Matt Griffin - Sep 23, 2019 6:09 pm Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2019
Cloudripper West Chute
Climbed Cloudripper via the West Chute on a bluebird September day. Had some difficulty with route-finding using the pictures and route descriptions provided on this page.
It is obvious which chute to hike up from the pictures. I'll upload another for reference but the existing ones are good.
Our issue was with the picture that says "go left."
About 500 yards up the west chute there is a smaller jagged peak in the center. From this point 4 distinct gulleys that go upward are visible. From left to right they go:
1 *WRONG* gulley on the far left with middle finger looking rock high and left
2 *WRONG* gulley in the middle left with mandatory 4th class
3 *RIGHT* gully in the middle right with 4th class entry that can be skipped by climbing slightly to the left and crossing over. Built a few cairns to mark this path.
4 *WRONG* far right gulley that is noticeably steeper than the rest.
Continue up gulley 3 until you see a split, take the left split until a slab appears on the right, climb a short slab with a boulder on the left and gain the ridge.
The summit is immediately to the left and obvious!
The going is easy enough until hitting the Y. I made a right because I'm still to find a TR from anyone that made a left. Turning right at the Y there is a serious class 3 to be climbed over. I think, given the lack of hold, that is more than class 3, but what do I know? With difficulty I got over it and further up I got to another Y: one with snow (to the right) and one without (to the left.) For some reason I got to the right and ended up climbing the South Summit on a steep class 4. Unbelievably, a voice in my head repeated what I must have read about this ascent: the summit is the one to the North. So I made my way there, realizing how easier would have been to keep that slight left direction, rather than getting on solid frozen snow in the chute.
hiker102 - Aug 19, 2015 1:32 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2015
So close
Seem to have made the same mistake many others have by turning left at the fork in the west chute. Ran out of time with rain clouds closing in, so didn't try to route find up the next chute over. Was about 500 feet below the top. I wrote a trip report about it if anyone wants more details:
spacemonkey - Aug 16, 2013 9:55 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2013
West Chute
Kept going left and got into some 4th class maybe easy 5th class terrain. Chossy with lots of loose stuff. I definitely would not want to be behind another party this way up. The slab area looked harder than 3rd class w potential for a long slide, maybe it would have been mellow, but didn't try it.
There are two west chutes. Take the right one, as we did. What we did not know was at the point the chute splits, take the right hand one; we mistakenly took the left and ended up pulling a class 5 move to gain a point with a view of the summit ridgeline that told us we had chosen the wrong way. Late in the day and had to turn around. Lots of loose boulders call for careful foot and hand placement.
billfolk - Aug 26, 2012 4:16 pm Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2012
Fun Day
Nice route, popped out the top of the gully about 20 feet from the summit.
fossana - Jul 13, 2011 1:47 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2011
Good climb and many 4th and 5th class options. Amazing views...although smoke from a nearby fire made it hazy. Descended to Green/Brown lakes and hit up Vagabond on the way.
Blair - Aug 9, 2010 8:11 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2010
Great Route
Climbed w Deb, we hit Vagabond as well on the way out. Fun route!
Deb - Aug 7, 2010 2:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2010
Awesome!
Perfect weather for climbing this long chute. Blair and I took in as much Class 4 and 5 as we could to keep the adrenaline up. Altitude was kickin' my ass though. Hit up Vagabond and descended to Green Lake for a mosquito slog to TH. Great day!
haishan - Apr 1, 2010 8:25 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2001
here's another...
A fine hike from Bishop Pass trail, amorphous and interesting route. I remember nice views of the Palisades.
fossana - Aug 22, 2009 10:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2009
am i the only one that signs this log?
w/ Jascha. Substitute for the N Buttress of Goode. Not much choice with the threatening dark clouds. Better than sitting at home.
fossana - Jun 18, 2008 4:45 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2004
w chute variation
Lazy/rainy day with Matt & Tom. Walked/ran the aqueduct back to the TH.
fossana - Jun 16, 2008 6:20 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2008
inspired enough to make a route page
Repeat of the W Chute of Cloudripper with Jascha, partly in the dark. Contoured cross country past Brown Lake and picked up the aqueduct for a ways.
Matt Griffin - Sep 23, 2019 6:09 pm Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2019
Cloudripper West ChuteClimbed Cloudripper via the West Chute on a bluebird September day. Had some difficulty with route-finding using the pictures and route descriptions provided on this page.
It is obvious which chute to hike up from the pictures. I'll upload another for reference but the existing ones are good.
Our issue was with the picture that says "go left."
About 500 yards up the west chute there is a smaller jagged peak in the center. From this point 4 distinct gulleys that go upward are visible. From left to right they go:
1 *WRONG* gulley on the far left with middle finger looking rock high and left
2 *WRONG* gulley in the middle left with mandatory 4th class
3 *RIGHT* gully in the middle right with 4th class entry that can be skipped by climbing slightly to the left and crossing over. Built a few cairns to mark this path.
4 *WRONG* far right gulley that is noticeably steeper than the rest.
Continue up gulley 3 until you see a split, take the left split until a slab appears on the right, climb a short slab with a boulder on the left and gain the ridge.
The summit is immediately to the left and obvious!
Diesel - Jul 28, 2016 12:11 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2016
thre is more than one YThe going is easy enough until hitting the Y. I made a right because I'm still to find a TR from anyone that made a left. Turning right at the Y there is a serious class 3 to be climbed over. I think, given the lack of hold, that is more than class 3, but what do I know? With difficulty I got over it and further up I got to another Y: one with snow (to the right) and one without (to the left.) For some reason I got to the right and ended up climbing the South Summit on a steep class 4. Unbelievably, a voice in my head repeated what I must have read about this ascent: the summit is the one to the North. So I made my way there, realizing how easier would have been to keep that slight left direction, rather than getting on solid frozen snow in the chute.
hiker102 - Aug 19, 2015 1:32 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2015
So closeSeem to have made the same mistake many others have by turning left at the fork in the west chute. Ran out of time with rain clouds closing in, so didn't try to route find up the next chute over. Was about 500 feet below the top. I wrote a trip report about it if anyone wants more details:
www.peakfever.com/hike-info-21.php
spacemonkey - Aug 16, 2013 9:55 pm Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2013
West ChuteKept going left and got into some 4th class maybe easy 5th class terrain. Chossy with lots of loose stuff. I definitely would not want to be behind another party this way up. The slab area looked harder than 3rd class w potential for a long slide, maybe it would have been mellow, but didn't try it.
idpeakgirl - Sep 23, 2012 10:32 pm Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2012
West ChuteThere are two west chutes. Take the right one, as we did. What we did not know was at the point the chute splits, take the right hand one; we mistakenly took the left and ended up pulling a class 5 move to gain a point with a view of the summit ridgeline that told us we had chosen the wrong way. Late in the day and had to turn around. Lots of loose boulders call for careful foot and hand placement.
billfolk - Aug 26, 2012 4:16 pm Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2012
Fun DayNice route, popped out the top of the gully about 20 feet from the summit.
fossana - Jul 13, 2011 1:47 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2011
quick jauntlazy alpine day
Vertigo soul - Sep 18, 2010 12:27 pm Date Climbed: Sep 17, 2010
fun routeGood climb and many 4th and 5th class options. Amazing views...although smoke from a nearby fire made it hazy. Descended to Green/Brown lakes and hit up Vagabond on the way.
Blair - Aug 9, 2010 8:11 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2010
Great RouteClimbed w Deb, we hit Vagabond as well on the way out. Fun route!
Deb - Aug 7, 2010 2:47 pm Date Climbed: Aug 6, 2010
Awesome!Perfect weather for climbing this long chute. Blair and I took in as much Class 4 and 5 as we could to keep the adrenaline up. Altitude was kickin' my ass though. Hit up Vagabond and descended to Green Lake for a mosquito slog to TH. Great day!
haishan - Apr 1, 2010 8:25 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2001
here's another...A fine hike from Bishop Pass trail, amorphous and interesting route. I remember nice views of the Palisades.
fossana - Aug 22, 2009 10:35 pm Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2009
am i the only one that signs this log?w/ Jascha. Substitute for the N Buttress of Goode. Not much choice with the threatening dark clouds. Better than sitting at home.
fossana - Jun 18, 2008 4:45 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2004
w chute variationLazy/rainy day with Matt & Tom. Walked/ran the aqueduct back to the TH.
fossana - Jun 16, 2008 6:20 pm Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2008
inspired enough to make a route pageRepeat of the W Chute of Cloudripper with Jascha, partly in the dark. Contoured cross country past Brown Lake and picked up the aqueduct for a ways.