Pacific/Crystal/Dyer in Tenmile Range

[highplaces]

Making plans for a Pacific/Crystal/Dyer loop and I have a couple of questions.

I’m planning Pacific Peak East Ridge to Crystal Peak to Father Dyer Peak, dropping down to Upper Crystal Lake and going out the Crystal Peak NE Ridge Route.

Haven’t found much info on the ridge between Pacific and Crystal. Is it an easy walk or a bit of scrambling?

Also, are helmets a good idea on this route? Is there much loose stuff?

Thanks!

[Jon Frohlich]

The ridge between Pacific and Crystal is all Class 2 talus hopping. Nothing difficult at all. There is a short (very short) downclimb and upclimb you will have to do of the notch on Pacific but it's easy and barely qualifies as Class 3. It's a great route. I haven't been from Crystal to Dyer so can't speak to that.

[rpb13]

I haven't been from Crystal to Dyer so can't speak to that.

The ridge from Crystal to Father Dyer is a class 2 talus hike. If you continue to Mt Helen from Father Dyer you will be treated to a super-fun class 3 ridge.

[kimo]

I was on Pacific this past Sunday. The ridge grabbed my attention - it struck me as a challenge and looked like a difficult (chossy, loose, and exposed) class 2. I wish I had my ultra-wide lens with me because I wanted to take a pic of the entire ridge. Instead I captured only bits and pieces. Hope to get back up there and complete it someday, along with the awesome east ridge of Pacific.

This is the most I could fit in a frame. This is looking towards Crystal from Pacific.

Ridge from Pacific to Crystal

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The notch that Jon mentions.

The notch

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A close-up of the upper Pacific section of ridge.

Upper ridge

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I was on Crystal two weeks ago and the relatively broad ridge to Father Dyer looked much less exciting than the traverse from Pacific to Crystal. Have fun and good luck.

[Kiefer]

The ridge between Pacific and Crystal is all Class 2 talus hopping. Nothing difficult at all. There is a short (very short) downclimb and upclimb you will have to do of the notch on Pacific but it's easy and barely qualifies as Class 3. It's a great route. I haven't been from Crystal to Dyer so can't speak to that.

Yeah, what Jon said. You won't need a helmut either.
It stays 2nd class to Father Dyer.

Now I've heard the ridge from Father Dyer to Mt. Helen gets a little exciting, possibly even 3rd class.

Crystal Peak from just below the summit on Pacific

[highplaces]

Thanks everyone for the info and photos!

The ridge from Crystal to Father Dyer is a class 2 talus hike. If you continue to Mt Helen from Father Dyer you will be treated to a super-fun class 3 ridge.

Now I've heard the ridge from Father Dyer to Mt. Helen gets a little exciting, possibly even 3rd class.

I've read a bit about that route and it does look super fun! Have added it to my To Do list!

[Derek]

In case you were curious of the ridge between Father Dyer and Crystal....
By the way...sorry, I cant figure out how to make the photos smaller?!

Crystal from just below Father Dyer. Easy ridge the entire way.


If you dont go for Mt. Helen, you could always descend Father Dyer's ridge leading down to Crystal Lake, class 3. Picture is looking down towards Crystal with Greenhouseguy on this ridge.


Father Dyers ridge leading down to Crystal Lakes from near Peak 10:


--Derek

[highplaces]

Went up Pacific on Saturday, it was a great route and a great day. But, with the high winds, cool temps and just enough snow to obscure each step, we opted to skip the loop over to Crystal and Dyer. I was bummed as it looked like a fun loop. Next time.