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OK - so I didn't exactly climb the Citadel. But it is a MUCH cooler mountain than Mount Bethel (which I did climb). Plus, I did check out the Citadel and will be climbing it soon... And it does end in "el"... And it is the coolest picture I took on this climb...
Peak: Mount Bethel - 12,705
Route: North face
Approach: Herman Gulch
Length: About 9 miles RT
Vertical: About 3600 feet
Ascent party: Solo
Mount Bethel
Mount Bethel is the pyramid shaped peak you see going up I-70 just as you approach the Herman Gulch trailhead exit. I had thought about doing Bethel for several years and as I wanted to get a little idea of what it would take to do the Citadel/Hagar traverse, I decided to catch Bethel and do a little recon. Turned out to be a VERY fun day.
Pettingel looms large on the approach.
And the Citadel is in the distance.
About 2 miles in, you take a hard left (south) and go up this avalanche chute (which is steeper than it appears in this picture). The summit is on the upper left of this shot.
A better idea of the incline.
The last bit to get to the summit.
Summit shots
From the summit, I followed the ridge west towards the Citadel.
Looking back at Bethel. You can see a faint climber's trail which (naturally) I didn't see on my way down and I ended up slipping and sliding down the rocks...
Dry Gulch from the ridge
The remaining ridge
Herman Lake
Nearing the saddle
A look back up at the ridge from the saddle. These towers can be avoided by going just to the right (climber's left coming down).
A view of part of the Citadel to Hagar traverse
Taken from just below the Citadel looking back east at the ridge towards Bethel which is the low bump just right of center.
And a wildflower to end this.
This was a fun little climb. Certainly not tough, but some of the best views come from mountains that are not a technical challenge. The real crux of this climb was the route back. I have done the basin below Herman Lake many times in the winter on snowshoes and it is a pretty easy jaunt. Not true in the summer, tho. The willows are killers.
Thanks for taking the time to read this! Be careful out there!
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
I appreciate your compliments! And I did manage to get Citadel & Hagar this past weekend.
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