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Ascent of Indian Rock on 2019-05-17

Climber: Jeremy Fuerst

Date:	Friday, May 17, 2019
Ascent Type:	Successful Summit Attained
Peak:	Indian Rock
Location:	USA-Washington
Elevation:	5845 ft / 1781 m
Ascent Trip Report The SNOTEL data at the Indian Rock site had showed 0" of coverage at the Indian Rock site, and while dubious, I decided to give it a go. Pay attention to written reports here; googlemaps will try to take you a different way if you just key in the coordinates. Most cars can make it a good distance up, but at 46.00230, -120.75917, it gets pretty rough. Unless you have AWD/4WD and high clearance you will probably be walking from here. The road was in good shape, and it appears some downed trees across the road have recently been cut to make way. A downed tree across the road at 46.00316, -120.77471 is where I parked. It is a small one; if you bring a handsaw and give yourself 30 minutes you can make short work of it. Your call, but the snowdrifts started shortly thereafter. Yeah so about that SNOTEL data...I'd meant to bring my snowshoes, and I was irritated I had forgotten them. However, the windblown and frozen snow was firm enough to walk on with easy walking and minimal postholing, so it is just as well I left them at home. It was quite a windy day, and it was cold enough that I wore my hard shell for most of the day, even in the trees. I abided Adam Helman's 2010 report on the COHP site regarding the identity, though I chose to visit the Pinnacle, the Benchmark, and the Outcrop (in that order) in order to be certain. I copied and pasted the coordinates from Helman's report, and it seems as if the coordinates for the Pinnacle may be slightly off. I will be interested if anyone can verify. The exact spot the coordinates from the 2010 report take me to are a boulder in the trees, which I scrambled atop. But when I ambled about 100 yards south towards the Benchmark and the Outcrop, I came to a more prominent, seemingly higher Pinnacle at 45.99386, -120.82325. Once I scrambled to the top, I noticed a metal bracket screwed in, for what purpose I do not know. Regardless I scrambled atop both points before continuing to the Benchmark and the Outcrop (A fenceline which was mostly buried is nevertheless easily followed most of the distance between the Pinnacle and these two points). The Benchmark, to my surprise, was fully exposed to the air on the windswept cliff. From there I hit the Outcrop before heading back to the vehicle. Scrambling wet rock in wet boots was not ideal, but I took caution.