Fools - Window - PT13017
Date: 07-13-23
Partner: Solo
Trailhead: 30 Mile CG
Summits: Fools Pyramid, PT13261, Window Peak, PT13017
Approach: 8.4m + 2250ft = 2.25hrs
Peaks from Camp: 11.75m + 4350ft = 7.5hrs
Fools Pyramid 14ers.com Page
PT13261 14ers.com Page
Window Peak 14ers.com Page
PT13017 14ers.com Page
I can't say I am a fan of this zone. It is remote, dusty dry, hot and has agressive horesflies. While The Window is an amazing feature, the other peaks in the zone don't strike a cord with me. Except for PT13017 which has a badass summit ridge. PT13017 is very cool!
My initial plan was to hike in, setup camp and chill. I would climb the southern peaks on the second day, the northern peaks on the third and then hike out. I was in no hurry.
Plans are plans but when I got to camp and the flies started biting things changed. I decided to hike the two northern peaks that day.
Upon reaching the summit of the second nothern peak I got a wild hair and decided to go for the southern peaks as well... shit maybe I will even hit RGP!
Enroute I sidehilled along Fool's western slope... not so great. When I reached the saddle with RGP I changed my mind yet again and started back for camp. As I made my way I remembered the flies... and changed my mind again... and started back for The Window. Damn... all of this indecision is making things tougher on myself with this sub optimal route.
So I tagged The Window and then PT13017... the coolest features in the zone!
By the time I summitted PT13017 it was late in the day and I was feeling tired. It was going to net out to a 21 mile day with over 6500ft of vert. A third of that with a heavier pack.
PT13017's summit ridge is a significant out and back on more techical and navigational terrain. After summitting, on the way back across the ridge I found myself a little off route and decided to bail and drop the ridge... which wasn't so great. So don't do that.
Reflecting on the day.... If I had it to do all over again I would start with the toughest peak first... PT13017 and work my way north. This would ensure you are fresh on PT13017 and have easier peaks as the day goes on. You would also stay higher between The Window the RGP/Fools saddle saving vert and avoiding the sidehill on Fools. From PT13261 you could cut across the southern basin and hop on the low point of Fool's eastern ridge before descending back to camp.
I guess hindsight is 20/20.
The day after hiking in and doing the peaks, I hiked out... took a nap... then hiked in to Squaw Creek (renamed?) for Chief Mountain.
Approach: 8.4m - 2250ft - 2.25hrs | Peaks from Camp: 11.75m - 4350ft - 7.5hrs
My initial plan was to hike in, setup camp and chill. RGP (L) - Window (R)
However upon reaching camp I decided to hike the northern peaks PT13261 and Fools Pyramid
RGP enroute to Fools
The Window is a damn cool feature
RGP and the bit boys of the Wemi. You can see Jagged on the far left and Vestal on the far right.
Looking north along Fools north ridge to PT13261
Looking north from the Fools / PT13261 saddle
On some tedious terrain bypassing some problems along the ridge
Looking back at the ridge problems
When I reached PT13261's summit I got a wild hair and decided to go for the southern peaks The Window and PT13017 as well.
On the way to The Window I had second thoughts and decided to return to camp.
Then on the way to camp I changed my mind again and started back for The Window and PT13017.... resulting in a less than optimal route
Views to the west from inside the window
Looking back to the window feature and RGP
RGP from the summit of The Window
Yeah buddy!
Boing!
Looking along The Window's north ridge to RGP
Next stop PT13017... which would prove to be the daddy of the day... long and spicy summit ridge
Hard to look away from these views
PT13017 looking mean! The summit is far left... start the ridge far right
Some solid, some not... test everything
A cairn teeters on the summit
It was getting late in the day and I was getting tired. I felt leery about traversing back across the ridge and ended up bailing off of it mid way. Probably would have been better to have just stuck with the ridge
Heading back to camp
It had been a much longer day than I had planned
Looking forward to a nice meal and a good night's sleep
PT13017 from camp