North & South Pioneer 9/2/2017 - Crisp Sunshine!
14.4Mi/8:10:02/7677ft gain
Since I opted for a short mountain day on Wednesday, my legs were feeling good to go for another long one come Saturday. Pioneer fit the bill - I'd often contemplated climbing it, but been scared off many a time by the warnings regarding the true (north) summit. Everything was coming together though: the weather, the day off, and my improved scramble skills since the last time I had wanted to attempt Pioneer. Go time!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkp6N6Hxrt25n4qIY5ZaMoWUHThhNb6etRNT3lVSHPDILnfEpla0VOvMs_gqpcZmdxO7aEk1HCEcO9F23q4zw8rHy9uitOXxmfJlEjlr63-X8DDDX6ug7mWJLlaTqn3KCxJ6iP1yOhWI/s640/Pioneer2.jpg) |
Beautiful sunrise on the Pioneer Ridge Trail |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYNHkXMnXLmjbFp5wM5nWK_swT3ypjppFeW8K7GifLLtzOtF_TFfJZ78bgekeWQgAsXdLoQaCRO4eTahkxhMaOHotUVqRaz2ufwv0GZw-zkGAgH4m91LHCmS3zDUo5v6vjxTN-SWTZTw/s640/Pioneer3.jpg) |
Beautiful sunrise on the Pioneer Ridge Trail |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-tMljChT50E4RPjAxDMyOL8X5adkvDhXFGihBHCTe3M_qL3yv6SuggmULaLmOWY_JFglExaGdycXBiXPzDhthjoyxvBh5nnTeuSZs939j9h0R0jdGvYYSGtl8dmgcY7CFyjr7aHrHUI/s640/Pioneer4.jpg) |
Me walking in the morning sun. |
I started up the Pioneer Ridge trail just before 7AM, and after an hour of climbing, emerged above treeline. The sun was gorgeous, but there was a definite nip of fall in the air, freezing the path solid and casting frosty highlights across autumn hued tundra. It was also a bit breezy, so I donned my wind shell and soon got a look at the two peaks I'd be climbing.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeYoDpc8TTxc7ZiwEpJ6OiAsg9nMnmgFfKbcbsG-R9vHLdwZsFzDf5_cHNrVYw7lu1NfEf0h_lhAlvZairWDSsIEhJrNUi6IoJnLTsaZbmkzBdlEkhtZ9anzmIa195BwlvOFTFXmMV9A/s640/Pioneer6.jpg) |
It got breezy up here! |
It was incredible to see the scale and beauty of the Pioneer ridge. I had never been up here before, and seeing the Chugach from a new perspective was incredible! Behind me sat the Knik glacier, and to my left were Bold, Bashful, and the other B named peaks, glittering with fresh snow. Ahead and to the left sat the twin peaks (one of which I had just climbed this past Wedesday) and directly ahead, were the two summits of Pioneer.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKndGVIl-oLTB4BVG53h8W9iXt7Wz_VwoA2RTO_SMgUZr2DnMEZtybhMjVAh4FDJi2-PkokZ7RV7FaG-ATznGDyl8u9HRvbLNcPQSOEG3chHSn_VVGrBU6nfdCt59PJISK7q3ZEHY-rw/s640/Pioneer7.jpg) |
The Pioneer Ridge |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4vfy05qRhqTQ6VwEAX6Cu_Fr9oaM3ggR4qEaFsZD3AbNYfU0WuZA-ZX6nZ0bDUxZR4kQrp23j_6_xnmGnZO-6XV3qvIlE76Mhp2rnFALMLGhRP7Xy2UPNFA46XVikqYyOdbh-KsLD84/s640/Pioneer20.jpg) |
Bold Peak with some snow.
|
As I traveled, soon the only one I could see was the South, and the trail remained quite distinct all the way to it's summit. From here, I could see the new task at hand: the North summit.
The connecting ridge did look fiercesome, but then again, a lot of things do when you are far away. I decided to climb down to the saddle for a better look, and immediately, got a nasty surprise!
The scree was frozen.
It had been saturated from all the days of previous rain, and now, it was a solid block with little kitty litter sprinkles of pebbles! Traveling down it wasn't very fun. I kept to some frozen footprints and eventually (albeit at the slowest scree descent speed ever) made it down to the saddle.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCBmFlZcUqvRfbzDPnOkue8UXHc-2qyoaMhz86vx9Gq573mUhqYtZvVE5aVe17FJQwKimABfP5OLzUJ-7q7VKMXAW1VSTAzJ23EJDDvx9xrO58jx2MzYomaNJ6WBKO59azPynVajP584/s640/Pioneer10.jpg) |
Looking at the ridge to North Pioneer. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JSWU1tYIfmUxUvjVcdWjaMQsVUTBdGWAqhEhgkW8vLegwHsZp4QHP1INh30Q-XAvN1dRz8Ywt2jA10jzxfYyLTWYmUOa4cuTi75-vMqCnopA4LOBIKeXQy3p1zhVOaPTbYonhG6gVM4/s640/Pioneer11.jpg) |
I'm in the midst of the ridge at this point... |
So, I'm guessing this is the part you want to know about. The ridge. I'd heard so much about this ridge that I was expecting the worst. As it turns out, sticking pretty much on the ridge, I don't think I ever encountered anything I would consider class 5 (although I'm no authority on the subject). Whenever there was something nasty, I went around it, and always found a better way. To be fair, it was quite dry and had warmed up at this point, so conditions were prime. Certain sections were class 4 for sure with some decent exposure to boot, but nothing I would consider outrageous at all. It was very reminiscent of the NW ridge of Williwaw, so that would be a good gauge if you are pondering this route to the summit of Pioneer. Needless to say, I made the summit!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAPCUT5jdTzvZosCKnPj2KCzkXHgasPcwny3qIhD-vspiFjTksXPc_RTkN_Z5_GpqGHuKCoSwoZT6JSEYLck136KGKGZfelAXZP8iRYeih4mdwIkBgaCRqTG4tQy_PDj_2JkhAAnVAP4/s640/Pioneer12.jpg) |
Looking back at the south summit |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Pk4J8OMY6AhLxtYA1EYKVrAsVVRnSqocuYeuO6CFJ2ssiSG9nxM9eE9RFtUNmZhsNzYA4d-bKgGpwpL7EhGoG4AzSaQ4RHfQAM6IzaAz-neNXaF1bJ-qurnv5CYmOmfPgnB7UKNBgfY/s640/Pioneer12_1.jpg) |
Typical ridge action |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIL1ImbsKzG817IL5uqtAsm60uooFSg91tmAlR7cbqknsSpxkMgo1PSSyaJ79hlld-SSuL24DJpB7clWYBIO89iFEfhAPBfxKfV2hAqdW86Oa9RO7qUpiIAjPMtw7awWpVkCsxBeXxq6E/s640/Pioneer13.jpg) |
Typical ridge action |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZk7yZt-OtUb511a5GOFT1n_TyBsWcQX4vBxeXqekfbI5FtUkR8ElNpuiljd74w6-kR139wSk4AQmfoYwRe4otgTZzrxCtaMBxjIK7YUU5suuo6mFvDZG1Qtla5XBAfxBiK0ITiDIypvo/s640/Pioneer14.jpg) |
This might be the 5th class section on the left. Was not bad honestly, the picture somehow makes it look worse. |
The summit was really cool. Looking down into the valley, looking back at a very snowy Bold and a few snow showers starting to form, made me realize I'd made the right choice to come to Pioneer today. I was glad I waited for the proper weather for sure! Lots to see. I spent a few minutes and went down.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMwvZZleNtCPWgih82neJMX9IwWbTTUjAPNeV-tIInaEQX_rLmxD91ORdF8ZyPvaDrZLqwMi_jbTpYj8WAFPYxpvryAYaRRNQEGESricDIwTHD7Ag1645wRx5m155jHzLg-czCn1TVSw/s640/Pioneer15.jpg) |
Meh |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5XiNl-D4jKCbxwYtP8x3SnEeQZFNKW1vfdUPRAzxNWBypzy8CR1dwY_22pDovktgsKEG7EK1KCIVSVRJhXyfNP3SJ8kgaEJVhIQhqyeWX-0L02sOUGoRKD7HUqSIgDqI6ACfP5P4IJ0/s640/Pioneer16.jpg) |
Looking down down |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ANzlfhbfCaGxktMjDg4mnKFiiH2LuICBsUslUfrvYQA9uLCyiIh7a9keCcS45Sks3UTnlcgUJ4MuBcsFctbDJsNzEXfPbgMaLMuRtiwDNH2AqsGqc7DR8r_fCEML18bHfCTak_PRXWA/s640/Pioneer17.jpg) |
Looking toward Knik |
Getting back to the car was just as fun as coming up. Lots of beautiful fall views. A perfect start to the very short Alaskan fall! I wish it would last longer!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHeeIXrLz4j2xJOeK3x2oq22-ZMlGlz4zsEfGUnJzbz0lKONAo7c27eXOoVBtXKGOk43jgStrvWqV3TneOpoK0-J5i2eKDGLXmCLVkHqNnSrlMQIoFb_JzZ4hWCbtV6-sjxcq0UAKZCk/s640/Pioneer18.jpg) |
Ridge travel back toward south summit |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dzRTsw_WN6eWIlf8BAkx6hQf4Pa-xdGOP2O25SMWsoJWqlDFkFqzOWkeEot_5IcBxA8e2WprlA2zKK5Cq0laz7evHyxLWgSvelChsJkBbVRTU9_uzeYkIQmClT2q4IcKmUdQq6jXjOs/s640/Pioneer18_1.jpg) |
Bold and Bashful on the horizon |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKJIoVTV7UVtgHuEjdU6QnuMyhyLSfoOSueD-odFnYY9H2uyVeWhHer9QXrIGQrkir6RRFjitWVuDah48w7kcxdC5zyBx4LHR_i-U_bZ4npX6KEnZHUj3x7gWZRGlLG2av03Y1wbJb5s/s640/Pioneer19.jpg) |
Bold and the B-Boys |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqX-CbdlYSQZ8_VR2qc3PUwKb6CLlasrc-Zj-L_cbVX7IQckO_d1PuDbG5L2Nrd6DCwumUbipDWkC_PUifw3gi7Q2j1sizCxquBUvzZQ52UYrKvhZTPwG6ahpDBjbIRIIxawUmxAAbzWY/s640/Pioneer20_1.jpg) |
Me walkin. Thanks Garmin! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFRRQWhUr2lHwvLDxKgUCtA1__4Emws-iW8gXuQEpUsDRF0D5hpk3_UUTVqXbYaRtTCGAvc6vYlhmBLO3raCEocJLncKTfxXLBQ-CRPyNjgD_xBs7qrO7by3sQxJVZCgKm7wp8rib2CI/s640/Pioneer21.jpg) |
A mighty cairn with Knik in the background. |
Overall, the trail is super easy to follow and offers some of the mellowest routefinding ever. I'd highly recommend it on sunny days, probably not as much on wetter days as I think the view is a big part of the experience. Wait for a sunny one and then go for it!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uK7Sv026muwWvWj4W4Sna-zbRkxZdc7Wl2NPo66nyED514NDhTVvSsR7Z3_KZZly0giDp7410HldtyppM3_t3xwhP11DjflIBdjOMCwxgDeXCmB4z5DB5ZjiCc-C2KS7YEbvTVi731o/s640/Pioneer22.jpg) |
Last view of the peaks before heading back down into the brush |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTvsWJgnOCuPxqahtU56Wi5ty0xMGg7dSGHBY7i0nrrS1Uttp9gPKBw3tbFnCAfLZ9O1ylObSRHdU1ynrOhY_S9G0h_KEzapNXGSLRNNXJQ5mpn8mx5mj2PcaYJjxpFNMh8elLWCaNzY/s640/Pioneer23.jpg) |
World's best picnic table |
Links
Comments
Post a Comment