Distance: 8 mi.
Elevation Gain: 4100 ft.
Although this was our first ski tour of the season, we decided to take advantage of the low-moderate avalanche risk and try for a 4,000 foot ascent! We’ve been wanting to climb Anvil Rock (below Camp Muir) on skis for several years and, aside from our poor conditioning, it seemed like the perfect time.
We left Seattle at 7 AM and arrived at the Longmire gate at 8:59 AM. It must have been open for several minutes before 9 because we were probably the 30th car at the lot. Melissa met us at the Paradise lot and we got started up the well-established skin track. There were quite a few people out on this bluebird day so we stepped aside and did beacon checks while we let a few parties of skiers and snowshoers pass by.
By the time we reached the steepest slope of the climb, just below Panorama Point, we noticed that most skiers were putting their skis on their backs. The slope was indeed pretty slippery, but we were glad to have our last-minute addition to our packs, our ski crampons. We made it up to the top but Melissa, who just booted up, beat us by a mile. Panorama Point was beautiful and the views all around were crystal clear.
We met back up with Melissa and took off our ski crampons. Soon after Panorama Point we briefly had to remove our skis to boot up through a particularly rocky area but from there we were able to stay on our skis the rest of the way. Although the altitude was seriously slowing me down, Melissa kept me from quitting by trucking along ahead just out of reach. After numerous breaks I made it to Anvil Rock and we removed our skis so we could boot up through rocks to the summit. By this time it was getting pretty windy up high.
We were losing daylight so after a brief snack break we transitioned into ski mode and made our way back down. The snow was firm and lumpy up high but there were a few areas of nice corn in the middle of the descent. We mostly followed the same route on the way down, trying our best to avoid the rockier areas but we did have to remove our skis at one point.
By the time we got back down toward the visitor center the snow was all chopped up and refrozen, making for some terrible ski conditions. But overall we had a lot of fun and were stoked to add a summit into the mix.
(Download the free Gaia GPS app on your phone to view tracks and then get a Gaia GPS membership if you want offline access. Discount below!)
Recommended brew: Half Lion Brewing Alberts Amber Ale (best enjoyed out of a tupperware when sharing with friends)
Gear Used:
- Avalanche beacon/shovel/probe
- Backcountry boots/skis/skins
- Day packs
- Glacier glasses
- GPS
- Helmet
- Ski crampons (Craig and Vanessa)
- Steel crampons (Melissa)
- Trekking poles
- Whippet (Craig)
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