Price Glacier Route  Easy 5th WI3-4 Steep Snow

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Type:  Ice, Snow, Alpine Consensus:  Easy 5th WI3-4 [details] FA:  Beckey, Schwabaland, Grantson 1945 Submitted By:  ChrisZ on Aug 26, 2008 You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (6) Your todo list: Your stars: Your rating: -none- [change] Your ticklist: [add new tick]

BETA PHOTO: Approx route taken AUG 2008.

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Description 

After crossing beneath the Nooksack Tower to a point at about 6500 ft, step onto the Price Glacier and enjoy route finding on steep snow, alpine ice at grades around AI-2 to AI-3. Avoid seracs and slough chutes as needed. Ascend to the bergschrund(s) at approximately 7800 ft and choose your line: rock to the left, an ice line up the middle, or mixed to the right. Probably variable by season. Once this last major obstacle has been surmounted, continue up the steep snow or ice-field to the base of the summit pyramid. Standard ascent of the pyramid is via easy gullies (4th or low 5th class) on the south side. Descend via Fischer Chimneys route.

• the WI-3 to 4 grade in the description should be AI-3 to 4 for climbing bergschrund at 7800 ft.

Protection 

Depends on season. In the middle of August we brought 3 pickets, 1 fluke, 6 ice screws, and a small rock rack. We used nearly all of the pro we brought. We climbed ice over the last bergschrund and didn't use the rock rack, but this may not always be possible.