The Wisdom Tooth and The Molars
Canada, Purcells, Leaning Towers Group
In early August Jim Koewler, Steve Kragh, and Dave Reimann from the Wilderness Encounter Program at Southwest Minnesota State College (Marshall) and I explored and climbed in the jagged “Fry Pinnacles” or Leaning Towers, east of Kaslo, B.C. The 13-mile pack-in up Campbell Creek, over 6750-foot Pinnacle Pass, down to Pinnacle Creek, and up to a 6800-foot high camp in the southern end of the range took 18 hours during the period August 8-10. From there on August 12 we made first ascents of both 9600-foot summits of the Molars. Kragh and I also completed an eight-lead fourth-class rockclimb of the steep but broken southeast face of the 9750-foot Wisdom Tooth, also a first ascent. Two days later we were defeated on a roundabout attempt on the 9800-foot “Pulpit”, but did climb a minor summit between Sharkshead and Bivouac Tower. The return pack-out was made in about 14 hours spread over three short days. A more detailed account will appear in the Canadian Alpine Journal.
Curt Wagner