The Chopping Block, first winter ascent. On February 14, 2004, I hiked in via Goodell Creek and The Barrier to climb the Southeast Face route. The next day, from below the east face, I climbed a steep, north-facing gully to gain the southeast ridge, which consisted mostly of steep, wind packed snow and had two short but tricky mixed sections. I descended by the southeast ridge as well, rappelling over the mixed sections from pitons and a shrub, and downclimbing the rest. After returning to camp I immediately packed up and hiked out, because the week-old snow crust was being rapidly covered by fresh, unstable snow.

Colin Haley, AAC