Scrambling Colchuck Peak, Washington

Colchuck Peak climb on June 17th, 2012.  We started at Stuart lake trailhead climbing around 2,000 vertical feet up to Colchuck lake.  That portion of the approach was snow-free up to the lake. We then traversed around the lake to the west end.  We climbed up the Colchuck Glacier to the col between Dragontail and Colchuck peak.  Finally, we scrambled to the summit of Colchuck peak, alternating between scrambling up blocky granite and small snowfields.

A view of Dragontail on the approach:

Smooth granite slabs on the approach:

Colchuck peak viewed from the far end of Colchuck lake:

Looking across Colchuck lake at Aasgard pass:

 Granite boulders everywhere stacked in endless combinations:

Patches of ice still floating on the lake:

Spectacular cliffs along Colchuck peak:

Looking back down from 600 feet above the lake:

 Alpine eye candy:

 Glacial moraine with huge boulders precariously hanging on (see climbers in right-hand foreground for scale):

 Climbers ascending:

 Heading up Colchuck glacier:

 The southern aspect of Colchuck:

 Colchuck glacier:

 Beautiful sheer granite cliffs of Dragontail:

 Looking down the glacier:

 Seattle mountaineers:

 The view from high on the Colchuck glacier:

 A steep section of the glacier just below the col:

 The col:

 Looking up the scrambling route above the col:

 Granite art:

 Loose blocks of granite:

 The windy summit:

Summit view:

Looking back up at Colchuck Peak, now enveloped in clouds:

 Boulders:

 Granite boulders:

Overall, a very nice trip with good weather and spectacular scenary, nine hours car to car.