Trip Reports
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Central Cascades -- Entiat Mountains
Wildflowers blooming
Blowdowns
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Here's some useful information if you are thinking about climbing Seven Fingered Jack:
1) There i...
Here's some useful information if you are thinking about climbing Seven Fingered Jack:
1) There is a convenient log for tip-toeing across Leroy Creek (just before taking the side trail to Upper Leroy Basin). Easy if you use trekking poles for balance. No other creek crossings of significance now. 2) No snow anywhere on the trail from the trailhead to Upper Leroy Basin. Just a few minor blowdowns on the way to Upper Leroy Basin. Plentiful creek water from snowmelt at the basin for camping. Bugs generally minor, annoying at times. One deer wandering through the campsites the entire time we were there. 3) The climb: follow the snow/debris up to the base of the peak, select the easiest gully on the right (obvious). Climb toward the Jack-Maude col selecting the easiest path. Cliffs easily avoidable. The normally unpleasant scree/talus under the fingers is still snow covered (ending at the base of the summit finger, which is the farthest on the left). Crampons and an ice axe rendered this snow easily negotiable on the way up, tedious but safely negotiated on the way down). Might be ok without crampons but I would not want to attempt without an axe. 4) The final scramble to the summit is no more than class 2. Lots of loose rock but easily negotiated. Beautiful 360 degree views on the top, lots of room to sit, doesn't feel exposed. Couldn't find a summit register to sign. |
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North Cascades -- Mountain Loop Highway
Snow on trail
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I wanted to provide some follow-up to the Mt Dickerman reports of early May.
First, the condition...
I wanted to provide some follow-up to the Mt Dickerman reports of early May.
First, the condition of the gully/waterfall crossing above the switchbacks. The snowbridge is still intact but not by much. There is a LOT of air underneath it and falling through it (or sliding off it) would likely be serious. The warm weather brought a lot of people out to pound on it. I doubt it'll last much longer. Not far past the snowbridge the snow is continuous and stays that way to the summit. It seemed stable enough in the early morning but the afternoon sun brought much postholing as it softened considerably. I had microspikes, full crampons, AND snowshoes (a little excessive, yes) but never used any of them. I do recommend an ice axe in one hand and a pole in the other for the steep parts (up and down). The summit remains heavily corniced so proceed with the usual caution. |
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Mt. Rainier -- SE - Longmire / Paradise
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Paradise to Camp Muir is a snowshoe hike right from the parking lot. The route is in excellent shap...
Paradise to Camp Muir is a snowshoe hike right from the parking lot. The route is in excellent shape with easy-to-follow wands when you can see them. We had terrible visibility (whiteout) about half the way up and most of the day down, so carry GPS to avoid disaster. But go! It's a great time to be on Mt Rainier.
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
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Mailbox Peak felt like April today. There are just periodic stretches of ice on the trail (only whe...
Mailbox Peak felt like April today. There are just periodic stretches of ice on the trail (only when you exit the forest) to slow you down. No major snowfields to contend with. Didn't put traction devices (crampons) on for the ascent, only for the descent (and not all the members of our party did so).
I recommend taking the boulder field (it's almost completely bare) over the trail. The worst ice was there (as usual) as the trail drops down and around the back side of the mountain before emerging for the last glorious 700'. Assuming the Peak doesn't get a major dumping tonight, it should be this way for the next week. Take advantage of it! Leave your snowshoes behind but take crampons or stabilicers for those few icy stretches. |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Blowdowns, Snow on trail
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Visited Putrid Pete's Peak today. The details:
1) FS 9031 is in superb shape.
2) The side tra...
Visited Putrid Pete's Peak today. The details:
1) FS 9031 is in superb shape. 2) The side trail to PPP is easily found and overall in good shape (a few downed trees here and there). 3) We first encountered snow at about 3000 feet. From that point the climb soon takes on the feel of the winter route on Granite--very steep and direct to the summit. Snow was four feet deep or more in the steepest sections and postholing was horrendous. Exhausting ascent. 4) A little bit of rock is exposed on the final ridge but the snow conditions didn't improve much and any rock underneath the snow was iced over. Treacherous in spots. 5) The downclimb was deep plunge-stepping, straightforward but tedious. If you decide to climb PPP, make it soon and bring your snowshoes and crampons and ice axe. |
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Snoqualmie Pass
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We highly recommend Hibox for a day of scramble fun. As of today the route is snow-free. Here are ...
We highly recommend Hibox for a day of scramble fun. As of today the route is snow-free. Here are the specifics (bring your helmet for the summit block):
1) Follow the Rachel Lake trail (#1313) for about 2.5 miles or so until you find a fairly obvious climbers trail that heads off to the right (NE). It is right after the second major clearing in the vicinity of 3,300'. Near the far end of that clearing is a path into the brush on the right. Don't be fooled (we were)! 2) The climbers trail ascends relentlessly and at times quite steeply but is easy to follow all the way to the summit block. 3) At the summit block is an obvious gully (the "first" gully) right in front of you. Ignore it because Class 2-3 scrambling and lots of loose rock leads to Class 3-4 rock walls, and you won't enjoy the return trip down. 4) Instead, swing around to the right and quickly you'll locate another trail. We followed it to the SE ridge where we could see a short Class 3 scramble which would be easy in dry conditions, but today was rainy and chilly and the mossy rocks were slick. Instead we doubled back and climbed another gully, the "second" gully that has been described by other climbers as filled with loose rock and generally unpleasant-looking. We found it to be manageable Class 2-3 scrambling all the way to the summit. The descent using the second gully kept our concentration but wasn't bad. |
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North Cascades -- Sawtooth
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Hoodoo Peak (8474')in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness is well worth the 4+ hour drive from Seatt...
Hoodoo Peak (8474')in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness is well worth the 4+ hour drive from Seattle. The details:
1) The road from SR-153 to the trailhead (4400')is in great shape. Note: if you are following the directions in Goldman, Blackpine Road (the turnoff from 153) is now called Libby Creek Rd. 2) Trail 415 to a small cabin site (7,200', 4.2 miles) is a breeze. The trail continues to Libby Lake; instead, leave the trail and head west (right) through muddy meadows and sparse forest. Very soon after a gentle ascent you are at the base of the mountain (see photo). 3) Gain the ridge (head to the col north of Point 8071, or whatever looks easiest) and follow it to the summit. The final scramble is class 2 on mostly firm boulders; wet mossy rock holds your attention. Light snow at the top, no accumulation. Roomy summit, great views. Plan to stay a while. The summit register needs a new pen. On a dry dry the final scramble would be very similar to that of Silver Peak (Snoqualmie Pass). |
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Snoqualmie Pass -- North Bend Area
Snow on trail
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Mailbox is challenging from the start. The parking area is filled with fresh snow on top of hard ic...
Mailbox is challenging from the start. The parking area is filled with fresh snow on top of hard ice; we got our AWD sedan stuck and spent an hour digging out tire trenches to escape. Most parties were parking at the intersection about 1/4 mile before the trailhead.
The trail up to the point it breaks out of the forest consists of a few inches of snow on top of hard ice. Crampons were helpful (we wore them from the car to the summit and back). From there, deep powder is encountered up and over the boulder field and to the summit. Some postholing on the boulder field, a little on the final pitches, not as troublesome as some years. Snowshoes might have been better a few places, but overall I was happy with the crampons. Snow seemed stable enough; we saw no evidence of any slides. Ice axes highly recommended for safety on the final pitches. The mailbox and summit are deeply buried. Summit quite cold and windy; down parka etc required. The going is slow: ascent time nearly 4 hr (in summer we take 2 hr or a bit less); descent much quicker, about 2.5 hr. |
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