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highest summit block/pinnacle on Mt. Shuksan?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 1:53 am
by Jesus Malverde
I'm wondering if some kind soul out there may be able to shed some light or clarify something that's been on my mind for a few months.
Last June I climbed Mt. Shuksan in a snow cloud. We climbed to the top of the eastern most pinnacle of the four very top summit pinnacles. Judging by other pictures and video it looks like the summit pinnacle we were on is considered the highest, but I could swear the 2 western most pinnacles were at least as high as ours (or higher). No guide book or internet search turned up a distinction. Does anybody out there know which summit block/pinnacle is truly the highest on Mt. Shuksan. I've included a picture I took from the "top" of Shuksan.
You can see the two other summits to the west that I'm inquiring about. Can anybody out there tell me if I was standing on the very top?
Here's a link to the photo: http://www.summitpost.org/image/596245/Mount-Shuksan-Summit.html

I'd appreciate any information provided. Thanks!

PostPosted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 4:04 am
by Tom_Sjolseth
On a clear day it's obvious. There's nothing even remotely close. Hope this helps.

PostPosted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:52 am
by Brian Jenkins
I think you were there-look at the rock in this shot, looks similar to the one in yours:
http://www.summitpost.org/image/420649/150347/mt-shuksan.html

Re: highest summit block/pinnacle on Mt. Shuksan?

PostPosted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 2:03 am
by Jesus Malverde
Hi folks,
Here's a couple of videos that might give you a better image of what I'm talking about

YouTubeLink1 (view at 0.14 seconds). Compare this frame image to the image I included in the original post.
YouTubeLink2 (view at 0.08 seconds, rocks are right between the two climbers)

Those secondary summit pinnacles/blocks on Mt. Shuksan (at the very top of the "summit pyramid") are what I refer to in my original post.

From what I remember they looked like the climbing out there was at least class 4 to low 5 to get on top of them. They didn't look like they had much room for more than one or two people on top at any one time. The traverse out there didn't look that "easy" either. To reiterate, the guidebooks I checked didn't make a specific distinction nor the summitpost page on Mt. Shuksan (Sulphide Glacier route).

Granted, I was in a snow cloud, but I'm still wondering if somebody who climbed Mt. Shuksan (in decent/clear weather) could confirm that those rocks out there are the same height, lower or possibly higher than Mt. Shuksan "summit" area (where there is room for a group people).

Thanks!

PostPosted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 3:45 am
by Klenke
Which route did you climb?

For the South Face gully route, you climb up and right from the apex of the gully to reach the highest point. I've been up there twice (once in a whiteout like you) and both times it seemed to me I was on the summit.

Isn't there a register at the summit? Maybe not. I don't remember.

PostPosted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 3:52 am
by Klenke
In your first post above you said you climbed the easternmost pinnacle and then you have a picture looking at some rocks you claim are something other than the easternmost, meaning they would be west of the easternmost. But your first Youtube video paused at 14 seconds shows these rocks from your whiteout photo and the view is looking east. That is, your photo was not taken on the easternmost pinnacle but a western one and probably the highest point. See this Scurlock photo or this one of the north side because it shows the far eastern protruding rock nose seen in your whiteout image or the first video at 14 seconds.