Rabbit Ears…this one’s been on my list for a while. It was fun getting it done.
The approach was a bit thrashy once we left the trail, loose and steep at the base of the rock. The climb itself was pretty straight forward…more like a loose 4th class scramble with one low 5th class move to the notch between the ears, then a fun solid climb up the northeast ear.
Pro for this climb is a few long alpine draws, a couple of long slings to sling a tree or two, some webbing or cord to replace rap anchors as this rock doesn’t get climbed very often.
For the descent, we rapped the route, then elected to rap off the north side from a tree with an anchor made from a sawed off figure eight device…Cool! After a short descent down a boulder field we went cross country through the forest to the road south of the rock, that led us back to the truck.
Fun climb with Hugh Brown.
Nice fall colors and a first look at the tips of Rabbit Ears…
At the base…Hugh thinking, I’ve done this…WTF am I doing here again?
Hugh coming up pitch 1, steep loose mossy choss…
At the shoulder looking at the NE ear (left)…
After a short exposed traverse (pitch 2), clip here and climb…
…pitch 3, to the summit.
Along the way you’ll be lucky if you find this old piton…still bomber!
At the summit…
Hugh rapping off the summit…
…and back down to the base.
What do you do with your old figure-eight device?…use it as a rappel ring duh 🙂
The boulder field descent…
A great shot of Rabbit Ears from above. Picture taken by Karl Peterson…Thanks Karl!!
The route…
