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Multi-night backpack
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Blowdowns | Bugs
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I went on a Cascadian backpack Fri - Sun to the 6100' bench just west of Tooth Saddle. We...
I went on a Cascadian backpack Fri - Sun to the 6100' bench just west of Tooth Saddle. We hiked up the Beverly Turnpike trail to the Fourth Creek trail & climbed the hill to the County Line/Hardscrabble Creek trail which took us to our bench. There were a few blow-downs on the Hardscrabble Creek trail, but nothing we couldn't step over or walk around. After setting up camp we went in search of water. Crossing the Fourth Creek basin there were a number of small streams, but up here the streams we usually used were dry. We finally found a rivulet about 1/4 mile away with a little current & a few pools big enough to dip a pan into to fill the water bag. Thankfully it had clouded up some in the afternoon so we could wear a few more clothes to help keep the hoards of mosquitoes at bay. On Sat Eric, Jay, & Karen headed off for Navaho Peak, but this old man knew that this was more than he wanted to do, so me & Ethan (who stayed behind to keep an eye on the old man) headed up Bean Peak from Tooth Saddle. It was a clear sunny day & the views were magnificent. After spending an hour or so on top, we decided to try running the ridge out towards Earl Pk, but the down climbing turned out to be a little more strenuous that we expected & after making our way a little ways across the south side of the peak we decided to bag this idea. We climbed back over the peak & found a nice shady spot on the ridge & took a short nap, then headed down to the saddle & back to camp. The others arrived in camp about 5, after having had a very good day. The evening's entertainment arrived about 8:00 in the form of a military (MAST?) helipcopter and we watched fascinated for the next hour as it performed what we assume was a rescue high on the slopes of Mt Stuart. It actually lowed itself out of sight behind one of the spur ridges near the west ridge 3 or 4 times before finally flying off towards Wenatchee. Sunday dawned sunny & warm and rather than hang out with the mosquitoes, we had breakfast, packed up, & headed out about 9;45 and were back to the cars about noon. There were nice flowers, but the peak is definately past over here. The mosquitoes were thick, but the views were spectacular.
Esmeralda Basin (Esmerelda), County Line, South Ingalls Peak
— Jul 21, 2011
— tgaero
Multi-night backpack
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Water on trail | Snow on trail
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Left the Esmeralda parking lot around 1245 under grey skies and cool temps. Made good time up to the...
Left the Esmeralda parking lot around 1245 under grey skies and cool temps. Made good time up to the well-signed junction with the County Line trail. Lost the trail about half-way up to the pass under patchy snow but no worries-we just followed the drainage through open forest up to the obvious pass. Saw a pine marten on the way up! We had intended to camp at the pass (see 7/10 report) above Lake Ann, but the conditions were cold, drizzling, and blustery, so we headed down on easy snow to the lake. Good camping at multiple spots around the lake - most had melted out and were usable. The lake itself is about 50% iced over. After some evening rain and cold Thursday dawned much better, and we headed up the ridge to Fortune peak. It was an easy scramble yielding expansive views in all directions. We decided to forge on towards Ingalls S peak, but did not see an easy way to stay on the S ridge so dropped down the Ingalls cr. side of the ridge on moderate snow, traversing under some rock bands, then regaining the ridge at an obvious saddle. From here the climb was zig-zagging up through the rock to the summit on a somewhat obvious climber's track. Class 2. For our descent we retraced steps back to the talus slope below the final summit block, then headed straight down steep snow with occasional talus to return to Lake Ann and camp. This route probably won't be viable much longer as the snow melts. Hike out on Saturday under clear skies was uneventful, except for the hordes of day hikers heading up!
Iron Peak, Bean Creek Basin, Miller Peak, County Line
— Jul 18, 2011
— Picks up Stones
Multi-night backpack
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Blowdowns | Snow on trail | Bugs
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Made a traverse, West to East, started at Iron Pk TH on July 18. Trying to find a spot...
Made a traverse, West to East, started at Iron Pk TH on July 18. Trying to find a spot with no or little snow. Walked up to Iron Pk in late pm and later camped at head of Turnpike Ck (upper Turnpike choked with snow). Next day after hard rain am, went down Beverly and up Bean Ck walked up to ridgeline. Back to Bean Meadowsto find trail up to Saddle below Earl Pk. Walked up Earl next am (7/20) with clear view out and found the summit marker made with a $2 bill and note. With big clouds moving in, decided to make a break for the house. Down Stafford and up Miller Ck to Miller Pk and called for pick up at old Blewett Pass. Clear sailing on old County Line Trail to the old pass road by just after dark. Journal and photo reference in Postholer.com.
Multi-night backpack
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Blowdowns | Snow on trail
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I went on a Cascadian backpack Fri - Sun to Upper Esmeralda Basin. We hiked the Esmeralda Basin trail...
I went on a Cascadian backpack Fri - Sun to Upper Esmeralda Basin. We hiked the Esmeralda Basin trail to the County Line trail which leads in about a quarter mile to the upper basin. The campsite in the trees when you enter the basin was snow free, but the rest of the basin was full of snow. The campsite on the lip of the basin was also snow free & vacant and we were in business. The afternoon was windy & cold so we just hung around camp. Sat was sunny & much warmer. After breakfast we headed over to Fortune Creek Pass, then up the ridge to Pt 6578 and around to the saddle above Lake Ann. This included a short class 3 traverse for some excitement. We had lunch on the saddle with views over Lake Ann all the way to Glacier Peak, out west to Mt Daniel & the Dutch Miller Group, and south to Hawkins & the Esmeralda Peaks with Rainier, Adams, & the Goat Rocks in the distance. Lake Ann is just beginning to melt out & the whole Lake Ann basin is snowcovered. We spent a couple of hours just lazing in the sun, then made our way back to camp. Not only were the views great, but we had very photogenic clouds all day. Sunday was quite a bit cloudier. We broke camp about 11 and stopped for lunch in the lower basin and explored up to the old mine, then headed for the cars. There were some big patches of snow on the trail on the way in, but they were much smaller on the way out & don't present a problem. The many creeks had lots of water in them, but were still easily crossed. There are a number of blowdowns over the trail after the first mile or so, but they are all easily stepped over or circumvented. There were no bugs, but that will probably change as it warms up. There were quite a few nice wildflowers & they will only get better over the next few weeks. We all had a great time.
Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Water on trail | Snow on trail
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The day started with a big delicious breakfast prepared by Laura and Ashton. It was after 3 pm before...
The day started with a big delicious breakfast prepared by Laura and Ashton. It was after 3 pm before I felt hungry and ate my sandwich while we took in the views on the ridge between Bean and Mary Peaks. I didn’t eat the rest of my snacks, which I will save for another day or just carry for the extra weight again.
When we arrived at the Beverly Turnpike Trailhead about 11 am (a really good breakfast takes time to prepare and eat) there were two vehicles in the parking lot. The creek crossing a short distance up the Beverly Turnpike Trail was relatively easy and uneventful. We enjoyed a few wildflowers and the scenery as we made our way up the trail. We caught up with a lone hiker and his dog just below the County Line Trail junction where we walked down to the creek and took a short break, refilled water bottles, and decided to take the County Line Trail, climb the ridge near Bean Peak and drop down into Bean Creek Basin to complete the loop back to the parking lot. The alternative was to climb Iron Peak. From the trail junction to the pass the trail was wet and muddy in places. After reaching the pass, taking in the views, and shooting a few photos we continued up the trail which in a short distance became snow covered. We were able to follow the trail, but there was plenty of soft snow and where there wasn’t snow, there was water. After wading through the snow for about half hour we decided it was time ascend to the ridge. Although I wanted to hit the low point between Earl and Bean Peak, we ended up between Bean and Mary Peaks. The hike from the County Line Trail to the ridge top was almost solid snow, except the last 300 feet to the ridge. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky so the views were fantastic. We sat on the ridge taking in the views, taking photos, eating a late lunch, and relaxing before heading down the steep slope to Bean Creek Meadow. There were a few snow patches on the way down, but we generally stayed in the rock, gravel and dirt. This was my first hike with these young ladies and with this young man. Although I didn’t expect to get them into as much snow, wet trail, and steep terrain as we found, they took it all in stride, and made the ridge top near Bean Peak before me. There were a couple of very steep snow covered slopes that they made with ease. I was almost able to keep up, but did I mention that they are much younger, as in college age as compared to grandparent age. When you hike with people you have never hiked with you don’t always know what to expect, so what I joy to find out they could hike about anywhere there is to hike – snow, rock, scree, steep, very steep, and off trail – with ease. After reaching Bean Creek Basin we ran into two guys with overnight packs who were leaving. They and the long hiker that we passed on the Beverly Turnpike trail accounted for the two vehicles at the trailhead. Near the waterfall along the Bean Creek Trail we passed a group of about 6 people and a nice dog who were heading down the trail after a day hike to Bean Creek. I should back up and comment on the great display of shooting stars blooming above and in Bean Creek Meadow. We took photos of wildflowers and enjoyed some fun photos as we casually made our way down the meadow. Ashton slipped and got a nice coat of mud on her pants, and Laura managed to splash mud on her legs. Bean Creek Meadow area is very wet and slippery in places, but there is no snow. The lower crossing of Bean Creek is challenging, but since I had my camera ready to capture a fall, no one got wet. We all had wet feet from hiking on the soft snow and walking on the many snowmelt streamlets, and marshes, but enjoyed the great weather, views and company. At times it felt very hot, but that means the snow will be gone soon. We reached the car about 5 pm and enjoyed Laura’s CD’s on the way home. She is from Tennessee, Ashton is from Connecticut and Santino is from New York but we all seemed to enjoy the folk and country music as we headed home, tired, but feeling like we had a great day in the woods. Even a bad day in the woods is better than a good day in the office. |
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