Forum Index > Trip Reports > Tarzan & Teanaway Buttes - 03/16/2017
 Reply to topic
Previous :: Next Topic
Author Message
puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks



Joined: 13 Feb 2007
Posts: 7216 | TRs | Pics
Location: Stuck in the middle
puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
PostFri Mar 17, 2017 11:04 am 
After many days of rain and dangerous avalanche conditions it was finally time to get out on a sunny Thursday east of the crest. The low elevation and timbered slopes in this area were considered safe and everything we observed bore that out -- there was only about 3-4 feet of well packed snow in most areas. Our party of five started at Twentynine Pines campground, traversed over Tarzan Butte, climbed Teanaway Butte and returned along the Jungle Creek road. The entire route was 12.5 miles with ~3300' of total gain and took about 8 hours with breaks on both summits. I didn't do a lot of planning or map research before leaving -- mainly just sketched a rough route to download into my GPS. Had I looked at Google Earth or one of the other somewhat up-to-date maps I would have realized what we quickly found out. Most of the area by these two peaks is riddled with logging roads, old and new. We used them when they went in our direction and went cross country when they did not, but we kept running into more roads. With excellent snowshoeing conditions I think we ended up doing an efficient route even though it would be possible to use more roads. But where's the fun in that?
Open Street Map of snowshoe route
Open Street Map of snowshoe route
Google Earth view of route showing recently logged areas and the roads used to do the work. Fortunately, the logged areas are not complete clearcuts and left scattered standing trees, making it less bleak than it could have been.
Google Earth view of route showing recently logged areas and the roads used to do the work. Fortunately, the logged areas are not complete clearcuts and left scattered standing trees, making it less bleak than it could have been.
Teanaway Community Forest map of this area From file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/amp_rec_tcf_map2015.pdf
Teanaway Community Forest map of this area From file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/amp_rec_tcf_map2015.pdf
Starting at Twentynine Pines we used road bridges to cross the Teanaway River and Jungle Creek. From there it was basically cross country to Tarzan Butte, mostly through logged areas with scattered Ponderosa Pines left standing, maybe for natural reseeding. The last few hundred feet to Tarzan Butte was a little steep, but fun with solid crusty snow.
Heading out on the groomed road. It would be freshly groomed again today while we were hiking. But the grooming doesn't go up the Jungle Creek road -- it turns left toward Rye Creek. See the Teanaway Community Forest map.
Heading out on the groomed road. It would be freshly groomed again today while we were hiking. But the grooming doesn't go up the Jungle Creek road -- it turns left toward Rye Creek. See the Teanaway Community Forest map.
We started up a ridge off trail, but quickly ran into an old road that went in our direction, so we took it.
We started up a ridge off trail, but quickly ran into an old road that went in our direction, so we took it.
Tarzan Butte ahead. The slopes are steeper than they look. We went up along the treed ridge right of center
Tarzan Butte ahead. The slopes are steeper than they look. We went up along the treed ridge right of center
Lower down was a logging area with what is probably a cat track under the snow
Lower down was a logging area with what is probably a cat track under the snow
Top of Tarzan Butte
Top of Tarzan Butte
We dropped off the other size of Tarzan Butte, again a little steep and followed a ridge to the pass between Tarzan and Teanaway Butte. The area inbetween these peaks has either not been logged or has grown long enough to appear to be original forest, including some huge Ponderosas. Higher on Teanaway Butte we picked up an old road system that led all the way to the base of the summit pyramid where the fire lookout used to be. This summit has wide views from Manastash ridge to the Enchantments, with the Teanaway area close by.
Tarzan and Teanaway Buttes
Tarzan and Teanaway Buttes
One of several face plants during the day
One of several face plants during the day
A  particularly beautiful Ponderosa Pine
A particularly beautiful Ponderosa Pine
Tarzan Butte from slopes on Teanaway Butte
Tarzan Butte from slopes on Teanaway Butte
Coming across more logging roads on Teanaway Butte
Coming across more logging roads on Teanaway Butte
A lone tree grows on the summit of Teanaway Butte
A lone tree grows on the summit of Teanaway Butte
Teanaway Butte summit
Teanaway Butte summit
Teanaway Butte summit
Teanaway Butte summit
Teanaway Butte summit panorama. Includes Yellow Hill, Elbow, Jolly, Skookum, Malcom, Koppen, Stuart.
Teanaway Butte summit panorama. Includes Yellow Hill, Elbow, Jolly, Skookum, Malcom, Koppen, Stuart.
Rather than climb up and over Tarzan Butte again to get out we dropped down to Liars Prairie and slogged out the almost 5 miles to the car. Later in the day the snow had softened the crust so it was annoying to break trail and we rotated regularly to share the work.
Snow creature nesting in a small tree
Snow creature nesting in a small tree
A magnificent Ponderosa Pine at Liars Prarie
A magnificent Ponderosa Pine at Liars Prarie
Walking down the road from Liars Prairie
Walking down the road from Liars Prairie
The long snowshoe out the Jungle Creek road
The long snowshoe out the Jungle Creek road
The long, long snowshoe out the Jungle Creek road
The long, long snowshoe out the Jungle Creek road
The long, long, long snowshoe out the Jungle Creek road
The long, long, long snowshoe out the Jungle Creek road
About the Jungle Creek road (FR9701) The Forest Service page just shows closed for winter. The TCF map above shows it going a little past that trailhead, 2.7 miles from Twentynine Pines. There was no gate or other visible blockage on the road and I can't find any current information that says it's not driveable farther. Perhaps the FS has stopped clearing blowdown, and there were a few of those farther up. In June, 2011 I drove up all the way to Liars Prairie for a short summer Teanaway Butte climb with my son. There was a partial washout that appears to still be in the same condition (under the snow now). There is no trail from Liars Prairie to the summit, but it's easy to scramble up through the open forest to the old road system coming up from the Middle Fork Teanaway. The final steep part up the summit pyramid does have a trail with a few switchbacks.
2011 washout 1.5 miles up the road.
2011 washout 1.5 miles up the road.
Another interesting note is that most WTA reports for Teanaway Butte are for the route up from the Middle Fork Teanaway valley via closed road 230, now called Teanaway Butte Road.

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
BarbE
Member
Member


Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 1153 | TRs | Pics
BarbE
Member
PostFri Mar 17, 2017 12:12 pm 
A beautiful day in the Teanaway with better than anticipated weather and a fun snowshoe to Tarzan and Teanaway Butte. Glad we started with the interesting ridge route and saved the long tedious roadwalk for the end.
Stuart
Stuart
Summit views
Summit views
Teanaway Butte summit lunch
Teanaway Butte summit lunch
Peak pointers
Peak pointers
Looking West
Looking West
Stuart & friends
Stuart & friends
Ponderosa Pine @ Liars Prairie
Ponderosa Pine @ Liars Prairie
Jungle Creek
Jungle Creek

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
RichP
Member
Member


Joined: 13 Jul 2006
Posts: 5628 | TRs | Pics
Location: here
RichP
Member
PostFri Mar 17, 2017 12:14 pm 
It was a good day out with a fun group, but again that road walk was long! Snowdog really outdid us on that Tarzan holler. lol.gif
Parking near 29 Pines turnaround.
Parking near 29 Pines turnaround.
The North Fork Teanaway Rd still buried in snow.
The North Fork Teanaway Rd still buried in snow.
Arriving to Teanaway Butte.
Arriving to Teanaway Butte.
The Louvre.
The Louvre.
Jolly Mtn.
Jolly Mtn.
Malcom Mtn.
Malcom Mtn.
Stuart.
Stuart.
Teanaway peaks.
Teanaway peaks.
Colchuck to Little Annapurna.
Colchuck to Little Annapurna.
Heading down.
Heading down.

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks



Joined: 13 Feb 2007
Posts: 7216 | TRs | Pics
Location: Stuck in the middle
puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
PostFri Mar 17, 2017 12:39 pm 
BarbE - love that angle on the Ponderosa Pine shot. Shows why you're the artist and I just take snapshots!

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
wildernessed
viewbagger



Joined: 31 Oct 2004
Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics
Location: Wenatchee
wildernessed
viewbagger
PostSat Mar 18, 2017 10:13 am 
up.gif Looks good !

Living in the Anthropocene
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Chico
Member
Member


Joined: 30 Nov 2012
Posts: 2500 | TRs | Pics
Location: Lacey
Chico
Member
PostSat Mar 18, 2017 2:50 pm 
puzzlr wrote:
Google Earth view of route showing recently logged areas and the roads used to do the work. Fortunately, the logged areas are not complete clearcuts and left scattered standing trees, making it less bleak than it could have been.
Google Earth view of route showing recently logged areas and the roads used to do the work. Fortunately, the logged areas are not complete clearcuts and left scattered standing trees, making it less bleak than it could have been.
Former land owner had done some major cutting.

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Kim Brown
Member
Member


Joined: 13 Jul 2009
Posts: 6900 | TRs | Pics
Kim Brown
Member
PostSat Mar 18, 2017 8:29 pm 
BarbE, beautiful photos! I really like the one of Jungle Cr!

"..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
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Distel32
Member
Member


Joined: 03 Jun 2014
Posts: 961 | TRs | Pics
Location: Edmonds, WA
Distel32
Member
PostSun Mar 19, 2017 6:33 pm 
up.gif

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
   All times are GMT - 8 Hours
 Reply to topic
Forum Index > Trip Reports > Tarzan & Teanaway Buttes - 03/16/2017
  Happy Birthday speyguy, Bandanabraids!
Jump to:   
Search this topic:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum