Buckingham (SE) Ridge  5.7

4,577 page views Good page?

Type:  Trad, Alpine, 10 pitches, 3000 feet, Grade III Consensus:  5.7 [details] FA:  W. Buckingham, V. Day, 1954 Season:  Summer Submitted By:  George Bell on Mar 20, 2007 You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (9) Your todo list: Your stars: Your rating: -none- [change] Your ticklist: [add new tick]

Looking off the top of the Buckingham Ridge at the...

Add Photo  Add Comment    Printer View

Description 

From the Meadows head up the south fork of Garnet Canyon. The Buckingham Ridge climbs the buttress forming the left side of the Ellingwood Couloir (see location below). This buttress is broad and many variations are possible.

The standard route follows the right edge of the buttress for 4 pitches to a notch. Here the buttress is narrower and your options are fewer. From a belay on chockstones, climb the face of a tower. Continue upward 3 or 4 more pitches to the South Summit. You can bypass the South Summit on the right if you like.

It is not easy to get off the South Summit, to continue do a short rappel into the notch towards the main summit and then walk to the main summit.

Location 

The east ridge, with it's dike, contains a prominent pinnacle called the Dike Pinnacle. SW of this pinnacle is the Ellingwood Couloir. The Buckingham Ridge follows the buttress forming the left hand edge of this couloir, and leads directly to the South Summit in 8 or 9 pitches.

Protection 

Standard rack.

Descent 

Downclimb the Southwest Couloir route.

History 

I've always called this route the Buckingham Ridge, in honor of William Buckingham who did many early Teton ascents. In the guidebook it is simply called the Southeast Ridge. Buckingham put up this route as well as Mt. Owen's Serendipity Arete, and many others.

Photos of Buckingham (SE) Ridge Slideshow

Add Photo

Southeast face of the Middle Teton as seen from th...	BETA PHOTO: Approaching the base of the Ellingwood/Buckingham ...	BETA PHOTO: Ellingwood Coulior with the Buckingham Ridge on th...
Coming up the bottom of the Ellingwood Coulior enr...	Climbing up the fun lower pitches of the Buckingha...	Matt committing to some last difficulties up high ...