North America, United States, Washington, Cascade Mountains, Cashmere Crags, West Face of the Mole

Publication Year: 1965.

Cashmere Crags, West face of the Mole. Better late than never? On September 15, 1957 Gerry Honey, Jim Fraser and I climbed the west face of the Mole from our camp on the small lake at its base at the head of Rat Creek. The route was the obvious indirect one which ascended a ridge on the left of the face for the three leads (NCCS F3), then traversed south across the smooth face at the point where it became vertical (NCCS F6). This was an exhilarating hand traverse. Next, a vertical but broken crack led to the easier southwest ridge a half rope-length away, which we followed for three rope-lengths to the summit (NCCS F3). Overall difficulty NCCS II. The ascent took five hours. The route was repeated in 1962 by Fred Beckey and Don Gordon, who were unaware of the previous ascent.

Pat Callis