North Apostle Trip Report 07/06/2012

Peak(s):	North Apostle - 13,869 feet Ice Mountain - 13,960 feet "West Apostle" - 13,597 feet
Date Posted:	07/06/2012
Modified:	07/07/2012
Date Climbed:	06/30/2012
Author:	forbins_mtn

Ice Mtn and the Apostles
North Apostle - 13, 860 feet Ice Mountain - 13, 951 feet West Apostle - 13, 568 feet 10 miles, 12 hours and 4,300 ft of vertical gain June 30th, 2012 This trip report is mainly for me, since this was such an epic day in the mountains that I wanted to have this for future reference. But i also understand these peaks aren't climbed that often, so I'd love to help out future climbers with some route finding. I can't explain how great these mountains are, and how beautiful the climb was that day. We got to the TH Friday evening around 8pm to the sun setting and barely anyone at the TH. We set up camp and got ready for the next day. We awoke around 5am, and were hiking by 5:45am and were shortly greeted with this wonderful view of our day ahead: N Apostle > Ice Mtn > W Apostle The hike in is pretty straightforward. Two pieces of advice that aren't completely obvious: 1) the trail for Huron takes a left at the TH, the trail for the Apostles/Ice Mtn goes straight behind the sign and 2) about a mile into the hike there is a sign for Left to Apostle Basin and Right to Lake Anne - go left to the Apostle Basin. When you reach the base of North Apostle there will be minor bushwhacking, but look for cairns that mark the path. Shortly, you'll reach the wonderfully dreadful talus and scree field that goes up to the saddle between North Apostle and Ice Mountain. The base of N Apostle and heading up talus to the saddle The climb up North Apostle is a pain in the ass and for me was the hardest part of the day. I'd rather be shooting up Class 4 moves and be inches from my life on an exposed ridge than climb that crap. But hey - it's all part of the experience. This is where you earn your lunch. The whole ascent of N Apostle is scree/talus. Prepare yourself for shittiness Next up was the traverse over to Ice Mountain, which is by far the most fun part of route. You are presented with a few Class 3 moves, a small ledge system and a super fun Class 4 chimney that leads directly to the summit. At the base of the chimney it appears you can take a left route or a right route. We all went right and each of us had a blast reaching the summit of Ice. Heading up Ice Mtn into the gulley leading to the summit small ledge system that leads to the Class 4 chimney Class 4 chimney. Grab rock to climber's right(left on this photo) Here's where things got dicey. We were a team of 6 that day. From the summit of Ice there is a gulley that descends easily on the southwest side. Half of the team wanted to descend that gulley to a scree field and around to the saddle between Ice Mountain and West Apostle. The other three wanted to rock the ridge from Ice Mountain all the way over to West Apostle. Advice: do the ridge. The traverse going down the gulley was hell on the other team. They continually got cliffed out and were forced to traverse over about ten ribs, while the ridge team had an easy traverse over the saddle. The ridge looks nasty, but it's a great traverse and highly worth the exposure. With a little route finding you'll be able to find your way easily. start of the ridge from Ice Mtn > W Apostle. Ridge is way easier than descending the scree field Ice Mtn ridge to W Apostle. Taken from W Apostle From the saddle between Ice Mountain and West Apostle in a quick, straightforward climb to the summit of West Apostle. From the summit we continued on the ridge southwest and descended slightly to the climber's left to easy terrain. We hit the next saddle and descended to Lake Anne. The valley holding Lake Anne is absolutely gorgeous and plush. Hike to Lake Anne and meet the trail that loops you back to the TH. Your reward: Lake Anne.....beautiful beautiful Lake Anne Overall, it was an amazing day that stretched my limits and tested my route finding skills. It was great climbing with such skilled mountaineers and learning every second of the way. The most amazing aspect of this trip is that we were the only people on the mountains that day. That has never happened to me. The week before I had climbed the Kelso Ridge and had watched hundreds of people on their pilgrimage up Gray's Peak. It was magical, almost spiritual, and made me feel so much connected to the mountains and the spirit that runs through them. We are blessed to live in this state......there is nothing that has made me grow up so much in my life as the simple lesson of putting one foot in front of the other, checking for stability and eventually reaching the top. Marty, Todd, Chip, Me(TJ) and Cindy - Mark is taking the photo Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Ice Mtn and the Apostles

North Apostle - 13, 860 feet
Ice Mountain - 13, 951 feet
West Apostle - 13, 568 feet

10 miles, 12 hours and 4,300 ft of vertical gain

June 30th, 2012

This trip report is mainly for me, since this was such an epic day in the mountains that I wanted to have this for future reference. But i also understand these peaks aren't climbed that often, so I'd love to help out future climbers with some route finding. I can't explain how great these mountains are, and how beautiful the climb was that day.

We got to the TH Friday evening around 8pm to the sun setting and barely anyone at the TH. We set up camp and got ready for the next day. We awoke around 5am, and were hiking by 5:45am and were shortly greeted with this wonderful view of our day ahead:

The hike in is pretty straightforward. Two pieces of advice that aren't completely obvious: 1) the trail for Huron takes a left at the TH, the trail for the Apostles/Ice Mtn goes straight behind the sign and 2) about a mile into the hike there is a sign for Left to Apostle Basin and Right to Lake Anne - go left to the Apostle Basin. When you reach the base of North Apostle there will be minor bushwhacking, but look for cairns that mark the path. Shortly, you'll reach the wonderfully dreadful talus and scree field that goes up to the saddle between North Apostle and Ice Mountain.

The base of N Apostle and heading up talus to the saddle

The climb up North Apostle is a pain in the ass and for me was the hardest part of the day. I'd rather be shooting up Class 4 moves and be inches from my life on an exposed ridge than climb that crap. But hey - it's all part of the experience. This is where you earn your lunch.

The whole ascent of N Apostle is scree/talus. Prepare yourself for shittiness

Next up was the traverse over to Ice Mountain, which is by far the most fun part of route. You are presented with a few Class 3 moves, a small ledge system and a super fun Class 4 chimney that leads directly to the summit. At the base of the chimney it appears you can take a left route or a right route. We all went right and each of us had a blast reaching the summit of Ice.

Heading up Ice Mtn into the gulley leading to the summit

small ledge system that leads to the Class 4 chimney

Class 4 chimney. Grab rock to climber's right(left on this photo)

Here's where things got dicey. We were a team of 6 that day. From the summit of Ice there is a gulley that descends easily on the southwest side. Half of the team wanted to descend that gulley to a scree field and around to the saddle between Ice Mountain and West Apostle. The other three wanted to rock the ridge from Ice Mountain all the way over to West Apostle. Advice: do the ridge. The traverse going down the gulley was hell on the other team. They continually got cliffed out and were forced to traverse over about ten ribs, while the ridge team had an easy traverse over the saddle. The ridge looks nasty, but it's a great traverse and highly worth the exposure. With a little route finding you'll be able to find your way easily.

start of the ridge from Ice Mtn > W Apostle. Ridge is way easier than descending the scree field

Ice Mtn ridge to W Apostle. Taken from W Apostle

From the saddle between Ice Mountain and West Apostle in a quick, straightforward climb to the summit of West Apostle. From the summit we continued on the ridge southwest and descended slightly to the climber's left to easy terrain. We hit the next saddle and descended to Lake Anne. The valley holding Lake Anne is absolutely gorgeous and plush. Hike to Lake Anne and meet the trail that loops you back to the TH.

Your reward: Lake Anne.....beautiful beautiful Lake Anne

Overall, it was an amazing day that stretched my limits and tested my route finding skills. It was great climbing with such skilled mountaineers and learning every second of the way. The most amazing aspect of this trip is that we were the only people on the mountains that day. That has never happened to me. The week before I had climbed the Kelso Ridge and had watched hundreds of people on their pilgrimage up Gray's Peak. It was magical, almost spiritual, and made me feel so much connected to the mountains and the spirit that runs through them.

We are blessed to live in this state......there is nothing that has made me grow up so much in my life as the simple lesson of putting one foot in front of the other, checking for stability and eventually reaching the top.

Marty, Todd, Chip, Me(TJ) and Cindy - Mark is taking the photo

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

a94buff	Wow 7/8/2012 3:37am Great - and inspiring- report! When climbing Huron last year I thought I might like to take a shot at those.
forbins_mtn	thanks! 7/8/2012 12:13pm go for it, man. these peaks are awesome.
AndYouSeeMe	Great report, TJ! 9/20/2012 2:53pm Heading up there tomorrow and this was chock full of beta for our climb, much appreciated! Thanks for the advice to stay on the ridge to West.
forbins_mtn	yeah 9/20/2012 3:04pm it's looks gnarly, and the gully seems easier. but stay on the ridge. it was a blast and a very easy traverse, to be honest. you can stay on the crest the entire way and it'll be obvious if you have to drop five feet down on either side at certain points good luck, man! definitely my favorite climb of the year and i would recommend this to anyone
rob runkle	Great TR 8/15/2016 8:21am This is a great TR. I rarely print TRs for reference on planned trips. I usually just read them, and go with the route information pages. But, you have some great information and pics that I think would be useful, especially for the West Apostle portion. Thx

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