Cirque of Towers Beta

My partner and I are looking to climb our first alpine multi-pitch this Aug. We plan on doing some backpacking, camping, and climbing the South Buttress (K-Cracks) of Pingora. Does anyone have a Caltopo overlay or some beta on the approach scramble to the base of the climb? I've done some research but beta seems to be vague. 

The K cracks are where the raps are... It's a fifty classic descent ... There is a very obvious trail... No roped pitches to the start

Approach to wolfs head is much less obvious and in my opinion requires roped climbing

I think Summit Post had the best topos for the Cirque. We did the same thing. Hiked all the way in and did K cracks. Decent route but if you’re hiking all the way in there do East Ridge or even just double up East Face of Pingora too (provided you have enough multi pitch experience). We didn’t go up anything else. I had an injured shoulder and hiked out after doing just K Cracks and I still kick myself to this day realizing I need to do that hike all the way over to go back and do the climbs I didn’t do the first time.

K Cracks is easy to find. A fair amount of 3rd class scrambling to get there. The only thing we saw was a couple alternate places to start the 1st pitch. We did it in 3 pitches but some others did it in 4 because they started more left than we did and it seemed more technical. We scrambled a 4th or low 5th class corner to start before we roped up and then roped up at what we think was the start of the 1st pitch proper. I didn’t think there was much of a difference in difficulty between the 5.6 2nd pitch and the 5.8 crux pitch. But maybe it’s because I led the 2nd and followed the 3rd. Descent is obvious. Maybe 4 raps with a 60?

Beautiful place. I want to go back.

Awesome, thank you two for the beta spray. Bryan, I definitely appreciate the suggestion, we have about nine days to burn including the drive, so our time isn't super limited. Seems to be pretty straight forward from your description. I'm tracking a bolted rappel as of Fall 2020? Also, any suggestions for neat places to stay a night around SW-S-SE Wyoming?

Yes bolted raps

Not Hobo Greg wrote:

Consider bringing wag bags, even though they aren’t required, it’s a super heavily trafficked area and there aren’t many ethical places to poop.

You definitely need to pack your shit out. Don't further contaminate the water supply for everyone. 

alpinist 47wrote:

Yes bolted raps

Really? I remember them being all tat last year. Did someone finally bring those stations into the modern era? 

Edit: just read the updated description on Pingora. Love to see someone made it happen. 

If you don't have much multipitch alpine experience, I'd stay on K-Cracks. The routefinding on the East Face Ledges is not as straightforward as you'd think and it's easy to get off-route. Honestly, the Cirque is not a great place to "cut your teeth" but your mileage may vary. The East Face of Block Tower has a fun 5.5 that may be better suited for your first longer alpine multipitch.

Please pack out your trash and poo. It's a problem that is causing a lot of contention with the locals and the BTNF. The backpackers and hikers do enough damage; climbers should know better.

Hang your food (away from camp) as best you can. There is a problem bear at Big Sandy Lake right now; every year since I've lived in Pinedale they've had to kill off problem bears in the Big Sandy/East Fork area. Just because you're above treeline doesn't mean bears won't venture up high.

There's plenty of area to camp in the Cirque. Don't camp right next to someone if you don't have to.

I know the whole LNT thing has been beat to death, but it bears repeating. Don't be a dick in the backcountry. There are going to be a lot of people up there. Keep your loud music to yourself, yield to uphill hikers, be nice. Trail etiquette goes a long way.

Beware that its been reported you can no longer park on the road at the Big Sandy trailhead. Be there early and have a backup if the lot is full.

John Sigmonwrote:

Beware that its been reported you can no longer park on the road at the Big Sandy trailhead. Be there early and have a backup if the lot is full.

Can you please provide a source? 

The only signs I recall seeing a couple of weeks ago were the camp for 16 days only

That lot is 40 + miles back on dirt roads

Remote comes to mind....there is no way they would tow a vehicle out of there with out the owner present

And cash in hand;)

Feel free to call and verify, the phone number is 307-739-5500

Did you call?

Facebook, great source. Trump won the election too.

jk John! Thanks for the info - hoping it’s not true. 

You cannot park on the road leading up to the trailhead where it's traditionally been crowded. You can park at the trailhead or in the meadow at the fork for Big Sandy Lodge.

I was just up there last week and can confirm-- there are signs saying you can't park along the road at Big Sandy. Seems reasonable enough, it's not a massive shoulder or anything. There is an overflow parking area in the meadow just prior to the parking lot.

Is there still water on the cirque traverse route?

I was wondering if anyone could comment on the road to the Big Sandy Trailhead.   Not sure what it's called, but I've heard it's very long and very rough.   Can fairly normal cars get out there okay?   Does the car need good clearance?   I also heard they used sharp stone for gravel, and flat tires are extremely common.    Any new info would be greatly appreciated, thanks!!

Russ Keanewrote:

I was wondering if anyone could comment on the road to the Big Sandy Trailhead.   Not sure what it's called, but I've heard it's very long and very rough.   Can fairly normal cars get out there okay?   Does the car need good clearance?   I also heard they used sharp stone for gravel, and flat tires are extremely common.    Any new info would be greatly appreciated, thanks!!

Last year and the year prior, I was able to get my Prius out there with very little problem.  Of course, it's a dirt road and the conditions can change.

OK cool, thanks Gumby.   I emailed the Lodge to ask how things seem on the road this year so far.