High on the Powell Peak Icefield.Photo by Dave And...
Description
North Face Icefield or Powell Peak Icefield is the wide snow field west of Powell Peak and Vanquished Buttress, above Sky Pond in Loch Vale. A stellar alpine ice route, it is best climbed in mid- to late summer when the snow has slid and hard gray alpine ice is revealed. A number of variations are possible, the most consistent ice and steepest line is to the right of the rock rib high on the route. When we climbed it, enough melting had occured that there was some steep slush/ice mix and a little mixed climbing to get into the right side of the route. Definitely worth it for 200+' of perfect ice.
Protection
Ice Screws and a few nuts might be helpful when this route is "in" and if you choose to rope up.
By Leo Paik Administrator From: Westminster, Colorado Jul 20, 2002
One of the rock couloirs between the steepest ice/snow field and the less steep snow field was blasting out very significant quantities of rock 7/18/2. It was leaving a good sized fan of fresh grey granite. This may affect the approach to this climb.
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