This is a great climb if you are able.
- July 22, 2012
- Team: John and Mariel
- Abel Peak, 11,500', 3900' gain, 5.5 miles, 4 hours
- 11 miles car-to-car, 3900' gain, 7 hours
Note: click images to see a larger version in a new window
John, Mariel, and I were looking for a shorter climb that would get us to altitude in training for an attempt on Rainier later this week. After rolling around a few ideas, we chose Abel Peak in the Pioneers. Abel Peak is located just above and east of Kane Lake. And right between Goat Peak and Devil's Bedstead East. So with a prediction of 40% chance of thunderstorms, John and I drove up to Hailey, met Mariel, and grabbed some grub at the Hailey Coffee Company. Trail Creek road was deserted, and then we drove the rough 4 miles to the trailhead. After an easy hike through the woods, we finally got the views of the cirque surrounding Kane Lake. |
 |
That's Goat Peak on the left, peeking over the lake. |
 |
After passing the lake and a few campers, we started up the valley, climbing random talus and slabs but mostly on steep meadows filled with wildflowers and gurgling water. |
 |
As we went up, the views got better and better.
|
 |
After last weekend's talus-fest on Chysaor, the grassy sections and solid slabs were most welcome. Mariel repeated that sentiment like a mantra. |
 |
Not that there was no talus. Just not much. We also played on a bunch of Class 3 granite that reminded John and I of Castle Peak. Note the diving-board formation. |
 |
Eventually the ridge narrows to a short, exposed knife edge. Just enough to get your blood moving. |
 |
But after that, there is a roomy summit with great views. We hung out for about half an hour admiring them. |
 |
Mariel spotted goats. |
 |
| We found them entertaining. | |
| I was looking at this Goat. The summit is on the right, but first you have to climb the false summit on the left. It's an easy but fairly airy traverse. |  |
We were mindful of the day's weather prediction, so even though it was sunny and warm on top we decided to be moving along. |
 |
Here you can see the actual summit as we picked our way down through some loose stuff. |
 |
We stopped a couple more times on the way down, laying in the grass and watching the sun move. 20 minutes from the car, we heard the first thunder. It was raining lightly when we got to the trailhead, but the rain only cooled us off. However, the drive over a wet Trail Creek summit turned my truck from black to a dappled brown. |
 |
|
|
