12-30-17 McGinnis

Wanted to check out the snowpack above 3k before the next storm cycle.  It's pretty manky and basically 1' of facets on the south aspect of McGinnis.  If and when it gets weight on it, I'd expect it to be weak for a while until it bridges.  We'll see.....

Mendenhall Glacier from near summit of McGinnis

Terminus of Mendenhall Glacier and people right up against the ice on the frozen lake.

Mendenhall Towers

Grandchilds Peak.

Mendenhall Towers

-4f at the trailhead at 9am.

2-20-17 Mt Olds

Up Granite Creek with the intent to check out the couloir that faces town on Mt Olds.  Turns out the couloir has a pretty good cliff band in it that might be skiable, but not on a solo tour and with our current icy conditions.  Maybe in April?  Either way, the drainage has great access with a well kept trail into the alpine.  Easy approach, but a bit of objective hazard from steep terrain above on a warm day.  

Mt Olds with the couloir splitting the upper face.  I think it might be skiable on the right day.

The "x" marks an entrance couloir into Granite Creek from Mt Gastineau area

Close up of Mt Olds Couloir

Nice gully out of the basin to ridgeline headed to ridgeline that separates Salmon Creek from this basin.

Exit approach gully to Salmon Creek ridgeline

Mt Olds is out of pic to left, this is looking south.

Mt Olds

Mt Olds and a decent ridgeline approach

Devils Paw way out there

X over the entrance couloir and the decent to Granite basin.

Looking down into head of Salmon Creek drainage.

Camp 17 between Lemon Glacier and Cairn Peak

Fritz Cove

Ridgeline to Mt Juneau

East to Devils Paw.

Cropped of Devils Paw

Backside of Mt Olds.

South over Granite basin towards Taku Inlet.

1-10-2017 Grandchilds Peak

Start at Montana Creek and skin about 1.5 miles of groomed nordic, then up a trail along the river.  Leave the river and ascend through the woods to 2400ft on a trail (buried in winter).  Then follow the ridge to Grandchilds Peak.  From there, one could access the Mendenhall Glacier via a couple different routes.

Mt Stroller White on the left, Mt McGinnis on the right.  McGinnis is a day tour.

Stroller White on right, access to Mendenhall Glacier between Stroller and un-named rocky peak.

Follow the red, then descend a thousand feet to the Mendenhall Glacier very near the Mendenhall Towers.

Stroller White

Flank of Grandchilds Peak and Lynn Canal.

Final ridge to Grandchilds lower summit.

Easy ridge up Grandchilds.

Somewhat knife edge up to main summit of Grandchilds.  Optional.  Could ski into bowl on right and then up.

See above caption.

Steep terrain off of Grandchilds

Grandchilds Peak from the trailhead.

12-31-2016 Mt Ben Stewart and Fish Creek Knob

Solo tour up Mt Ben Stewart.  Avoided temptation and played it safe despite alluring lines everywhere.  Then a couple laps on Fish Creek Knob.  Endless playground that is worth spending some time in to figure out the quirks.