11 replies to this topic

[Mark Zemmin]

I have never been above Black Lake and I was planning to do that this week. I was going to go to Blue, Green, Italy and then over to Frozen. I was wondering if I could go up the ridge behind the Spearhead and go down to Frozen or if I should go back down the trail and then go over to Frozen.

I have been looking at the topo map and it looks like that could be fun, but I was wondering if any one had firsthand knowledge of that area.

[soatley]

Scott had that same idea. Looking at a topo map gives interesting yet not always feasible ideas.

Here are some pictures from the area taken last month on my Pagoda hike.

Spearhead


Italy and Green


Spearhead


Couple More of Green and Part of Italy




Blue


Looking Back at Spearhead


Looking at Speadhead on the way up Pagoda, I guess I don't think that ridge would save you any time. Prove me wrong and take lots of pictures.

I would probably contour around the base of Spearhead. I bet there are some great slabs.

Sandy O

[soatley]

Now I'm second guessing myself. That last picture makes the trek around Spearhead look awfully long. The big question would be what is the snow situation on the Frozen side of the Spearhead ridge. Maybe you could do Frozen before Green/Italy and do the ridge if it's snow free.

[Mark Zemmin]

Sandy,

Thanks for the input. Good thought about snow, I had not even given that consideration. Not a huge deal to go around the front of Spearhead if that is the best way. I am going alone, so I don't want to do anything too crazy.

[Rhonda]

Mark Zemmin, on 19 September 2011 - 02:25 PM, said:

Sandy,

Thanks for the input. Good thought about snow, I had not even given that consideration. Not a huge deal to go around the front of Spearhead if that is the best way. I am going alone, so I don't want to do anything too crazy.

Please don't do anything too crazy! And let someone know the day you do it, so we'll know where to look if you don't get back.

[Mark Zemmin]

Rhonda,

I let Erik and my wife, Roxanne, know where I am going each day and when I expect to be back. When I return, I let them know that I am back.

[Igloo Ed]

A couple pictures of the east side of the ridge you'd need to gain. I've been up the west side and it is steep but fine.

[Mark Zemmin]

Thanks Ed. I think I will give it a go if there is not too much snow.

[mike offerman]

After climbing the North ridge, we came off the East side of Spearhead, so it does go. I was following another guy who had been down this route before, so I am not sure how well cairned it is. I would call it class 3.

[iceberg]

I say go for it! ScottO was discussing this possibility when we were out there & if it hadn't been my last day in the park after 4 weeks - hence total exhaustion to the point where I barely made it to Black, I would have wanted to try it. Whether it's faster or not I still would have done it just for the experience. I say go to Frozen first, that way if there's snow on the east side you can glissade down it if possible- although I think Ed gets disgusted with me when I choose to just sit down & slide as opposed to "skiing" down snow.

[rcw]

iceberg, on 20 September 2011 - 09:16 AM, said:

I say go for it! ScottO was discussing this possibility when we were out there & if it hadn't been my last day in the park after 4 weeks - hence total exhaustion to the point where I barely made it to Black, I would have wanted to try it. Whether it's faster or not I still would have done it just for the experience. I say go to Frozen first, that way if there's snow on the east side you can glissade down it if possible- although I think Ed gets disgusted with me when I choose to just sit down & slide as opposed to "skiing" down snow.

You were a lean, mean, climbing machine when you finished your tour of the park!

[BigAl]

I haven't done it myself, but I'm pretty sure it would be class 3. I do I've seen climbers come down that way .