Ascent of Ibapah Peak on 2021-05-01| Date: | Saturday, May 1, 2021 | | Ascent Type: | Successful Summit Attained | | Peak: | Ibapah Peak | | Location: | USA-Utah | | Elevation: | 12087 ft / 3684 m |
Ascent Trip ReportParked at the locked gate at about 6600’ (sign says it opens May 31st). I walked the road and then good trail up to about 9500’ where I lost it in the snow. I put on snowshoes here and kept them on through the meadow, up to and around point 11385. From the saddle there, the ridge to Ibapah looked intimidating with sections of rock and big cornices hanging off the east side. Parts of the ridge were hidden from view and at first I wasn’t even sure I was going to find a route that worked for me. From where I was, cornices blocked easy access to the snow slopes on the east side (where the trail normally is). Leaving my snowshoes at the saddle, I found a nice way around the west side of the first rocky section. From there I tried to stay on the ridge proper, first on snow then scrambling though some short rock towers, sometimes easy class 3. It was fun but was taking a lot of time. I then found a spot where I could safely drop on to the snow on the east side of the ridge and from there it was straightforward, I cramponed up to the bottom of the last slope leading to the summit. Part of this slope was melted out and you could see sections of the trail swtichbacks, though it was easiest to just go straight up avoiding the snow as much as possible. A really striking mountain, one of my favorite recent summits in an amazing range. On the way back I stayed on the east side of the ridge for longer, only getting on the west side around that last rock section. |
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