Pacific Peak Loop - need info.

[LivingOnTheEdge]

It's probably too late for this since it sounds like you are reconsidering but my brother and I did the Father Dyer/Helen loop a couple weeks ago. It's definitely not the place you want to be in a thunderstorm and there is no real escape except getting to Father Dyer or turning back for Helen. It took us about 2.5 hours to get from Helen to Dyer and we were going at a decent pace but documenting heavily with cameras. We also chose to climb almost every tower except one as Bill's route described so it's possible to do it faster. I would agree that there were definitely spots (mostly down climbs) that felt class four. There is also a bunch of exposure. The videos in my trip report do a pretty good job of showing it: http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=14169

Also, I climbed the East Ridge on Pacific last year and it was pretty similar to FD/Helen. Definitely easier and less exposure but it was longer. It took us about 2.5 hours to get across that ridge too but we were going at a much quicker pace. Hopefully some of this helps!

[rhinos00]

It's probably too late for this since it sounds like you are reconsidering but my brother and I did the Father Dyer/Helen loop a couple weeks ago. It's definitely not the place you want to be in a thunderstorm and there is no real escape except getting to Father Dyer or turning back for Helen. It took us about 2.5 hours to get from Helen to Dyer and we were going at a decent pace but documenting heavily with cameras. We also chose to climb almost every tower except one as Bill's route described so it's possible to do it faster. I would agree that there were definitely spots (mostly down climbs) that felt class four. There is also a bunch of exposure. The videos in my trip report do a pretty good job of showing it: http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=14169

Also, I climbed the East Ridge on Pacific last year and it was pretty similar to FD/Helen. Definitely easier and less exposure but it was longer. It took us about 2.5 hours to get across that ridge too but we were going at a much quicker pace. Hopefully some of this helps!

Thanks for that awesome information! We definitely wanted to do this loop, but we wanted a guarantee summit and with the potential for thunderstorms so early in the morning, we went a different route. As you mentioned, we did not want to be stuck up there. We ended up going with Mount Richthofen and experienced absolutely beautiful weather. That being said, this loop will be one we will come back to.

[rhinos00]

Also, great videos! That definitely made my stomach turn just watching you guys there. I'm glad we went the Richthofen route...for now. I've come a long way in battling my fear of heights, but some of those spires you climbed looked intense. Great work!