This was my second time up Dragontail. Combined it with Witches Tower to spruce things up a bit. This was my first time in the Enchantments in the middle of summer and dang was it busy. Got to the parking lot at 6AM and it was already overflowing down the road. After talking around and seeing where everyone was going, it turns out that the thru hike thing is crazy popular now with people parking cars at bother trailheads. Anyways, route is super straightforward as always. Lots of goats. Solid trail and rock all the way except for the super short snowfield section (read further to hear about a crazy story on this section). Views were dynamite as expected and good weather. Descended down and followed the east ridge towards Dragontail East. Right before the East summit, we dropped down a seriously steep rock. All scrambling combined with several low to mid-fifth moves. Will definitely get your hands a bit sweaty if you were in running shoes like us. The snow off to the side was almost vertical so I am not sure what the proper way is to descend. We encountered a couple of rappel slings on our descent to the base of Witches. The scramble up Witches Tower is easy.
From the top we saw someone fall while descending the snowfield off Dragontail. Truly scary to watch. It didn't look like they had an ice axe (or knew how to use one) since it looked like they were flailing their arms and legs into the snow trying to slow down. The slid a couple of times before eventually stopping about half way before the rocky bottom. Someone else (maybe a climbing partner) eventually made it over to them and helped them get out. The fall and "rescue" lasted over an hour. BRING AN ICE AXE. We were probably one of two groups on summit with an ice axe. Everyone else was an ultralight trail runner with trekking poles and nothing else.
JLuthanen - Jun 13, 2016 1:11 pm Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2016
A cool consolation prize
Was trying to figure out how I wanted to approach Little AP and while milling around going the typical route, veered to climbers right from Asgard and tagged the top of this peak. Easy scramble from the back - fun!
Easy Scramble. From Aasgard we went down towards the base, crossed over at the west edge of Isolation lake, then climbed up and around the west side of the tower to the back where an obvious ramp leads toward the summit. Afterwards we walked across snow col above the Isolation and went up little Annapurna. The rock is pretty steep below Witches tower, an easier (also a bit longer) approach would be to cross the water at Isolation Lake's outlet on the East and then head towards Little Annapurna, cross the snow col and head towards Witches Tower. Best combined with Little Annapurna.
BLong - Jul 6, 2011 3:31 am Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2011
Enchanting
We scrambled up the Witches Tower after abandoning our plan to climb Prussik Peak. Big snowpack meant traveling around the Enchantments took longer than expected. The routes were all wet so we opted to scramble up the peak and glissade down the snow chutes.
jfletche - Aug 12, 2009 11:56 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2009
South Side Scramble
First time to Enchantments despite being a local, wanted to have a stellar view. Witches Tower delivered! Perfect weather to boot. Very easy scramble, did as a day-hike via Aasgard. Do it!
Stopped by on the way back to camp from Dragontail so we could check out the lines. Lines were beautiful we were too lazy to come back up the steep snow with trad gear, so we just scrambled it.
Andy Dewey - Jun 6, 2008 12:24 pm Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2008
Route Climbed: Scramble Route
Scrambled up with only 100' or so of visibility. Combined with Colchuck, Dragontail, Little Annapurna, and McClellan all in the same day, starting from Colchuck trailhead.
Martin Cash - May 29, 2007 6:51 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2007
South Side
Scrambled the normal route after traversing over from Little Annapurna. The route was covered with snow in spots which made it interesting. Nice views from the summit, but I almost got blown off by some ferocious winds. Nice looking peak, I'd like to try one of those routes on the East Face.
dicey - Oct 24, 2006 11:58 pm Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2006
Scramble Route
One of the best scrambles in the area with commanding views of all the upper lakes and beyond. Highly recommended!
Route Climbed: South side Date Climbed: June 19, 2005
I climbed Witches Tower as a suggestion from a climber I met on the summit of Dragontail. Traversed the south ridge of Dragontail until was able to drop down to the south side of WT and scrambled to the summit with a commanding view over the entire Enchantment basin. From there continued to Little Annapurna and back down to Aasgard pass for the long downhill to the trail head, great day in one of the most beautiful places. I'd like to come back and try some of the other more technical routes, also Witches Tooth looked enticing.
kronshage3 - Jul 28, 2019 5:47 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2019
Dragontail and WitchesThis was my second time up Dragontail. Combined it with Witches Tower to spruce things up a bit. This was my first time in the Enchantments in the middle of summer and dang was it busy. Got to the parking lot at 6AM and it was already overflowing down the road. After talking around and seeing where everyone was going, it turns out that the thru hike thing is crazy popular now with people parking cars at bother trailheads. Anyways, route is super straightforward as always. Lots of goats. Solid trail and rock all the way except for the super short snowfield section (read further to hear about a crazy story on this section). Views were dynamite as expected and good weather. Descended down and followed the east ridge towards Dragontail East. Right before the East summit, we dropped down a seriously steep rock. All scrambling combined with several low to mid-fifth moves. Will definitely get your hands a bit sweaty if you were in running shoes like us. The snow off to the side was almost vertical so I am not sure what the proper way is to descend. We encountered a couple of rappel slings on our descent to the base of Witches. The scramble up Witches Tower is easy.
From the top we saw someone fall while descending the snowfield off Dragontail. Truly scary to watch. It didn't look like they had an ice axe (or knew how to use one) since it looked like they were flailing their arms and legs into the snow trying to slow down. The slid a couple of times before eventually stopping about half way before the rocky bottom. Someone else (maybe a climbing partner) eventually made it over to them and helped them get out. The fall and "rescue" lasted over an hour. BRING AN ICE AXE. We were probably one of two groups on summit with an ice axe. Everyone else was an ultralight trail runner with trekking poles and nothing else.
JLuthanen - Jun 13, 2016 1:11 pm Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2016
A cool consolation prizeWas trying to figure out how I wanted to approach Little AP and while milling around going the typical route, veered to climbers right from Asgard and tagged the top of this peak. Easy scramble from the back - fun!
OwenT - Sep 3, 2013 8:39 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2013
South SideEasy Scramble. From Aasgard we went down towards the base, crossed over at the west edge of Isolation lake, then climbed up and around the west side of the tower to the back where an obvious ramp leads toward the summit. Afterwards we walked across snow col above the Isolation and went up little Annapurna. The rock is pretty steep below Witches tower, an easier (also a bit longer) approach would be to cross the water at Isolation Lake's outlet on the East and then head towards Little Annapurna, cross the snow col and head towards Witches Tower. Best combined with Little Annapurna.
BLong - Jul 6, 2011 3:31 am Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2011
EnchantingWe scrambled up the Witches Tower after abandoning our plan to climb Prussik Peak. Big snowpack meant traveling around the Enchantments took longer than expected. The routes were all wet so we opted to scramble up the peak and glissade down the snow chutes.
jfletche - Aug 12, 2009 11:56 am Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2009
South Side ScrambleFirst time to Enchantments despite being a local, wanted to have a stellar view. Witches Tower delivered! Perfect weather to boot. Very easy scramble, did as a day-hike via Aasgard. Do it!
laurel - Jul 22, 2008 5:35 pm Date Climbed: Jul 19, 2008
Scramble RouteStopped by on the way back to camp from Dragontail so we could check out the lines. Lines were beautiful we were too lazy to come back up the steep snow with trad gear, so we just scrambled it.
Andy Dewey - Jun 6, 2008 12:24 pm Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2008
Route Climbed: Scramble RouteScrambled up with only 100' or so of visibility. Combined with Colchuck, Dragontail, Little Annapurna, and McClellan all in the same day, starting from Colchuck trailhead.
Martin Cash - May 29, 2007 6:51 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2007
South SideScrambled the normal route after traversing over from Little Annapurna. The route was covered with snow in spots which made it interesting. Nice views from the summit, but I almost got blown off by some ferocious winds. Nice looking peak, I'd like to try one of those routes on the East Face.
dicey - Oct 24, 2006 11:58 pm Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2006
Scramble RouteOne of the best scrambles in the area with commanding views of all the upper lakes and beyond. Highly recommended!
Fred Spicker - Jun 28, 2005 8:31 am
Route Climbed: South Route Date Climbed: 16 June 1985Climbed alone while the rest of my party napped on the summit of Dragontail.
hkutuk - Jun 28, 2005 2:32 am
Route Climbed: South side Date Climbed: June 19, 2005I climbed Witches Tower as a suggestion from a climber I met on the summit of Dragontail. Traversed the south ridge of Dragontail until was able to drop down to the south side of WT and scrambled to the summit with a commanding view over the entire Enchantment basin. From there continued to Little Annapurna and back down to Aasgard pass for the long downhill to the trail head, great day in one of the most beautiful places. I'd like to come back and try some of the other more technical routes, also Witches Tooth looked enticing.