some names Member
Joined: 08 Jan 2012 Posts: 243 | TRs | Pics
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We were recently on French Cabin Mtn South Peak and thought French Cabin Mtn West Peak and Pt 5563 (Middle Peak) looked like fun destinations. The rocks in this area are really cool! We decided to take the Kachess Ridge/Silver Creek trail # 1315 which leaves from the same trailhead as the trail to Mt Baldy/Thomas Mtn but goes up the west side of Silver Creek.
The trail is in good shape. It starts up steeply, but after about 1.5 miles it levels off and is almost flat as it goes through the hanging valley before gently rising to 4660ft at the junction of Silver Creek Tie trail #1308.1. The junction is unmarked and has no sign, but was not difficult to find. There is a clear path that immediately crosses a small Silver Creek here. We took trail #1308.1 up to the crest of the south ridge of West Peak at about 5200 ft. Here we left the trail and headed up the rocky south ridge of West Peak for some fun rock scrambling. About 100 ft. below the summit we left the rock ridge and went up a shallow grassy/rocky gully on the west side to the summit.
Our approximate route On trail 1315 - microspikes work great on slippery logs West Peak - south ridge West Peak - south ridge On south ridge of West Peak On south ridge of West Peak On south ridge of West Peak View to east ridge of West Peak Middle Peak - 5563 Rocks on Kachess Ridge West Peak summit rocks
What a nice view from the top. Many of the mountain tops were cloud covered, but we had a 360 degree view. As we looked across to Pt 5563 we counted 27 goats on its south slopes! We ate lunch and took pictures.
View to French Chin, French Tongue, and Kachess Ridge French Tongue (L) and French Chin (R) East ridge of West Peak to Middle and South Peaks North Peak Kachess Ridge French Tongue French Tongue (L) and French Chin (R) Thorp Mtn Meadow Mtn in the distance Top of French Tongue French Tongue On West Peak East ridge to Middle and South Peaks East ridge On West Peak On West Peak North Peak Silver Creek valley and Thomas Mtn
We descended to the Tie trail #1308.1 on grassy slopes, faster than descending the rock with threatening clouds approaching.
Descending West Peak on grassy slopes Clouds forming over Kachess Ridge
We continued east on the trail toward Pt. 5563, descending a steep 300 ft. and then climbing back up to near the summit of Pt. 5563. We left the trail and walked up to the summit which had nice views to the north, east, and west . . . and more cool rocks.
Goats on Middle Peak Hiking to Middle Peak Middle Peak - 5563 On Middle Peak - 5563 West Peak from Middle Peak Goats on Middle Peak Silver Creek valley and shoulder of Easton Ridge Thomas Mtn Rocks on Kachess Ridge West Peak from Silver Creek Tie trail 1308.1 West Peak from Silver Creek Tie trail 1308.1 Microspikes work great on the way out, too
We returned by the same trails, another day in a really nice area . . . another day without seeing any other person.
12.5 miles
4200 ft elevation gain
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