Laurel Knob Runoff (Again)

So i know I asked this a couple weeks ago, but we did not make it down to LK. Given the current weather in the area, could fathom be doable on Saturday? Thanks for all the help.

Current forecast for today and Friday would help to dry things out (sunny and windy) but the forecast for Saturday looks grim. High of 39 and cloudy for the day with morning temps in the low 30's. It will be cold with not much sun to help. I think if would most likely be dry but...

Go to lower elevations. I would suggest Big Rock or the Bald. Without the sun, low 30's is too cold, at least for me. I will be at Big Rock Saturday. I can bring an extra guidebook with me if you like. Message me if you need more details.

TomCaldwell wrote:Go to lower elevations. I would suggest Big Rock or the Bald. Without the sun, low 30's is too cold, at least for me. I will be at Big Rock Saturday. I can bring an extra guidebook with me if you like. Message me if you need more details.

Thanks for the offer Tom. We went ahead and went down and climbed Fathom. You might know the answer to this: Once we started the switchbacks down the steep hill we got lost and just followed the cliff line down until we found a fixed sling for a rappel, is this the standard descent?

You shouldn't have to rappel to hike into Laurel Knob.

Jeff Mekolites wrote:You shouldn't have to rappel to hike into Laurel Knob.

I assume we got off trail then, we just followed the cliff line.

If you rappeled to get in, how did you get back out? It sounds like the path you took down is the one for the Girdle traverse, etc. It forks off about halfway down the normal descent.

nbrown wrote:If you rappeled to get in, how did you get back out? It sounds like the path you took down is the one for the Girdle traverse, etc. It forks off about halfway down the normal descent.

We essentially bushwhacked straight up next to the cliff to get out. We got confused on the descent because we were following the switchback trail but we saw "no trespassing" signs and survey tape which I assumed was the property line. Not wanting to cross onto private land, we turned around and followed the cliff down and ended up at a short rappel.

That is from a sale of one of the parcels around the CCC property. We're waiting for the sale to close before we talk to the new land owner about the signs. They were put up by the seller to demonstrate a clear title as part of the sale. As soon as the sale closes we'll be able to clear this up by either re-routing the trail, getting permission, or possibly buying a small piece of land to encompass the climbers trail.

Brian Payst wrote:That is from a sale of one of the parcels around the CCC property. We're waiting for the sale to close before we talk to the new land owner about the signs. They were put up by the seller to demonstrate a clear title as part of the sale. As soon as the sale closes we'll be able to clear this up by either re-routing the trail, getting permission, or possibly buying a small piece of land to encompass the climbers trail.

Alright it makes sense now. Thanks to the CCC for getting access to this awesome rock!