Alpine Endeavors Climbing Guide Service - North Cascades Photos

North Cascades - 2008 - photos

The North Cascades are known as the "American Alps". They offer an abundance of great peaks with breathtaking views.

Here are some photos from a few of our trips to the Cascades.

July 2008

The trip this year started off with us hiking into Boston Basin to attempt to climb Sahale Peak, Forbidden Peak and Sharkfin Tower:

the 2008 cascade group of climbers
The group from left to right; Marty, Conor, Amy, Ryan, Richard, Alex,
Jesse and Jeff.

the approach
Heading up through the thick, overgrown trail.

a view of forbidden
Finally, our first view of Forbidden Peak on the approach.

creek crossing #1
The first of the four creek crossings on the way in to Boston Basin.

Working our way through the avalanche path on the approach.

a break on the log
Richard and Alex taking a break.

up thru the old growth
Heading up through the old growth forest beyond the avalanche path.

creek crossing #4
The fourth and final creek crossing before camp.

marmot
After arriving at camp, we were quickly greeted by the local Marmots.

campsite
Munching out at the lower camp.

Bd tents in action
A view of our camp and the Quein Sabe Glacier above with BD tents doing their job! Now to get some rest - we're heading up tomorrow to climb Sahale Peak and Forbidden Peak (via the W Ridge).

Sahale Peak - via Quein Sabe glacier

rain on the quein sabe
A rainy day today - heading up the Quein Sabe glacier to Sahale Peak.

sahale ridge
The high point of today's climb; the rock ridge just below the summit.

Forbidden Peak - West Ridge

west ridge approach
Approaching the West Ridge on the same rainy day....

couloir approach
Heading up toward the couloir.

The crux of the couloir - we called it the "Gangplank" It was about 12' long and varied from 1' to 8" wide in the middle. It sure was interesting to cross...

crossing the gang plamk
Amy getting ready to cross the Gangplank.

heading back down
At top of the couloir the rain persisted, so we decided to bail. Now we had to head back down and reverse the Gangplank.

rappelling down the gang plank
We made a snow bollard and rappelled back down over the the Gangplank - being sure to keep our balance and stay on it.

Forbidden Peak - East Ridge Direct

weather clearing
The next day the rain stopped and the weather cleared. Now we decided to head back up Forbidden Peak, but this time were shooting for the East Ridge Direct.

Mt Johannesburg peaking thru the clouds
Mt Johannesburg peaking through the clouds across the way.

first light on Sharkin, Sahale and Boston Peak
First light on Sharkfin, Sahale, and Boston Peak.

approaching the E ridge
Working our way across the un-named glacier to the start of the East Ridge.

W ridge couloir
Looking up into the couloir we were in yesterday. Notice the other climbers mid-way (the little dots).

The start of the East Ridge Direct with the giant gendarme in the background.

e ridge forbidden peak
Starting the traverse of the ridge.

e ridge forbidden peak
Along the first half of the traverse.

e ridge forbidden peak
Gaining distance with Mt. Buckner (left) Boston Peak (center) and Sahale peak (right) in the background.

e ridge forbidden peak
Just past the Au Cheval section.

e ridge forbidden peak
About half-way along the East Ridge.

e ridge forbidden peak
Starting up the 5.8 overhanging crux.

Forbidden Peak East Ridge
Amy (little blue dot on ridge) traversing the final section up to
the summit. Mt. Buckner is in the background on the left, and
Boston Peak on the right of the photo.

Marty and Amy on the summit of Forbidden Peak.

heading down the West Ridge of Forbidden Peak
Working our way down the West Ridge - Moraine lake in the background below.

Forbidden Peak, S face
At the base of Forbidden Peak on the un-named glacier, looking up at the route we just climbed up to the summit. It follows the right-hand horizon from the large gendarme on the right to the summit on the left side. Quite the exposed climb...

forbidden Peak, S face from lower down
A view of the peak from lower down (near the high camp), you get a better view of the gendarme on the right side (where we started) and the ridge we followed to the summit. Then the west ridge we followed for the descent to the notch where the rappels started. It was a good tour of the peak.

Sharkfin Tower

While we climbed the East Ridge of Forbidden Peak, Jesse, Richard and Alex along with Ryan, Jeff and Conor climbed the Sharkfin.

Richard and Alex ready for the climb.

Richard in the moat at the base of the route.

the start of sharfin tower
Richard and Alex starting the route - climbing out of the bergschrund and up the rock - mixed style.

Richard and Alex getting closer
Richard and Alex getting onto the ridge.

Sharkfin Tower
Alex working his way up the route.

Jeff and Conor En route
Richard and Alex having fun in the sun.

Richard and Alex en route
Richard and Alex at a belay on the route.

Richard and Alex on the summit of Sharkfin Tower.

Jesse on the summit with Forbidden peak in the background.

Jeff and Conor ready to climb.

starting up sharkfin tower
Working their way up the route.

Jeff and Conor at a belay
Jeff and Conor at the belay - Ryan is on the lead.

conor in the climb
Ryan's view of Jeff and Conor climbing up the tower.

Jeff and Conor En route2
Jeff and Conor ready to leave the belay and climb to the summit.

Jeff and Conor on the summit.

A look up the Quein Sabe and Sahale Peak
A look up the Quein Sabe Glacier and Sahale peak - the high point from yesterday in the rain was the rock rib just right of the saddle, near the top center of the photo.

Sahale Peak

Two days later, Jeff and Conor returned to Cascade Pass with Ryan determined to summit Sahale peak. This time, they had to deal with a good amount of fresh and falling snow, not to mention a few more miles on the approach. All in all, they summited and had a great time in the process.

Jeff and Conor Sahale Arm
The Cascade Pass trailhead - the start of the climb

sahale arm
Conor on his way up the trail to get to snow line.

climbing thru the elements
Jeff and Conor taking a break on the rocks on the way up.

heading up the snow
Heading up the small snowfield - Mt. Johannesburg in the background.

summit
On the summit!

sahale peak and sahale arm
A view of the peak with their tracks in the snow on the right side.

Mt Shuksan

The final objective for this part of the trip was Mt. Shuksan via the Sulphide Glacier - unfortunately the weather was not so co-operative.

amy and the giant tree
Heading in through the forest on the approach - Amy meets a giant tree.

crossing a log
Working across a downed-tree on the way in.

the upper snowfield to the notch
Heading up the upper snowfield toward the notch that will take us to the Sulphide glacier.

ominous clouds over Mt Baker
On the way in, the front arrives and brings ominous clouds over Mt. Baker.

rain - Ryan looking pretty wet
The rain came in that afternoon and continued all night. We decided to bail that morning. Here is a good shot of Ryan showing how wet we all were from the storm.