Mount Hope

iceclimb - May 10, 2006 1:02 pm - Hasn't voted

Mt. Hope Alaska - Outlined is the route of ascent taken by Expedition Outreach; we were careful to take the easiest line, but the distance from the mountain back to civilization made even the easiest route committing: About half way up the wall of snow & ice is a bergschrund, which was covered in deep 'packed' snow, and was easily crossed during this expedition. Then we climbed onto the ridge where we made a high camp; not entirely neccesary, as the trip could be made in one long day. The next day we traversed along an airy ridge walk, with some 'easy,' 4th & 5th class rock scrambling, past several false summits to the top! Get an early start, as during our spring trip it snowed every afternoon. Our route avoided the major avalanche chutes, and we deem it 'fairly safe in this respect.' But the steeper routes to the left, (all unclimbed as of our ascent date,)avalanched each day, letting out a thunderous roar: Terrifying at first, but after a while it stopped phasing us and became just a fact of life!