Ram belaying on the ridgecrest.

Aaron executes one of the three or four fifth-class moves - usually right on the arete!

EXPOSED! The view down each side, from the belay.

Aaron leading up one of the fifth class spots.

Tom following the same spot.

Aaron belaying. Next part of the ridge was pretty third class, so we simulclimbed to the base of the final summit block.

Ram coming up to the 3rd class part of the ridge.

Ram on TOP OF THE WORLD!!

Aaron on the summit, looking down at our descent line. And then we went down.

Some nice flowers near the summit - looks like... Polemonium elegans Polemoniaceae (Phlox family) Common name: Elegant Jacob's ladder, Elegant Polemonium Location: North Cascades National Park, near summit of Black Peak, July 20, 2008; also near summit of Mount Stuart, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, July 25, 2008. Elevation: approx 9000 feet NAD83 UTM: - uh, gotta look that. Dominance: Uncommon in the areas stated. Comments:   Source: (1) Washington Native Plant Society; (2) Spellenberg, Richard. (1979, 1994) National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Western Region. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. ISBN 0-394-50431-3. Description page 672. (3) University of Washington Herbarium.

Then - a long way down. Tedious steep crap, then some snow really helped. Then the climb to the pass, and down the trail - a long day.