Forum Index > Trip Reports > Rock Mtn 4/2/16
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raising3hikers
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raising3hikers
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PostSun Apr 03, 2016 8:55 am 
On Saturday, Distel and I headed over highway 2 for a hike up Rock Mtn. After a few minutes trying to decide where to park, I settled on parking right next to the highway. There was patchy snow a little further up the road that I didn't want to take a chance on. So we hiked the mostly bare trail as it switch backed quickly and efficiently up the hill. A little below 4000' we hit snow and a few hundred feet higher, we put snowshoes on.
Jim Hill Mtn
Jim Hill Mtn
a corniced ridge
a corniced ridge
The clouds were coming in and going out quickly, it made for some nice contrast to the white snow covered slopes. The final ridge to the summit had a wide row of cornices, there was one spot on the South end for a safe entrance to the ridge. Some of the cornices were 30+ feet, so staying well West of the ridge was needed to attain the summit. The clouds were still moving along as it obscured clear views to the North.
white and grey
white and grey
Rock summit
Rock summit
a couple minutes later, blue sky
a couple minutes later, blue sky
Howard from Rock
Howard from Rock
a ragged looking ridge
a ragged looking ridge
the Chiwaukum range
the Chiwaukum range
It was nice to get out and get some exercise on this steep trail. 7.25 miles 4400' elevation gain

Eric Eames
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the Zachster
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PostSun Apr 03, 2016 9:38 am 
Excellent! Glad to hear the first part is snow free now. No ticks, I hope? I always seem to get one there...

"May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am"
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raising3hikers
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PostSun Apr 03, 2016 10:03 am 
the Zachster wrote:
No ticks, I hope? I always seem to get one there...
oh yeah almost forgot! after starting to drive home, i noticed one crawling on my arm while distel had one crawling on his leg eek.gif

Eric Eames
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks



Joined: 13 Feb 2007
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puzzlr
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PostSun Apr 03, 2016 10:20 am 
Great job on that steep route and so early in the year. I'm surprised not to see more evidence of surface slush slides with all the warm weather.

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mbravenboer
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PostSun Apr 03, 2016 11:53 am 
up.gif Nice!

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Brucester
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PostSun Apr 03, 2016 4:58 pm 
raising3hikers wrote:
a corniced ridge
a corniced ridge
Like a rogue wave. Nice capture!

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Distel32
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PostSun Apr 03, 2016 6:18 pm 
Thanks for the trip! In reality, R3H sped up to the summit while I waited below the final steep slope that split the ridge cornices. I'm definitely still a gumby in snowshoes, especially in sloppy conditions (the opposite of Stormy last weekend). We saw two skiers cross the east-facing slope below the narrow part of the ridge at 5400'. We had sent some surface slough down there on our way up and it looked super sketchy where they skinned across... Few more pics on my blog.
Arrowhead and Jim Hill
Arrowhead and Jim Hill
Forest cornice
Forest cornice
Past the narrow ridge at 5400'
Past the narrow ridge at 5400'
R3H splits the cornices to the summit ridge
R3H splits the cornices to the summit ridge
Noted spot at 5400' on descent
Noted spot at 5400' on descent

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the Zachster
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PostSun Apr 03, 2016 6:31 pm 
Your destination is not a bad consolation prize! winksmile.gif I've hung out there before due to sketchy conditions. You got a great pic of the ridge with all of those cornices...very cool!

"May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am"
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mbravenboer
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PostSun Apr 03, 2016 6:42 pm 
Nice photos Distel32! I liked the view of the Chiwaukums in particular. Nice shot of that area around 5400ft. I've always been a bit hesitant to do Rock Mountain due to the steep ascent. The trees on that entire sleep seem suspiciously tiny on satellite, but close to the ridge it doesn't seem so bad on your photo.

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Distel32
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PostSun Apr 03, 2016 6:50 pm 
I think the "hardest" part is actually out of view in that photo. It would be just behind what is visible there where we were right on the snow-rock line. I mean, I did it, so it isn't too bad, but it definitely was a section where I took my time.

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wildernessed
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PostSun Apr 03, 2016 7:01 pm 
up.gif Nice ! That ridge piles up the snow and if you have only been up there in the Spring but come back in the summer it is like a different place. Who knew there were actually trees on that ridge.

Living in the Anthropocene
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cartman
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PostMon Apr 04, 2016 10:54 am 
That's a good spring trip--and it was an April ascent of Rock Mtn in 2004 that was my first trip with gregor, who's always a great partner.

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Mtngirl717
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PostWed Apr 06, 2016 7:04 am 
We were up there last Thursday, the snow was pretty much the consistency of a slushy but still an awesome day!

What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? -Mary Oliver
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iron
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PostWed Apr 06, 2016 10:41 am 
nice pics. glad we didn't do plan A.

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silence
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PostThu Apr 07, 2016 3:17 pm 
up.gif up.gif up.gif

PHOTOS FILMS Keep a good head and always carry a light bulb. – Bob Dylan
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