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Trip Report

The Brothers — Saturday, Jul. 8, 2017

Olympic Peninsula > Hood Canal

Hit up the South Brother via the standard south couloir route over July 8th and 9th. The hike through the Valley of Silent Men was wondrous, what a special place full of life and devoid of sound! In a couple places between Lena Lake and camp the trail has washed out. Made camp right at the creek convergence along the trail just past 3000', there are at least 4 or 5 camp spots, both north and northwest of this convergence. Lots of spots for hammock sleeping!

From here the route through the forest is pretty clear and flagged, through the burn it's less clear but still flagged. Definitely a work out to climb through that mess, but before long the first snowfield starts. Following that up and right you leave the snowfield and gain the ridge to the east, here there was a whole family of goats chilling and munching on subalpine foliage. Along the ridge climb up to the upper snowfield, and follow it through the couloir. Steep snow, axes definitely needed. I had crampons and my partner had microspikes, on the descent I was glad I cramped up because he had to go much slower and more carefully. Just past the top of the snow you scramble to the right through a small chimney, then up scree and more rock to the summit. Barely class 3. Glad to have a helmet for the scramble. The summit is spectacular! Views in all directions, down to the Sound plus all 5 volcanoes plus the glory of the Olympics.

Steep descent down, but fun glissades were had on the lower snowfield (definitely not the on upper). Long trudge from camp to car. All in all a fantastic trip! Huge variance in environment, scenery, trail conditions, views, etc. Conditions are perfect right now, the snow is only melting away, as the summer goes on I imagine the route will become less pleasant. Get at it while there's still snow covering the scree!

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