Merchant Peak Comments : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost

Merchant Peak Comments

Klenke - Jul 10, 2005 6:54 pm - Voted 10/10

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And on the 33rd hit: a vote.

How come no mention of the disparity (cartographic error) between the labeled "Merchant Peak" and the true highpoint 6113 ft? Slacker.

Also, if you want to go by prominence, "Gunnshy" (Pk 6218 northwest of Gunn) is also higher than Merchant, so Merchant is 4th-highest (but is 3rd-highest officially named summit). Beckey calls Gunnshy "Jumpoff Ridge". The association is somewhat tenuous.

Brian Jenkins - Jul 10, 2005 11:32 pm - Hasn't voted

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Oops, I was going to mention the labeling error and it shows on the Topozone Map link on this page as well. Forgot, will go back and put that in.

Beckey states that Jumpoff/Gunnshy is really just an extension of Gunn so I wasn't going to mention that one. But, if you climb it and add the page I will (how's that for motivation?). ;- )

Heck, Smoot states that Merchant is the second highest of the 3, I have no idea where he got that from. I questioned whether Smoot actually climbed this one but I guess I will just chalk up his route description as his normal vagueness.

I almost mentioned in the main page that I thought this one would be Klenkeworthy. You done this one?

By the way, and sorry for rambling on, but the party that summited two weeks ago had a guy named Pat Doherty (described as an "old goat") in it. That name sounds familiar. Is he a prominence or CHP guy?

Klenke - Jul 11, 2005 12:58 am - Voted 10/10

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Never heard of a Pat Doherty.

I have not done Merchant. Some day. I have only done Baring. Have tried twice on Gunn. Gunnshy may be an extenstion of Gunn but it's its own separate mountain. I will probably do it and Gunn on the same day when I go in there next. There is also a Pk 5760 west of Merchant that I would do. I have done Pk 5842 farther west on one failed attempt at Gunn. So there are a lot of >400P peaks up thattaway.

And no, Smoot probably hasn't done it. I'm not too keen on his books (though I do have his volcano one from way back....when I didn't know anything).

I noticed no pics of a beautiful lass in your pics. Did you remedy your recent 'affliction'?

Brian Jenkins - Jul 11, 2005 1:32 am - Hasn't voted

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Nope, the lass is still around. I was just driving back from a kayak trip in BC with other friends and decided to stop off and bag that one on the way home. I will be dragging her up another one up there soon that I hope to add a page for.

I had thought about heading over to Gunn as I did not relish the idea of the descent on Merchant (although it was not as bad going down) but upon reading Smoot's description of a 4th class scramble I decided against it. What has thwarted your attempts on Gunn before?

Klenke - Jul 11, 2005 1:37 am - Voted 10/10

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Thwarts:

1st time: wrong turn had me climbing to impasse atop point just north of Pk 5842. Ran out of time and desire. Turned around. This was probably aroun 1995.

2nd time: Sergio & I climbed to the East Summit and noted that the key backside traverse on a ledge was a very steep (as in 70-degree) snow traverse. Lacking desire (actually, Sergio lacking the desire) to find another way had us defeated.

But at least I know how to find the trail on the other side of Barclay Creek now.