I finally got around to making progress on my most involved mountaineering project, climbing all the P4ks in the lower 48 states (mountains with 4000′ of prominence), and this trip involved some great ones.

Mt Prophet, North Cascades (Phil Stinis joined to camp)

North Gardner, North Cascades (Phil Stinis joined to camp)

Mt Deception, Olympic Range (Phil Stinis joined to camp)

Mt Spickard, North Cascades (climbed with Tony Russo)

Spickard was a spectacular climb. We drove into Canada then crossed back into Washington on foot. Heavy brush, climbing wet slab to get around a massive waterfall, snow, and rock to get the highest peak in the Washington Chilliwacks – a premier sub-range lacking easy access.

Deception – I’d failed on this one a few years ago with icy conditions, I have a thing where I’ll use a different route on a 2nd attempt even if its harder or longer. This trip I took a rarely used route on the west side of the peak with little info. When I got to the base, mist and rain came in and I couldn’t see the route. I crouched under some boulders for a few hours sure that I would fail again. Eventually there was a clearing and I saw the bottom of the route, I went for it and got above the weather. Success felt especially sweet on this one.

Resurveys using LIDAR technology have been changing this list over the last year. It was thought that 142 peaks in the ConUS had 4000ft+ of prominence, but it is now up to 146. North Gardner was added, along with Ch-paa-qn and Holland in Montana, and most recently Toro in California. I’d set North Gardner as a target on this trip for that reason, the other three I have luckily climbed already. This brings me up to 144 of 146 P4Ks climbed, just two left.