My report on Bashful Peak 8,005ft. Eklutna,Ak
Bashful Peak is the tallest mountain in the Western Chugach and the tallest mountain in the Municipality of Anchorage. Bashful sees very few visitors a year. Maybe a dozen or so. If that maybe, because the window of opportunity to climb the mountain is so small. Year round snow storms make it difficult . And it involves a grueling 11 mile bike ride. Hanging glaciers from its steep western face make it attractive.Three years ago I stumbled across reviews of this mountain while researching Bold Peak. A 7,522ft. mountain that resides next to Bashful. Although Bashful stands considerably taller than Bold. It is often hidden behind Bold, but can be seen from long distances. I could find very little information on Bashful Peak online. I saw very little post. Nothing that made me confident enough to venture off on my own. However, after climbing Bold Peak. I had a new level of confidence. Also, I noted. Most people successfully summit Bashful after a couple failed attempts. Mostly due to finding the trailhead through the alder tunnels. So I was ready. Rain or shine, hell or high water. It was time give Bashful a go. I posted an add on hiking Alaska's facebook page. As we set out on a late start(10am). We found ourselves at Stivers Gully. False cairns sent us below the Gully and to many drop offs and dead ends. By 4m we were back to Stivers Gully and found the true Bashful trail itself. My partner fatigued from exhaustion decided he had had enough. On a perfect day and going against my better judgment. I turned around as well. The following weekend Ryan Bish and I decided to meet at the Peters Creek Cheveron parking lot. The 11 mile bike ride seemed like a hop and a skip to Stivers Gully and soon we found ourselves above the Gully. Through the alder tunnel and onto the rock glacier. We found ourselves off trail but bush wacked just fine to the large scree shoot and onto the grass ramp that connects to Bashful's West Ridge. The grass ramp is decorated with a natural scree path and scattered patches of wild flowers. Once we gained elevation. Almost instantly glaciers and jagged peaks came into view. From the ridge we saw scattered glacial lakes throughout the rock glacier we had just traversed moments ago. The ridge itself was moderate but offered a variety of scrambling. Evidence of glacier formation was apparent. And in the moment I felt so insignificant, but so incredibly fortunate to be part of this moment. Eventually, we were forced to the right of the ridge and onto steep scree side walks but nothing frightening. You're pretty safe. Everything starts to open up. I noted that Bold started to shrink and that's how I measured our elevation gain. Back on the ridge and I noticed frightening exposure on either side and ahead lied Chickenshit Gully. Noticeable from previous research and pictures. Carefully making our way to the Gully(as you encounter exposure just to get there). We encountered two climbers decending. They were a comical pair. As the leader decended smoking a cigarette and the other wearing pajamas and mountaineering boots, Earlier we noticed cashed gear and a half bottle of rum at the base of Bashful by the scree shoot. Even from a safe distance I was still alarmed by the flying rocks, and how incredibly chaotic the Gully itself was. I happened to witness the mans raft anchor pop out. As they passed us we said our "hi's" and "goodbyes", and "goodlucks". Now it was our turn. I made my way to the fixed rope cautiously and never looked down, As I knew I didn't want to fall. Because its a long ways down, and most likely your body would be a landmark for other climbers. (So you know NOT where to go). Using the rope as a lead and hearing the scree fall into the abyss below. I found myself above Chickenshit Gully. My concern was for Ryan but he soon made is way up. And off we were to the summit. As we gained elevation , high winds and clouds picked up. We no longer could see the summit but worked our way around the ridge. Gaining elevation and dropping in elevation. By this time all we could see was what is in front of us. We found a red register and we were overcome with excitement and accomplishment. As we took our summit shots and celebrated victory. The fog lifted and about 600 vertical feet above us was the true summit of Bashful Peak. It looked eye watering and almost impossible. However, in a dash to the top. It wasn't so bad. The scree provided a stable platform. As I made my way to the summit I thought to myself, "this is it! This is what I thought about for the last 3 years. I set out to climb this mountain and here I am". I saw a pile of stacked rocks and knew the summit register was somewhere beneath it. I saw familiar names from posts I previously came across over the years while researching this climb. The most familiar being my friend Nate's. My friend Nathaniel Bannish had climbed Bashful almost a year ago to the day solo. A day we were supposed to climb together. However, things don't always go as planned. More impressive, he went up and down Chickenshit Gully without a rope (very scary). Unfortunetely, the fairytale views were blocked by bad weather. After scattering my brothers ashes. The high winds continued to pick up. And what looked like rain clouds moving in. Not wanting to do Chickenshit in the pouring rain. I meditated for a minute. Reflecting on the last 3 years. It's been a hard 3 years. Divorce, and inconsistent work schedule, lack of time spent with my children and family. " Ill be back," I told myself. 'ill be back on a better day". Making my way down from the summit I reunited with Ryan. Making our way down the ridge. We talked the entire time about this epic journey and it wasn't even over yet. Through the alder tunnels, traversing over the rock glacier. And we got lost above Stivers Gully. Bush wacking and finding ourselves above knarly cliff bands. (Not to mention falling off a small one). My finger tips and lips became num. We had depleted our water source. I collapsed at Stivers Gulley and just asked Ryan to leave me for the night. He would not leave and ventured off to get me water. I puked and couldn't hold it in. And after a few hours got back on my feet. Slowly making my way to the East Fork trail and back to our bikes. We rode on our leisure watching the full moon reflect off the Eklutna Lake. Its 2am now, and we started at 630 am. Back in the parking lot. We were greeted with water and cliff bars left by my mother and fiancé. A long with a "I'm worried about you letter, and call when you get service". The drive home was peaceful and the journey soul-searching. So many doors have closed but so many were opened since the start of this journey 3 years ago. So much has changed. Some for the better and some for the worst. At 30, I still feel 15. Its adventures like these that bring out that nostalgic feeling you get as a child. What I got out of this isn't something you get from a box. You cant take the experience back to the store and get your money back. You get to keep it forever! The reward is worth the effort. Sometimes its not the destination. Its the journey, the endless hours spent focusing and meditating and researching. It's what you see and experience a long the way. Many will try, few will succeed. Thank you to my Mother, my children, my siblings, my fiancé Deirdre. All the people who were a resource to me ( and continue to be a resource) to me. Brendan Lee, Nathaniel Bannish. There's so man
