Years ago, I considered trying to go around Illumination Rock. Was warned it's difficult. I never tried it, because I don't like hard hikes, but finally decided to take a shot at it.
Illumination Saddle would be a sensible place to begin a CCW trip, but I decided to go CW from below. Couldn't find a sensible safe way to drop onto Reid Glacier. I'm sure I could have much lower, but if I was too low then I'd have to get through the beautiful but rugged icefall zone.
Later, tried dropping in from the saddle, but it was tough. I've read multiple times that it's super sketchy without snow, and it really was. If I had a 20' ladder, it would be a cinch. (Not a rope though, because it was so crumbly I wouldn't even want to set a boot on it.)
As failures go, it was moderately fun and rewarding. The views from Illumination Ridge were amazing, and I especially liked seeing Reid Headwall and the south face of Yocum Ridge without snow.
This was labor day weekend, the day Eagle Creek fire started.
Illumination Circumnavigation; a fail tale
Illumination Circumnavigation; a fail tale
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Last edited by Chip Down on September 13th, 2017, 8:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Illumination Circumnavigation; a fail tale
Sweet!
I'd be happy just to make it to the saddle area! I've heard the rockfall is dangerous though
The moon rose right @ illumination in early july if you were @ larch mt. Really rad!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-qAC1XXXeo
I'd be happy just to make it to the saddle area! I've heard the rockfall is dangerous though
The moon rose right @ illumination in early july if you were @ larch mt. Really rad!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-qAC1XXXeo
Re: Illumination Circumnavigation; a fail tale
I'd never been to Illumination Saddle in the summer. Based on observations on a previous weekend, I took my helmet, and quickly dashed from boulder to boulder. Of course, you could probably stand in one spot all day and never get hit, but it's a bit unnerving to see the saddle area littered with so many rocks.markesc wrote:I've heard the rockfall is dangerous though