Blodgett Canyon

I had never seen most of the granite in Blodgett Canyon. The last time Terra and I were there we started hiking in the evening, so we knew we wouldn't really get to see the whole thing.  Then we happened along a black bear just off the trail.  It wandered off into the woods after giving us a good once over, regardless we decided to turn around and leave the hike for another day.

Here is the chronicle of the second attempt to hike up Blodgett Canyon.  We succeeded. 

This hike was beautiful.  The first three to four miles of the trail is easy terrain than winds along the canyon floor, it is essentially a gallery for viewing the amazing collection of buttresses that line Blodgett Creek.

These are the first formations that you come to on the north side of the creek. I couldn't find the names of these spires, but I'm sure they have names and they probably contain a few routes.

 

This string of spires stretches North just west of the aforementioned cliffs.  It looks like it would be a pretty crazy traverse, has it ever been done?  It looks like Skyline Buttress on steroids...

Nez Perce Spire in the front, Shoshone Spire in the middle, and Flathead Buttress in the background.

Blodgett Canyon pimpin'.

Why not this photo?

Prepare your mind for a ton more Blodgett photos.

Flathead Buttress 

Flathead Buttress

Flathead Buttress

I took a lot of photos and decided to post most of them because I couldn't find that many online myself.  In this post I tried to give the reader an idea of what the canyon is like and which formations are which. Hopefully this photo dump can help provide some orientation top folks who haven't yet visited the canyon.

The Arch!

 

The Blodgett Canyon Arch!

Pristine waters of Blodgett Creek.

Gorgeous water, handsome backpack.

We turned around and headed back down the trail as it wound through salmon berries, raspberries, and granite boulder fields.

It's not pavement, we are casually strolling atop a smooth granite slab. Just like in Yosemite. Whoa!

Nez Perce Spire from the west.

I'm fascinated by the east face of Nez Perce Spire.

It seems as though there ought to be a great moderate route running up the east face, with the final pitches going up the middle of the shady spot.

The middle section of the route could cruise from lower right to upper left through this photo,

and start at lower right in this photo.  Wouldn't that be cool? Maybe it's already a thing, I have never really gotten a good look at a guidebook for this area.

I don't know the name of this little dome but it looked like there is a two pitch route up the obvious crack in the middle. 

Not sure what the name of this tower is, but it's towards the east end of the canyon, and it sure looks cool!

Blackfoot Dome, a three pitch route called The Free Lament, 5.9+ R, takes on the main aspect of the dome.

Blackfoot Dome lower right

Blackfoot Dome with Nez Perce Spire in the upper left.

A close look at Blackfoot Dome.

Nez Perce Spire

Shoshone Spire on the left and Nez Perce Spire is on the right.

Shoshone Spire and the wall that stretches out to the North behind it.  Are there any routes back there?  It would be a hell of a hike.

Shoshone Buttress Wall

Blodgett Canyon is over flowing with natural beauty.

See you next time Blodgett!