Chimney Rock - West Face - Selkirks of Idaho

This "fantabulous" adventure marked Kristin's  first multi-pitch alpine climb....what a magical place to tackle your first "trad" climb!  Granite of this quality is usually spattered with climbers.  Not the case with Chimney Rock of northern Idaho's Selkirk mountains.  We had the entire area to are self.

Chimney Rock:  is a unique granite tower that sits atop of a prominent ridge and has adopted the name "lightning rod" of North Idaho. The West Face was first climbed in 1934 by John Carey, Mart Chamberlain, Fred Theime, and Byron Ward.  This "west face direct route" is the easest way to the formations summit and goes at about 5.5.  The formation today features roughly 50 routes on its west and east faces.  

Kristin and I choose to climb the slightly more challenging Rappel Chimney (5.7) route.  What a brilliant little route this was.  Some excellent pitches and movement packed into this classic route.  (For detailed information on the route see my write up posted on Mountain Project...click link above)

First view of Chimney's west face

Rappel Chimney follows the obvious right facing corner system seen near the left edge of the formation

Trying to show her profile here.  The summit was an awesome place...only about 20' wide

Nearing the end of pitch 1

Kristin coming through the perfect pitch 3 corner

1st Alpine route in the books:)....."not the last"

bye chimney....until we come ski you this winter:)

The "Epics" Begin - 7 Summits - Rossland, BC

The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) each year publishes an Epic Rides list. The 2010 Epic Rides List included Seven Summits, Rossland British Columbia.  A quick perusal of the Epics list last fall resulted in a weekend venture to our neighbors up north.  The Seven Summits Trail of Rossland, British Columbia.  This 35.8km trail, ok ok I know darn kilometers, but I thought I'd stick with the Canadian theme here.  So the 22.25 mile trail tackles rolling singletrack with beautiful mountain vistas, some steep ascents and thrilling descents. The trail follows ridgelines, affording views of the Columbia River Valley and the Southern Selkirk Mountains, and challenges  riders with technical sub-alpine terrain.

Trail Logistics:

The Seven Summits trail is designed to be ridden in a North – South direction, and to link with the Dewdney trail. Leave a vehicle at the bottom of the Dewdney trail on Hwy 22, near the US Border in Paterson (12 km South of Rossland) and arrange a 30km shuttle to Nancy Greene Pass. The trail begins immediately behind the trailhead kiosk at the Pass.

K scoping out the trail overview map at the trailhead kiosk

our GPS tracks

just another view