Pine Creek conditions

Submitted by kephoto on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 17:14

I was up hiking around Pine creek on Monday and conditions for Green Gully were looking like they were almost climbable, could be close by now as it has froze every night since then. Other climbs were starting to form as well. Blue, Incubus/sucubus, Pine creek falls. We'll see what the weather does over the next few days. My guess is some of the other routes in the range that are located at a higher elevation could be in or close. I would highly recommend Ice Dragons as it is a full six pitches. You'll want to get this route before the snow becomes too deep for the approach. After early Dec it is often too deep. The last time I climbed the route it was around the 23rd of Oct. and there was little snow but this year there is already a lot of snow. kristoffer erickson

Is this the flow that drains out of Pine Creek lake?? Looks like a great day out! Any sight of other drips forming around the Gash? k

...to the right by a few hundred feet; the main falls are pretty high volume still, but shockingly well formed and definitely very climbable (though I'd watch out for warming temps on that one). there are also a number of other short lines on the right side. while visibilty was extremely limitted the other day, it seems like the gash needs another week or so of warm/cold mojo, but should see a good season this year.

Climber the gash on saturday with highlandtraveler.

p1: great thin ice 

p2: the bulge isn't formed so we climbed the off width

p3: thought it was the hardest of the three ...m4/5ish, not sure where the line goes????

The trail is clear of snow making tennis shoes an option. 

 

It was a better route than I thought it would be, i really enjoyed the position and the rock. Go get it, its the best game in town.

 

 

A fun alpine experience littered with a bit of ice. A bit of thin ice. I don't think I've mashed my points on more rock - ever.   The rock doesn't take gear well and if your looking for good ice, look elsewhere. It was fat last year, but its funky right now.

Pussboat and I climbed about 400'. WI4- M3ish.

Klein to the left was even more anorexic.

Took a look at blue and green on Sunday. They both looked thin. Green looked to be better but had a rock top out. There were climbers on both routes. Heard that Green was sketchy on the top out.

Blue is great, wet down low and a little dry at top, but no dry tooling needed.

Lower Pine Creek falls is wet the first short pitch very plasticy with the second pitch dry and steep but awesome.


Pictures of bothBlue from the top looking down

How is the road getting up to Pine Creek? Some wicked winds over here last week. I suspect it is drifted badly.

the road to pine creek is drifted badly tried to punch through w/ toyota 4-runner no go! Got about 100yds w/ a ways to go. Big rig maybe w/ good tires. Good luck bring shovels.

I parked my vehicle a few weeks ago at the pullout before the the road  goes into the trees (above the switchbacks).  While we were gone a wild (or domestic) pack of family horses had their way with my truck.  They tore my windshield wipers off, licked the whole thing, and dented / chewed on my topper.  Luckly my truck is a pile so I was left laughing. Just a heads up.

Word on the street is that the Pine Creek Road has been cleared/melted out and is now reasonably accessible all the way to the Campground parking lot.

The road to Pine Creek Campground is open. Went up there yesterday to check out Blue, Green, and Pine Creek Falls. All are in FAT.

Madison, Gallatin, Absaroka Mountain Ranges