Notchtop. In late April Doug Snively and I completed a new route up the steep snow-plastered north face of Notch Top. The climb began from a bivouac situated above the Grace Falls where we followed a snow and rock ramp which led up and right to the base of a large snowfield. In low-angle snow we skirted the first rock band on the right and climbed up steepening slopes to the second rock band. The first pitch led up and left to a belay above the notch on the main wall just across from a prominent spire. From here we diagonaled up and left for 7 pitches on 45° and 50° snow to finish in a col between the Notch Top ridge and Continental Divide. The crux was a long unprotected snow pitch which averaged 50°. Eight hours.

Michael Covington