Great Traverses

Great Traverses in Washington State and beyond…

Welcome to my traverse page. I am very fascinated by the practice of climbing to a nice mountain summit-> Then, continuing on the ridges that connect to then even more mountains . These are long ridge-top traverses with many peaks available along the way. Makes for an intense outing. The pursuit is obviously available to the seasoned, experienced, and lucky climber for sure. One should be in top form for the demands of the top tier adventures..

Having done a few, I am hooked. They are very rewarding. It is great to be on a mountain summit. Traverses allow you to spend days (AND NIGHTS!!!) on many summits, as well as see NEW territory for the entire trip!……  Wow! Lets get going!!

Perhaps, The qualities of a great traverse should consider the following :
The specific routes size, difficulty and its overall “classic/quality” sense.
After reviewing the “Great Traverses” , I came to the conclusion that there are three or so “tiers”  of traverses.
The highest (1st) tier would be World Class Traverses. These are long, difficult outings. (Grade 6 and up, high 5th class, see examples below)
A solid 2 nd tier example would be say, Torment-Forbidden Traverse (grade 4 to 5, and a classic.)
A good 3 rd tier route could be: The Three Sisters Traverse in Central Oregon.( class 3-5, grade 2-4)
Big or small, easy to difficult, traverses really have something to offer everyone.

There are different definitions of  “Traverses”

- Enchainment Traverses. They can meander anywhere and do summits or routes along the way. The idea is to do as many summits as you can. The connecting ridge-line may be easy or vauge.

-Summit Ridge Traverses. Almost always stay on or near the crest of the (often knife-edge) ridge that connects the summits. That idea of always being “on top”, is what I am trying to represent here . It is a tough game to play, being in a committed position for so long. I believe these are the unwritten definitions of this particular pursuit that I am trying to show here. It is a strange, contrived, and beautiful game, so I welcome differing opinions.
Enjoy the page!

Extreme Traverses in  Washington State  ( 1st and 2nd tier)
Torment -Forbidden (beta)…and—–My Trip Report
Northern Pickets Traverse
Southern Pickets Traverse
Sawtooth Ridge Traverse, Olympics
The Needles (Olympics)
The Valhalla Traverse (Olympics)
Bonanza Traverse #1 Tri-summit, NE to SW
Bonanza Traverse #2
Bonanza Traverse #3 Soviet Route to W Peak
Washington Pass Traverse
Index Traverse , my report, Marko and Colins Winter Ascent
Complete Twin Sisters Range Traverse
Gunrunner Traverse
Ptarmagin Traverse
Formidible Traverse
Pioneer/Mystery Traverse
Bears Breast Traverse

Single Peak/Summit Ridge Traverses
N.W. Ridge, Mt Logan
Megaladon Ridge, Goode
Mongo Ridge, Mt Fury , Old Waynessite page
East Face of Mox (not a traverse, but could be) … became one to summit of Lemlo!

Canada
Waddington Range Traverse
Tantalus Traverse.

California                     Great Sierras Traverse page

Cathedral Peak Traverse
Evolution Traverse, California
Mathes Crest
The Minarets in California————-and another tr
The Palisades Traverse
Sawtooth Ridge Traverse
Ritter/Banner Traverse
The Kaweah Traverse

U.S.Rockies
Grand Teton Traverse     ———-Mt. Project Beta
Capitol/Snowmass Colorado
Mount Massive Colorado
(3 or 4 major summits; 11 total with minor summits; 3 miles long)
Pfiffner Traverse Colorado
Mohling Traverse Colorado
Cirque of the Towers Traverse
Mt. Wilson to El Diente traverse
Little Bear-Blanca
Crestone Traverse
Maroon Belles Traverse

The Thunderbolt to Sill Traverse ,Palisades, photo, Lane Brown

Northern Pickets Traverse, Photo by Josh Kaplan

“2nd to 3rd tier”
-The Northwest

North Ridge Forbidden
Ragged Ridge traverse
Isolation traverse
3 Fingers Traverse
Snowking Cheval traverse
Tatoosh Traverse
Bacon Hagan Blum traverse
Goode Stormking Logan traverse ……..2nd trip report
Three Sisters traverse (Oregon) Check out the super extended traverse in the right hand column!
Dakobed traverse      ..more beta   Hummel tr
Spearheads traverse ( Canada)
Ingalls Peak Traverse
Stuart Range Traverse
The Eureka (creek) traverse, Pasayten
Denny to Chair peak
Twin Sisters Traverse
Bears Breast Traverse
The Brothers Traverse (Olympics)

-Big Traverses of the World  (1st tier)
Waddington Traverse
Cerro Torre Traverse, congrats to partner, Colin Haley
Paine Traverse
Fitzroy group         Swiss Group
Bolivia: Ancohoma > Illampu
Illumani Traverse
Gasherbrum Traverse
Care Bear Traverse
Devils Thumb Traverse
Mazeno Ridge
Mazeno to summit of Nanga Parbat       Article from climbers

Many in Europe that I dont know about…
Morgenhorn-Blumlisaphorn Traverse
Meije, the Traverse of the Arêtes 

-Yet to be done:

World

Everest-Lhotse-Nuptse.
Aoraki Grand Traverse
The Tooth Traverse
Local
Verita Ridge Super-Traverse
Challenger 4 Summit traverse
Complete Pickets Traverse   ..Attempt
Chimney Rock Traverse,  tr of just Chimney Rock
Lemah Traverse

     Why Traverses?
Traverses have been around for a long time. I have been looking for quotes and history on what motivates other climbers. Peter Croft and Lowell Skoog were my early inspirations.
Having been at the sport for a while , it is a great way for me to explore my capacity for climbing. It can get somewhat easy to climb just a single route.
There are easier traverses,to do, that most climbers have the capacity for.
It gives one the chance to stay on the summit longer as well.
Sold on the idea of traversing? Send me your trip report!
Tips: Be careful to bivy within easy escape if you can. Be familiar with  all escapes and beware of being up high in bad weather and thunderstorms. On traverses you are more vulnerable to storms, exposure ,wind, and altitude issues. Water needs to managed well. I am always melting snow in a large water bladder. Light gear is essential, so bail if and before it turns bad. Figure on camps based on bet/worst case scenario. Figure out any shuttle issues too.
If you are successful with this sport, it should be very rewarding!
Good Luck

Sawtooth Ridge Traverse, Olympics

The notorious Index Traverse. A favorite of some in winter!               Great Winter/Cascades Page!

Kaweha Ridge

Red Kaweah from Black, Photo, Doug Artman

Waddington Range

Everest Trilogy

My Personal Traverses: Route, Date and(# of summits covered and # of miles along ridge-top)
The Oregon Cascade Grand Traverse Hood to Broken Top July-1982 (8 summits)
The Southern Pickets Traverse-FA 7-03 (14 summits, 4miles)
The Northern Pickets Traverse FA (9 summits, 10 alpine miles)
The Sawtooth Ridge Traverse  8-04 (20 summits, 2 Miles Long)
Ingalls Peaks Traverse 9-04 (3-4 summits Half Mile)
The Northern Pickets Traverse-FA 7-05 (9-10 summits, 8 miles)
The Stuart Range Traverse 7-05 (5 summits, 3miles)
Torment-Forbidden Traverse 8-08 (2-summits,1 and a half miles)
The 3 Fingers Traverse  5-09(3 summits ,Quarter Mile)
GunrunnerTraverse 7-17-09, (4 sum., half mile) IV-5.10
N.W. Ridge, Mt Logan-FA 10-2003 ( 1 summit, 1 mile)
Mongo Ridge, Mt Fury-FA 8-2006 (3 summits, 1 mile, plus Furies)
Index Traverse 7-10, (3 summits, 1 mile)

Interesting discussion from 2 of my friends on the Washington Pass Traverse:

Alpinfox  Tebow Believer Registered: 03/05/02 Posts: 5215 TRs: 22 Photos: 320 Shit that’s a lot of climbing!Spectacular effort. However, I call bullshit on the VI rating. I don’t believe enchainments should be rated as the sum of the parts since the roman numeral grade is supposed to be about commitment, not just how long it takes to do the route. By my reckoning, this would be three Grade IV or V routes done consecutively.If you try to do 5 Grade III climbs in one day, you can bail off with a few raps anytime you want, so I don’t think that changes the roman numeral grade.Whatever. Blah blah blah.Nice work! Looking forward to the pics. _________________________ let’s spank this pony and see where she goes Top  Reply  Quote  Quick Reply  Quick Quote  Notify  Email Post

#493259 - 08/27/05 01:02 AM Re: [TR] F.A. “The Washington Pass Traverse”- Silv layton  sprayer Registered: 11/27/00 Posts: 7089 TRs: 39 Photos: 802 Loc: Salt Lake City I’m still awake and can’t sleep so I’ll respond to that. I agree if these were seperate climbs. But this is one long ridge and a complete route but for some reason they get different names. The whole thing should be just the silverstar massif.All the ridge traverses that are rated grade VI (like the picketse or sierras) need to be downgraded to a fuckload of grade I’s then.Anyway, two posts in and it’s the peanut gallery nitpicking. gimme a break. _________________________ http://sites.google.com/site/climbingstronger/ Top  Reply  Quote  Quick Reply  Quick Quote  Notify  Email Post

#493260 - 08/27/05 01:04 AM Re: [TR] F.A. “The Washington Pass Traverse”- Silv Alpinfox  Tebow Believer Registered: 03/05/02 Posts: 5215 TRs: 22 Photos: 320 Quote: All the ridge traverses that are rated grade VI (like the picketts or sierras) need to be downgraded to a fuckload of grade I’s then. Yup. I just don’t think the roman numeral grading system is appropriate for traverses/enchainments. How about “XXXX vertical feet of 5th class climbing” and leaving it at that? Quote: Anyway, two posts in and it’s the peanut gallery nitpicking. gimme a break. Yup. Welcome to cc.com.   _________________________ let’s spank this pony and see where she goes

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