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Kim Brown Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 6900 | TRs | Pics
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Booby prize for some of you; my photos aren't from the summit - you'll have to see Matt Burton's great report for that! I didn't summit McCausland, rather called it a day below the summit while Jim, Gwen and Kevin did. Thanks for Matt & crew for laying in the route.
My interest, as always, is in the details. But that's not why I didn't summit, that was because I'm a fat-ass lame-o. But I digress.
2 degrees at the start of the trip, rising to a balmy 10 degrees at the end of the trip. In between, though, as you all know, was bright, brilliant sunshine and fluffy, dry snow.
This forest is dark and shady in summer, but firs have a wonderful, elastic, bendy attribute to their wood cells to accommodate snow load so instead of breaking, they simply bend, turning the trees into something like folded umbrellas. As a result, the forest is more open in winter, allowing lots of snow to sift down on top of rocks, downed and up trees, making beautiful sculptures. Some of them remind me of the shmoos in the old Li'l Abner cartoons!
I'll shut up now, and show you the pictures.
Oh, wait. The massive backup on Highway 2 prompted a stop at McDonalds in Sultan. We had to pee (this was on hour 3 of the jammed commute from Stevens Pass), and we were hungry. The place was PACKED. But the teens who work there were great. Efficient, friendly, happy, and overall great. e McDonalds in Sultan. Just thought I'd toss that out there.
OK, now pictures.
McCausland alpenglow and hiker McCausland alpenglow McCausland art McCausland bloops1 McCausland crossing creek McCausland giant hook McCausland giant scroll McCausland pinwheel at top of tree McCausland point McCausland snow tracks and bloops McCausland
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
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Damian Member
Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 3260 | TRs | Pics
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Damian
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Sun Jan 03, 2016 10:01 pm
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Kim Brown wrote: | I'll shut up now, and show you the pictures.
Oh, wait. The massive backup on Highway 2 prompted a stop at McDonalds in Sultan. We had to pee... |
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Kim Brown Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 6900 | TRs | Pics
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Yes, yes, I know. I can't shut up.
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
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puzzlr Mid Fork Rocks
Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 7220 | TRs | Pics Location: Stuck in the middle |
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
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Sun Jan 03, 2016 10:29 pm
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Kim Brown wrote: | shmoos in the old Li'l Abner cartoons! |
I just made the same comment about the snow blobs on our snowshoe up Amabilis Saturday. Nobody had heard of shmoos so it fell on deaf ears.
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JimK Member
Joined: 07 Feb 2002 Posts: 5606 | TRs | Pics Location: Ballard |
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JimK
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Sun Jan 03, 2016 10:34 pm
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Kim Brown Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 6900 | TRs | Pics
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puzzlr wrote: | Kim Brown wrote: | shmoos in the old Li'l Abner cartoons! |
I just made the same comment about the snow blobs on our snowshoe up Amabilis Saturday. Nobody had heard of shmoos so it fell on deaf ears. |
Damn, you're old.
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
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HitTheTrail Member
Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 5462 | TRs | Pics Location: 509 |
Yeah, I have never understood the attraction of an actual summit if you just got 99% of the enjoyment of the hike, the adventure (and often the view) by getting in the general vicinity! To me it's just about getting out. Nice photos.
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JimK Member
Joined: 07 Feb 2002 Posts: 5606 | TRs | Pics Location: Ballard |
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JimK
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Tue Jan 05, 2016 3:38 pm
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I have posted my trip report along with 38 annotated photos on my site at: Mt. McCausland Report & Photos
Here are a few of my photos:
Snowshoes Go On Smithbrook Road Blowing Snow Summit In Sight Almost There Sloan Peak Kyes Peak Summit Refuge Heading Down Lichtenberg
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Gwen LO Girl-of-the-Month
Joined: 14 Feb 2010 Posts: 1673 | TRs | Pics
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Gwen
LO Girl-of-the-Month
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Tue Jan 05, 2016 9:49 pm
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I don't have much to add that the others haven't already posted. Again, big thanks to Matt, Cartman, Justus, and Redwic for doing the dirty work of breaking trail two day prior; I wouldn't have made it otherwise! And thanks to Jim for finding a trip that had broken trail! And thanks to Kim and Kevin for, as always, excellent entertainment. Really nice to get out with our summer "boss" on an off-duty trip!
A darkly shadowed Smithbrook Kim heads toward the light Ice castles Admiring raw beauty Shadows ahead, Lichtenberg behind Towering to the darkest daylight blue Art shot Art shot gone b&w No filters; the sky really was this deep. Watching the snow blow off the Lichtenberg spire Kevin forges forward while Jim hides in the trees Going up View over to Howard and Rock Frozen giant A frozen cathedral I worship here Jim had a point; I missed it Heading for the final push The boys are always ahead I made them turn and smile Looking back to Lichtenberg, now heading down And down some more, toward future destinations Seems Kim and I eyed the same detail Ice castles in the now changed evening light Saw 4 or 5 of these fat hens in a tree. Anyone know what they are?
Tomorrow's not promised to anyone, so be bold, scare yourself, attempt something with no guarantee of success. You'll be amazed at what you can achieve. -Olive McGloin
Tomorrow's not promised to anyone, so be bold, scare yourself, attempt something with no guarantee of success. You'll be amazed at what you can achieve. -Olive McGloin
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mbravenboer Member
Joined: 20 Oct 2013 Posts: 1422 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
Great photos from all!
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Kim Brown Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 6900 | TRs | Pics
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Gwen wrote: | Saw 4 or 5 of these fat hens in a tree. Anyone know what they are? |
I'll hazard a guess & say they're probably fat hens in a tree.
You're welcome.
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
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snoqpass Member
Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 351 | TRs | Pics
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snoqpass
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Tue Jan 05, 2016 10:43 pm
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RichP Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 5634 | TRs | Pics Location: here |
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RichP
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Tue Jan 05, 2016 10:44 pm
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It was like the Smithbrook renaissance there for a few days. Beautiful images from a perfect winter day.
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HitTheTrail Member
Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 5462 | TRs | Pics Location: 509 |
My God! There are calendar candidates lurking everywhere in this TR and it is only January!
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Gwen LO Girl-of-the-Month
Joined: 14 Feb 2010 Posts: 1673 | TRs | Pics
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Gwen
LO Girl-of-the-Month
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Tue Jan 05, 2016 11:05 pm
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Kim Brown wrote: | Gwen wrote: | Saw 4 or 5 of these fat hens in a tree. Anyone know what they are? |
I'll hazard a guess & say they're probably fat hens in a tree.
You're welcome. |
Damn, I should have known that you would know! You dork!
Tomorrow's not promised to anyone, so be bold, scare yourself, attempt something with no guarantee of success. You'll be amazed at what you can achieve. -Olive McGloin
Tomorrow's not promised to anyone, so be bold, scare yourself, attempt something with no guarantee of success. You'll be amazed at what you can achieve. -Olive McGloin
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