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Elevation: 6,370 ft 1,942 m
GPS: 61.97158, -127.61228
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Shared By: Amy Krull on Nov 10, 2019
Admins: Braden Batsford

Description Suggest change

Wild, unexplored granite cirques sitting high above small receding glaciers. We characterize the area we visited as part of the "Ragged Range", but more specifically we explored east of the prominent and only named feature in the area; Mt. Sidney Dobson massif (more accurately referred to as Mt Sidney Dobson North and South). The area we visited was approximately 8km south of Mt Idea and the Cirque of the Unclimables (as the crow flies).

A group of four Mazamas climbers- Wojtek Pagacz (Rossland, BC),  Amy Pagacz (Rossland, BC), Katie Mills (Portland, OR) and Nick Pappas (Portland, OR) visited this area in August 2019, funded by the Bob Wilson Expedition grant. While we can't speak highly of the rock quality, we were able to climb several peaks via an interesting ice couloir and scramble a small peak.  

As far as base camps go, it was quite luxe as we were up above the valley floor away from the bears and mosquitoes! It's doubtful anyone will return unless they're interested in putting up remote winter climbs.  The most prominent peaks (8,000ft+) would climb best as winter or mixed routes.  We saw evidence of discontinuous ice lines and based how much snow and rain we got in August a spring trip might be a better option. We'll try to permanently publish our aerial photos & videos for future use as satellite images of this area are lacking. In the meantime, feel free to reach out if you're interested in planning a nearby trip or looking for more beta on *unclimbed* Sidney Dobson (North or South). 

Getting There Suggest change

Much like a trip to Nirvana or the Vampires a heli flight seems to be the defacto transport option as there are few lakes big enough for a float plane to land. Terrain is rugged and overland transport would be slow.  Quote out a chopper flight into the Nahanni Provincial Park. Several heli companies seem to service the Watson Lake/Tungsten/Ross River area. Finding a company working nearby exploratory mining jobs should decrease fuel and flight cost. We chose to drive the Nahanni Range Road (YT-10) and parked outside of the closed (but still operating) Cantung Mine in Tungsten. (Note: this required extra gas jugs as the Nahanni Range road is 600+ km round trip) The chopper picked us up at a wide pull out and dropped us inside the Nahanni Provincial Park at a flatish spot at approx. 6,000 ft. Alternatively, there is an airstrip on the YT-10.

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