Pilchuck Event

June 14, 2002

Pilchuck North Face © Ken James McLeod

I summited Pilchuck today on a spur of the moment beautiful-sunny evening quest, signed the registry at 5:30 PM. It's getting dangerous, many holes between the rocks and running water in the snow field ascent of the North Face route. The trail is still heavily in snow and has not been used 'cept for about 1/4 mile, so one need not even attempt that. Not too much activity this last week in the summit registry and I suspect the postholing climb as I found is becoming challenging, thus some turning back.

Some guy in a plane buzzed me today just as I was about to summit Pilchuck at 5:30 PM. Another interesting item: another guy and his dog summited (well dog didn't) and after about 2 minutes the guy left, meanwhile I was taking photos for about a 1/2 hr, then made the descent. Just above the saddle, I saw the guys head sticking up out of the snow, he had lost his footing, tried to arrest with ice ax to no avail, and fell/slid about 40-50 feet hitting a tree and into a rocky hole. When I saw him, I asked if he was OK? " He replied, "a little shook up and lost my ice ax too, hurt my kidney area." I down-climbed (backwards) kicking step points as I went and used the ski poles for bracing myself to get to him, and again asking when I got to him, "You sure you're OK?" Enroute I found his ice ax. He then thought, while still in the hole, I should go ahead while he called for his dog who was rather skidish. At that point he was beginning to get out of the hole. I stated I'd wait here and there 300-500 yards to make sure he'd get down, which he eventually did. His name was Dave, a nice guy, said he summited Shuksan a few weeks ago.

At any rate, "thoughts!" Be careful with this melting snow, it can be under estismated.....

(added note: the glissading was great!)

KJM

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