Great trip report, esp the last paragraph warning to avoid the bulls eye to the summit which is a pinch point. I found some really fun class 4 material close to your route entry at the bottom of the mountain, and also a really fun class 4 hug up a ledge at the summit. Cheers.
I'd be interested in seeing a route depiction if you want to add another route to the Peak Nine page. Some Class 4 moves would make it an even better scramble.
I hopefully didn't portray my route as the only possibility, just one that is fairly straight forward and relatively low risk.
I think the image and routes you posted are good. You distinguished between what you actually did and what you think other options might be, and that's great. Peak 9 was an "accidental summit" for me.. more like whoops I was in the area, started having fun on the rock, and suddenly I was at the summit :) I was tracing the route at the foot of peak 9 because I went to summit the Guardian. As you said it was an uneventful mountain (though with some nice quartzite) but I had to do it because the goal of that trip was a full west to east traverse of the Grenadiers from the Animas River.
Looking at your picture, I believe I approached via the face immediately left of your first "green alternative" gulley route. I tend to prefer protrusions to gulleys because of the loose material and debris in the gulleys.
Also, your couloir #1 is a very fun way to get to the top of the saddle at Storm King Peak. I highly recommend checking this out.
westanimas - Dec 26, 2012 1:36 am - Voted 10/10
Peak NineGreat trip report, esp the last paragraph warning to avoid the bulls eye to the summit which is a pinch point. I found some really fun class 4 material close to your route entry at the bottom of the mountain, and also a really fun class 4 hug up a ledge at the summit. Cheers.
blueshade - Dec 26, 2012 9:54 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Peak NineI'd be interested in seeing a route depiction if you want to add another route to the Peak Nine page. Some Class 4 moves would make it an even better scramble.
I hopefully didn't portray my route as the only possibility, just one that is fairly straight forward and relatively low risk.
westanimas - Dec 30, 2012 11:44 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Peak NineI think the image and routes you posted are good. You distinguished between what you actually did and what you think other options might be, and that's great. Peak 9 was an "accidental summit" for me.. more like whoops I was in the area, started having fun on the rock, and suddenly I was at the summit :) I was tracing the route at the foot of peak 9 because I went to summit the Guardian. As you said it was an uneventful mountain (though with some nice quartzite) but I had to do it because the goal of that trip was a full west to east traverse of the Grenadiers from the Animas River.
westanimas - Dec 30, 2012 11:52 pm - Voted 10/10
RoutesLooking at your picture, I believe I approached via the face immediately left of your first "green alternative" gulley route. I tend to prefer protrusions to gulleys because of the loose material and debris in the gulleys.
Also, your couloir #1 is a very fun way to get to the top of the saddle at Storm King Peak. I highly recommend checking this out.