Eagles Nest
South Ridge - Class 3
Date: 7/30/2020
Partner: Solo
Trailhead: Piney Lake
Distance: 15m
Elevation Gain: 5220ft
Duration: 8hrs 25min
Difficulty: Class 3
GPX
This hike starts with a few mellow miles on a gentle trail before steeply ascending to a gorgeous meadow at the base of Game Pass. From the meadow climb north to Game Pass and descend on the north side... traversing close to the ridge as to not give up more vertical than necessary. The strategy now is to locate the ascent gully to Eagle's Nest's south ridge. Don't ascend too soon! I ascended a gully a little after the low point in the Eagle's Nest - Mt. Powell Saddle. Given the saddle can't be identified from below consider setting a waypoint in your mapping software. Once I identified the ascent gully the general strategy was to climb up and left with the path of least resistance unitl gaining the ridge. From there the route is straight forward.
15m - 5220ft - 8.5hrs
Morning view of Peak C
The approach is a nice gentle trail for a few miles until it gets very steep at the end of the valley
The Spider!!!
The west side of Mt. Powell's south ridge while climbing Game Pass' gentle slopes
Peak C from Game Pass
Looking north along Eagle Nest's south ridge. The key is to not ascend too soon
I almost decided to ascend this gully... but ended up going one more to the north
This was my ascent gully. There was a ledge feature I needed to climb over to enter.
After the first gully my general strategy was to climb up and work to climber's left
Up and left, Up and left
A nice view of Mt. Powell after gaining the ridge
Eagle's nest was still a good ways off... in fact the summit is not visible in this image
A nice view of Cliff Lake and Dora Mountain to the east
Looking north to the Eagle's Nest summit
Mount Powell and the "Gore Range Traverse"
Summit Selfie and a view to the south from the Gore's most northern summit
A view of "East Corner" on the way back to Game Pass
East Corner is pretty darn impressive
Peak C from Game Pass
Looking west to Beaver Creek from the meadow below Game Pass and Kneeknocker Pass