6.29.2023 – Snowfield Peak
Astounding beauty! Single-day push via Neve Glacier with many different episodes to make this one of my favorite days in the mountains this year. All throughout there were brilliant views of NCNP’s big guns.
The climber’s trail is relentless and steep. Approach shoes/boots are recommended; I did the whole day in mountaineering boots and it was rough on the feet and knees. On the way up to the lake at 5900’, there are some soft punchy snow patches that we traversed and thinning snow bridges over waterfalls. We walked across the lake which will be a valid option for the next week or so I bet.
The glacier felt massive and otherworldly today. It is starting to break apart, but for now you can avoid any deep crevasses. We stepped/hopped over 20-30 cracks that were just starting, but nothing too dangerous yet.
We took a bit of a circuitous route on the summit approach which added some very fun class 4 with exposure that we retraced. The summit is nuts, especially on a day where the clouds are rolling through and decorating the glacier with their shadows… so sick!
It was so fun to see the whole Inspiration Glacier quad from afar, and other peaks like Bonanza, Black, Kimtah, Jack, Boston. Hozomeen was my favorite view as it was perfectly framed on the glacier descent. Loved it!
16 miles, 8000’ gain
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