• Destination: Repulse Peak (7923')
• Date: July 20, 2011
• Starting Point: Highway 20 at Swamp Creek (c.4000')
• High Point: Repulse Peak (7923')
• Round Trip Distance: c.6.5 miles
• Equipment: The ten essentials, ice axe, rope, harness, rap cord
• Difficulties: Steep snow, 4th class rock

I was way behind. In the seemingly never ending quest for the Repulsive 69, I had been losing ground for the past two years to the crew. For the uninitiated, the Repulsive 69 are the top 69 most obscure and unaesthetic peaks the Cascade Range has to offer. If it is in a selected climbs guide, the peak is automatically rejected from the list for principles sake.
I needed to reverse this disturbing trend and get back into the chase. At the annual peak bagging slide show, my talk of bolts, warm granite, and cragging had brought a round of snickers from the crowd. I needed to regain some semblance of authority and boost my self-worth a bit. I had to put myself in the Repulse club!
What better peak to bag to show them that I was back than the namesake of the list, Repulse! The crew (Jason, AKA Snafflebait; Gord, AKA Alberto Tomba; Scott, AKA The Moatmaster; and Tim, AKA Perro Rapido), had bagged the peak in excellent style, nabbing the second ascent of the original route. See TR here. Their verdict; it deserved to be part of the list, being very repulsive. To regain some stature and put myself back in the running, I needed that peak!

A wet ford across would have been more appropriate:

An early wake-up put me at Swamp Creek at 0700; it was still misting. Repulsive weather, appropriate! A quick stumble down to Granite Creek, and I found a log to cross at the perfect spot. Too convenient, this would not make a good repulsive story. Postholing through the timber was not so bad; at least the brush was under the snow. Initially, I climbed up into the overcast, but then it lifted as I proceeded up the valley. Not so repulsive.

Getting better!

The climb to gain the South Ridge was actually sort of enjoyable, all on snow with minimal postholing.

The Route:

Fisher Peak:

Once on the ridge, I did a self-belay to cross a wet-snow filled gulley; somewhat repulsive but not enough.

Looking up!

The finish was all on rock, which was not even that loose and was somewhat dry.

Actually fun!

The original summit register was still on the peak, signed by the Fireys back in 1971. Pretty cool actually.

The descent was actually sort of fun; a few rappels and a lot of boot skiing, with the unavoidable post holing back to the car. Over all, this peak was not that repulsive! I was somewhat disappointed, but since I had climbed it, I was not going to let on to the crew that I actually had fun doing so. The official story: It was a horror fest. I am lucky to be alive telling you this story. I will have to do some creative editing for the slideshow. Take that, crew! I am back!

Repulse Peak.  Repulsive?  Not!