Questions about Pioneer Peak

[spiropoulos]

I have yet to hike Pioneer, but I plan to this summer. I am going up the south peak trail because I dont have climbing gear. I want to know if one could get to the North peak from the South peak? And if so how difficult a path is it?

 

[AKBEE]

You might consider a google search which will have lots of information including Summitpost.org. that discusses the trails pretty well. I believe the book ‘55 Hikes in Alaska’ has info for it as well. Stay safe.

 

[AK Troutbum]

I did it a couple years ago for the first time, but didn't even attempt the North peak. I'm 55 and consider myself in okay shape (hike year around, with upwards of 3-4 local mountains/week, and try to do at least one mountain hunt every year), but Pioneer definitely worked me over. We left the parking lot at around 0900 on a nice summer day, spent about an hour or so the the top of the South peak, then back down to the truck by a little after 2300 that night. My then 18 yo son and his buddy attempted to do the North peak that same day, but were only able to make it about 1/3 of the way up, and decided it was too technical without appropriate gear. For reference, this is coming from a couple of kids, in the prime of their lives, that both summited Denali last year and climb A LOT. This is a couple pictures from that day. These were taken from the South peak, and they're of the two boys attempting to go up the North peak.

 

[AK Troutbum]

This is a couple pictures of the same two boys coming down from a 10,000' peak in the Alaska range this past weekend. They're young, but they're not rookies.

 

[greyinggrayling]

On 10/04/15 at approximately 1815 hours, Alaska State Troopers received a report that Roy Roth, 49 of Wasilla, was hunting sheep on Pioneer Peak near Goat Creek when he fell down the mountainside. A hunter with Roth hiked down the mountainside and confirmed Roth was deceased. Recovery efforts are being coordinated between AST and the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group. The recovery requires AMRG technical rescue personnel due to the difficult terrain. Next of kin has been notified.

 

[4merguide]

What

On 10/04/15 at approximately 1815 hours, Alaska State Troopers received a report that Roy Roth, 49 of Wasilla, was hunting sheep on Pioneer Peak near Goat Creek when he fell down the mountainside. A hunter with Roth hiked down the mountainside and confirmed Roth was deceased. Recovery efforts are being coordinated between AST and the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group. The recovery requires AMRG technical rescue personnel due to the difficult terrain. Next of kin has been notified.

What a shame...

 

[spiropoulos]

This is a couple pictures of the same two boys coming down from a 10,000' peak in the Alaska range this past weekend. They're young, but they're not rookies.
View attachment 2784860
View attachment 2784861

Ok thank you, I knew I wasn't going to be able to get up the North face. I just wanted to see if I could venture to the North peak if I'm already at the South peak. For refrence I am 19 and in very good physical condition, however I dont have a lot of climbing experence so this might not be possible for me. The south peak will still be an accomplishment though!

 

[AK Troutbum]

Ok thank you, I knew I wasn't going to be able to get up the North face. I just wanted to see if I could venture to the North peak if I'm already at the South peak. For refrence I am 19 and in very good physical condition, however I dont have a lot of climbing experence so this might not be possible for me. The south peak will still be an accomplishment though!

The South peak will most definitely be an accomplishment, and it's really not technical at all.