In the Monte Cristo Region of the North Cascades, a mountain bike approach is recommended for this peak. The old town site of Monte Cristo is rich in mining history. The route is up to 5.4 with 10 feet of down climbing, leading us to a summit the size of a table top. Plan for a long day with snow and rock on this trip.

Activity Notes

Car-to-car, early start, long day.  Note adjacent (easier) White Chuck climb the next day, I prefer folks sign up for both, but not required.  We will return to cars and a trailhead camp between climbs, return from both climb 1PM Sunday July 2.  Mountain bike needed for easy 5 mile road-to-trail approach to the abandoned mining town of Monte Cristo.

This is a bit early season, so we should expect snow, possibly ice in the final approach gully.  Which should make it mellower than the loose scree later in the summer!  (But I have not done this route before.)  Gear list will be in prospectus.

Planning to fixed-line the summit pitches, so no need for you to lead rock.  Unless you really want to, and are a solid trad leader!

Other Information
Driving Distance from Portland 250 miles
Driving Time from Portland 7 hours
Expected Duration Car to car in two or more days
Relevant Books Cascade Alpine Guide: Stevens Pass to Rainy Pass by Fred Beckey Selected Climbs In The Cascades Volume 2 by Nelson and Potterfield
Relevant Maps USGS 7 minute series, Monte Cristo Quad, Green Trails #143 Monte Cristo <href="http: maps.google.com="" maps?f="q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Wilmans+Spire+&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=40.732051,93.164063&ie=UTF8&ll=47.977168,-121.362147&spn=0.016864,0.04549&t=p&z=15&iwloc=A"" title="Google map">Google map</href="http:>
FIND AN UPCOMING ACTIVITY ON THE Calendar