Mazama Glacier Headwall

Page Type Page Type: Route
Location Lat/Lon: 46.20280°N / 121.4894°W
Additional Information Route Type: Glacier climb to 60+ degrees
Additional Information Time Required: Most of a day
Additional Information Difficulty: II+
Sign the Climber's Log

Approach


The approach is via the Bird Creek Meadows parking lot at 5,700 feet. Ask for directions at the ranger station in Trout Lake. First hike up 1 mile to the viewpoint. Now find the trail heading towards the Mazama Glacier. Hike 2.3 more miles to get to Sunrise Camp at 8,300 feet at the base of the Mazama Glacier. Establish Camp here with access to Glacial runoff.

Route Description


The route ascends directly up the Mazama Glacier skirting crevasses along the way. At about 11,300 feet, you want to go directly up the steep headwall which finishes at the south summit, in lieu of connecting with the south climb. The headwall was only one pitch, but the slope reached 65 degrees, with lots of exposure right off the Klickitat Icefall.

At the top of the headwall, there may be crevasses to deal with. In mid August, we had to get inside a crevasse then climb the 15 foot high slightly overhanging ice wall to get out. Once above this, you will see the south summit next to you, and will get a view of the main summit. Now finish on the standard south side trail.

Essential Gear


Standard glacier gear, pickets, a couple screws, two ice tools, crampons, and a helmet.

Miscellaneous Info


If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.



Parents 

Parents

Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports.