We made this attempt prior to the successful first ascent of Mullen a few days later. We bushwhacked up Razor Creek about 10 miles (took two days) to a base camp at the un-named lake at 5400' below the north face of Mullen. (we called it 'Dirty Sock' because, well, we used that lake!) From the lake, we hiked up the tributary running into the east side of the lake into a broad glaciated basin beneath what is now called 'Mullen N2' but we called 'Chicken Noodle Ridge'
[photo]ChickenNoodleRidge.jpg[caption]Tottering towers south of basin east of 'Dirty Sock Lake. D. McKeever photo[/photo] because of the tottering towers all along the skyline. This basin sports a couple of rock glaciers. We bivied in the 7900' saddle east of Mullen N2. The views to the south from here were inspiring. Ottarasko dominated.
[photo]OttaraskofromRazorback.jpg[caption]North face of Ottarasko Peak. D. McKeever photo[/photo] The next day we walked up the ridge eastward toward Razorback. The rock became less solid and more thinly bedded. It was largely shale but is pretty broad and easy as far as 'Razorback W2', which we climbed. This might be the earliest recorded ascent, unless Hall and Fuhrer went this way in 1931. It was trivial but is now dignified with a name so will add a note on that page too, I guess. We went another 3/4 mile east on increasingly loose rock on a narrowing ridge before we called it quits on a 10'000 foot knob .3 mile SW of the summit. The knife-edge ridge from this point to the top was just so rotten and dangerous looking, and we had other things on... To see the full trip report you must login as a paid member. Use the Login Page. (message p3)