya Lake after hiking to Aasgard Pass in one day from the car. The weather in 1984 was threatening, so we returned to camp after summitting, but in 1987 we started with LA and traversed the high route to Dragontail, descending the Snow Creek Glacier back to Aasgard Pass and our camp. Fantastic weather with super clear air, and the full moon was fabulous.
Did this and a few other easy summits on my one and only trip into the Enchantments so far, back in the 80's. Beautiful weather and clear veiws of the entire region made for great photos--long since lost. I'd like to get up there again maybe this spring.
Did this with my brother and Larry Fenton on a beautiful day in August. When we reached the top, which has some flat spots below several different columns that form the summit, we met a gal from New Zealand who had camped out overnight. She was raving about the 'simply marv'elous' views she had during the night. We spent about an hour and a half taking pictures and oh'ing and ah'ing over the view. Especially enjoyed the view down to nightmare needles.
I've done this walk up on other occasions but the first time is always the best one since the views are all new.
Route Climbed: Walk up from Enchantment Basin Date Climbed: July 1999
We did this the day after climbing the west ridge of Prusik Peak. The freedom of hiking without carrying any climbing gear was great. We enjoyed having ice axes on the approach as it was icy in the shade. The summit has curious channels or grooves between granite high points. A fun place to play and lie in the sun. It's more like a park on the top than a summit. An excellent place to ogle at the Nightmare Needles, the Flagpole, and other rock climbs in the area.
hkutuk - Jun 21, 2005 5:46 pm
Route Climbed: North slopes Date Climbed: June 19, 2005My intention was to climb DT from Aasgard quickly and be down before the afternoon thunderstorms hit the mountains. I always hear horror stories about hiking to Aasgard pass but there was a decent path from Colchuck lake to the pass so made good time. Snow on the glacier was very soft and some point release debris were visible but it was very straightforward. Finally caught up with a very fast paced climber, Jeff, on the summit. It was still around 10 and he suggested to climb Witches Tower and Little Annapurna. So we first went down the south ridge of DT and off the ridge steep soft snow on to the south side of Witches tower and scrambled up a class-3 route to its cool summit. From there a gentle raising traverse to Little Annapurna. After a well earned lunch break and exchanges of our climb stories back down to the pass and at 5pm arrived at the car. Admired the climbers on the rocks along Icicle road as I drove back to L-worth and eventually made it back to Portland before midnight.
I had a great day in one of the most beatiful places and dedicated this little trip on Father's Day to my dad who passed away a year ago and is missed dearly...
Sharon - Jul 28, 2004 1:20 am
Route Climbed: North slopes Date Climbed: 3 July 2004Partners: Jeff Lambert, Ingrid Cook
Perfect, perfect day. Lots of snow....with a few rocky "islands" that we hop-skipped-and jumped to on our way to the summit. Summit mostly bare of snow & sporting surprisingly deep "trenches" to the 3 unusual summits. On the Enchantments Plateau, tarns just starting to break up....many little waterfalls. Ice axe handy but not required. Amazing summits...even more amazing views, esp. of Nightmare Needles. Wish there was a summit register! This was an amazing scramble to mark my return to the mountains after last summer's pesky "misadventures" resulting from a sports injury, subsequent surgery, then life-threatening complications.
Bob Bolton - Feb 4, 2004 12:04 am
Route Climbed: North slopes Date Climbed: Sep 2, 1984 and Sep 5, 1987On both trips, camped near Freya Lake after hiking to Aasgard Pass in one day from the car. The weather in 1984 was threatening, so we returned to camp after summitting, but in 1987 we started with LA and traversed the high route to Dragontail, descending the Snow Creek Glacier back to Aasgard Pass and our camp. Fantastic weather with super clear air, and the full moon was fabulous.
Honkeydong - Mar 1, 2003 3:28 pm
Date Climbed: August 1984Did this and a few other easy summits on my one and only trip into the Enchantments so far, back in the 80's. Beautiful weather and clear veiws of the entire region made for great photos--long since lost. I'd like to get up there again maybe this spring.
Dean - Jan 10, 2003 10:38 am
Route Climbed: North slope Date Climbed: 6 Aug 72Did this with my brother and Larry Fenton on a beautiful day in August. When we reached the top, which has some flat spots below several different columns that form the summit, we met a gal from New Zealand who had camped out overnight. She was raving about the 'simply marv'elous' views she had during the night. We spent about an hour and a half taking pictures and oh'ing and ah'ing over the view. Especially enjoyed the view down to nightmare needles.
I've done this walk up on other occasions but the first time is always the best one since the views are all new.
darinchadwick - Jan 10, 2003 7:05 am
Route Climbed: Walk up from Enchantment Basin Date Climbed: July 1999We did this the day after climbing the west ridge of Prusik Peak. The freedom of hiking without carrying any climbing gear was great. We enjoyed having ice axes on the approach as it was icy in the shade. The summit has curious channels or grooves between granite high points. A fun place to play and lie in the sun. It's more like a park on the top than a summit. An excellent place to ogle at the Nightmare Needles, the Flagpole, and other rock climbs in the area.