Washington Pass Ice Bouldering - November 25 -26, 2000

Phil and I headed up to Washington Pass looking for some ice.  We'd hear reports that some of the roadside flows were in and the elevation at the pass afforded a greater likelihood that we'd find solid ice.  There were some short flows next to road but they looked tricky to top out on.  Then we spotted a large flow in the distance.  It appeared to be about an hour's snowy bushwhack so we loaded up our packs...
 


 
 


Photo by Phil Fortier

The flow.  It was heavily chandeliered and wet.  Leading it was out of the question.  We considered setting up a top rope but it would have taken some doing to get it right.  We would have really need a static line strung between the two trees at the top but we didn't have one.  Instead we were quite content to boulder around on it.  It was possible to climb into the cave at center and boulder around on the inside.  It was pretty cool.  We met three other climbers so it was also very social.
 

Inside the cave looking out.
 
 

Phil on the inside of the flow.
 

The next day it was snowing heavily and although we'd had plans to head back up to the waterfall we opted for a nice looking chunk of roadside ice.
 


Photo by Phil Fortier

Me (Greg) bouldering.
 

Phil found something that could almost be led.  We got the rope out but a little higher than this it turned rotten so he backed off.