Attempted via Tourist on 7-7-2023...and did not summit. We crossed the bridge around miles 11-12 and looked to cross the Green River via a walk through the field to the left (east) of the trail. That's what our beta was showing. Unfortunately, this year has been wet AF. This normally peaceful and dry meadow was nothing short of a disgusting bog. Soggy and unassumingly deep, until you put your foot down. As this was a day trip, we did not pack sufficiently warm, and the Green River was, unsurprisingly, very high and overflowing its bounds. We attempted a few crosses but bailed when it started creeping beyond the thighs (no change of clothes, freezing water, long day in a remote area, etc.), and wasted about 90 minutes in this endeavor. Finally, we decided to return to the bridge we had crossed (now two miles away) and bushwhack to Tourist from there. I took a bad slip into a creek crossing on the way back and sustained what ended up being a tibia bruise. We pressed on though, and made it to the bridge, and about halfway from the bridge to Tourist via the improvised bushwhack. Sadly, the pain was starting to shoot up my leg to other areas that were not heavily affected by my fall. It was causing me to move slowly and, more importantly, different than my usual moving patterns, which meant not trusting my leg and holding an overall "timid" mindset. We still ended up with 27 miles though, and 2,000 vert, despite not doing like any climbing. Check out my video at Let's Zoom on YouTube, and we will be back for the summit later this month. Let's Zoom!
Jawinney - Aug 8, 2021 3:45 pm Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2021
Gannett Peak via Tourist Creek
Green River Lakes Trail head to 3 Forks Park(camp 1) via the Continental Divide Trail, ~12 miles. Up Tourist Creek on the Southwest side(endless bolders). Right turn up a waterfall to Long Lake, after which is a fairly technical scramble down to another little lake. Working towards the East and over a little pass reveals Gannett and Scott Lake down to the right. Don't go to Scott Lake. Stay to the left generally heading directly towards Gannett through a small Couloir. This reveals Skinny Lake, camping on the left side about 2/3 down makes for a 6-8 hour roundtrip summit day going up the right side of the waterfall and then staying to the left to avoid snow and glacier. Working around a spire reveals a direct but steep scree scramble up the big couloir. It's not necessary to ascend this entirely, but it does have a view payoff and looking back and to the left reveals a good path for the final scramble. The last bit is technical, scary, and breathtaking, but with caution and care, is doable without ropes. A low snow year and an exceptional weather window allowed us to do this without need for any crampons, ice axe, or ropes. We all packed it, though. We decided to stay another night at Skinny Lake and torture ourselves the next day getting all the way out! Coming down Tourist Creek is not any faster than going up, the effort is a little less, but there is just no faster way! Leaving Skinny Lake at 8 am got us back to the trailhead at 10pm, what a trip!
pianowizardray - Jul 8, 2023 9:36 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2023
2023: Year of the Wet...nessAttempted via Tourist on 7-7-2023...and did not summit. We crossed the bridge around miles 11-12 and looked to cross the Green River via a walk through the field to the left (east) of the trail. That's what our beta was showing. Unfortunately, this year has been wet AF. This normally peaceful and dry meadow was nothing short of a disgusting bog. Soggy and unassumingly deep, until you put your foot down. As this was a day trip, we did not pack sufficiently warm, and the Green River was, unsurprisingly, very high and overflowing its bounds. We attempted a few crosses but bailed when it started creeping beyond the thighs (no change of clothes, freezing water, long day in a remote area, etc.), and wasted about 90 minutes in this endeavor. Finally, we decided to return to the bridge we had crossed (now two miles away) and bushwhack to Tourist from there. I took a bad slip into a creek crossing on the way back and sustained what ended up being a tibia bruise. We pressed on though, and made it to the bridge, and about halfway from the bridge to Tourist via the improvised bushwhack. Sadly, the pain was starting to shoot up my leg to other areas that were not heavily affected by my fall. It was causing me to move slowly and, more importantly, different than my usual moving patterns, which meant not trusting my leg and holding an overall "timid" mindset. We still ended up with 27 miles though, and 2,000 vert, despite not doing like any climbing. Check out my video at Let's Zoom on YouTube, and we will be back for the summit later this month. Let's Zoom!
Jawinney - Aug 8, 2021 3:45 pm Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2021
Gannett Peak via Tourist CreekGreen River Lakes Trail head to 3 Forks Park(camp 1) via the Continental Divide Trail, ~12 miles. Up Tourist Creek on the Southwest side(endless bolders). Right turn up a waterfall to Long Lake, after which is a fairly technical scramble down to another little lake. Working towards the East and over a little pass reveals Gannett and Scott Lake down to the right. Don't go to Scott Lake. Stay to the left generally heading directly towards Gannett through a small Couloir. This reveals Skinny Lake, camping on the left side about 2/3 down makes for a 6-8 hour roundtrip summit day going up the right side of the waterfall and then staying to the left to avoid snow and glacier. Working around a spire reveals a direct but steep scree scramble up the big couloir. It's not necessary to ascend this entirely, but it does have a view payoff and looking back and to the left reveals a good path for the final scramble. The last bit is technical, scary, and breathtaking, but with caution and care, is doable without ropes. A low snow year and an exceptional weather window allowed us to do this without need for any crampons, ice axe, or ropes. We all packed it, though. We decided to stay another night at Skinny Lake and torture ourselves the next day getting all the way out! Coming down Tourist Creek is not any faster than going up, the effort is a little less, but there is just no faster way! Leaving Skinny Lake at 8 am got us back to the trailhead at 10pm, what a trip!
pyerger - Jan 6, 2011 3:10 pm
tourist creekA long trip! very remote, made it to the north ridge, but had to back off, do to weather. AWESOME AREA!