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Three Fingers Additions and Corrections

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scot'teryx

Untitled Comment

Hasn't voted

They were successful, but they did not take the glacier route, they took a different route on rocks and stuff, and they were not rock climbers. I was really worried, but ignorance is bliss I guess? Even though many people stop at Tin Pan Gap where the glacier climbing starts, some people are just never satisfied

Posted Sep 11, 2001 12:36 am

John

Untitled Comment

Hasn't voted

While I agree that it's definately safer to bring mountaineering equipment, out of curiosity I found some route beta for the brave or foolhardy - those who end up here without an ice axe (and possibly crampons too - report doesn' t mention them):

John Guilford's September 23, 1989 Trip Report says:

The glacier under Tin Can Gap has some pretty good exposure. If you started sliding, and couldn't stop yourself, you'd go quite a ways before some crevasses stopped you. However, unlike my conclusion the last time I was here, you didn't really NEED an ice axe (although it was nice to have - I'm glad I brought mine). It turns out that you don't have to go very far across the gap (last time I thought you'd have to go a considerable distance across the glacier, all the time being exposed). At the gap itself, instead of the snow being corniced (as I imagined it might be), there is solid ground (and even the trail!) on the other side. You have to go maybe 20 feet over the top of the glacier, then you hop over the top onto the ground and continue along a trail on the "far side".

Also see Michael's September 3, 1998 Trip Report which is fairly detailed about his experience with an axe but no crampons.

Posted Sep 11, 2001 1:18 am

scot'teryx

Untitled Comment

Hasn't voted

To each their own I guess.

Better safe than sorry is what I always think.

Of course, I always use the same decision making process. If I question whether or not I should use the axe or crampons, I immediately use them. When there is exposure, I do not want to be a statistic. Up here in the Northwest there have been too many accidents altely. Just look at the news page on my web site (www.nwog.org), and see all the accidents that are happening. Of course you can never be prepared enough or experienced for the most common problem, whch is...."shit happens".

Posted Sep 11, 2001 12:40 pm

JohnGilbert	Untitled Comment
Hasn't voted	As of spring 2003, the road is fine.
	Posted Aug 30, 2005 4:04 pm

John

Untitled Comment

Hasn't voted

"I hate summiting something with glacier climbing equipment and then seeing someone else do it in sneakers and no axe or crampons."

Were the people in sneakers without axe and crampons successful in reaching the summit and getting down again? Did they have any accidents?

Posted Sep 10, 2001 7:08 pm

scot'teryx

Untitled Comment

Hasn't voted

Posted Sep 11, 2001 12:36 am

John

Untitled Comment

Hasn't voted

Posted Sep 11, 2001 1:18 am

scot'teryx

Untitled Comment

Hasn't voted

Posted Sep 11, 2001 12:40 pm

jeffreyking	Untitled Comment
Hasn't voted	As of July 15, 2002, Forest Road 41 has been completely washed out at mile 7.5. It is not passable, unless of course you have a crane and perhaps a bulldozer. According to the Forest Service, the estimated time for repair is unknown at this time.
	Posted Jul 15, 2002 12:08 pm

whidbey65	Untitled Comment
Hasn't voted	In April of 2002, a slide has blocked FR 41, also known as Green Mountain Road at MP 3. The Forest Service has no intention of clearing the slide 'until next year' they said. It's pretty much dang impossible to get there unless you go around the slide and hike 14 and a half gosh-awful miles up the dirt road. Big bears up there too. Still, it might be good for an anthropological experiment, with the old junked cars and thousands of shell casings. No other trail appears to exist, with this possible exception: The Boulder River Trail ends at a ford of the river, and then it would be possible to bushwhack your way up to Tupso Pass--I was told by an unidentified ranger. Also check your Washington Gazetteer and Atlas to see if there are any possible backroad routes that connect with 41 in some way.
	Posted Jul 19, 2002 9:39 am

JohnGilbert	Untitled Comment
Hasn't voted	It should be noted that in the late summer (end of September), the route to the summit can avoid all the step snow. It is then just a long hike. At Tin Pan Gap the trail goes up and over the rock hump to the right. (Can't miss it). Around the second bump the trail goes 200' down a dirty chute. It is fairly steep, so if there is hard snow, you might be able to avoid it by going down on the the glacier, (obvious when you get there). Some people have reported they climbed along the moat at the top of the glacier. Take the chute if at all possible. From there, the trail is well stomped and/or marked with cairns. Just before the top, there is a south facing snow/ice slope, (not part of the main glacier). This can be avoided by hugging the left (west) side. You probably have to step on snow at the very top of the slope, but it is flat. The final section to the top is a cairn marked trail. The last 30 feet are on ladders. Very cool. Not really any exposure to worry about.
	Posted Aug 30, 2005 4:01 pm

JohnGilbert	Untitled Comment
Hasn't voted	As of spring 2003, the road is fine.
	Posted Aug 30, 2005 4:04 pm

glacierbrushbuffalo	Untitled Comment
Voted 8/10	FS 41 has been repaired and in 2005 is easily driveable with a standard 2 x 4 vehicle to the Tupso Pass trailhead for Goat Flats and Three Fingers.
	Posted Sep 6, 2005 12:32 pm

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