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wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
With the see saw weather forecast and a road impassable due to ruts we had to come up with a backup trip close to get some miles. The wind was gusting pretty good for several days and was to continue to do so on Wed.
I met Steve at the end of Burch Mtn. road where I parked and he drove us up to the ridge in his nice new rig. The sun was out and the wind was indeed gusting so I was lathered up in zinc oxide sunscreen, had my windstopper vest, pants, and gloves on a long with sun glasses to keep my contacts from blowing out of my eyes. It Didn't feel like the end of May, but it worked. We followed the tree'd ridge West to Eagle Rock where it was all most impossible to stand, but Steve did get a reading of 35.7 mph sustained winds on the open summit, we took some pics and we were out of there hiking below and around South Burch and towards the ridge route to North Burch's summit. We came upon a road and thought there is a plateau out this way I haven't been out to so we walked a road that dead ended then hiked off trail to the edge looking down at Swakane Canyon and across it at Swakane Peak and the Balcony we hiked off trail through fairly open woods to another point took some photos then walked back and descended back to the regular road following it out to North Burch. The ridge is known for it's great views, but it appeared very unsettled and snowing around Cashmere and the Chiwaukums. We were able to get to a low section of the summit below some rock and it was very warm in the absence of wind, we took a long lunch, had coffee, and Steve commented on how infrequent it is to see the area still green this late in May. Eventually we hiked back getting a few wildflower shots in when able. 12 miles, 1000' r/t
Steve fighting the wind to get a wind speed reading from my Brunton Weather Station. We had 35.7 mph on Eagle Rock. Mission Ridge - Twin Peaks Entiat Ridge from Big Bend to Swakane Peak Eightmile and Cashmere Iron - Miller - Three Bros. - Navaho etc... Looking East at Entiat Ridge - Swakane Canyon - Burch Mountain The Balcony a 4900' highpoint on Entiat Ridge just West of Swakane Peak from across Swakane Canyon. Great open spot for views. Bad Ass
Living in the Anthropocene
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fourteen410 Member
Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 2622 | TRs | Pics
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I love how green those hills are right now.
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olderthanIusedtobe Member
Joined: 05 Sep 2011 Posts: 7692 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
nice
Is this the Enchantments? I'm guessing that's McClellan and Little Annapurna towards the left end of the main grouping.
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wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
olderthanIusedtobe wrote: | nice
Is this the Enchantments? I'm guessing that's McClellan and Little Annapurna towards the left end of the main grouping. |
Yes the uplift is impressive from that view point.
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HitTheTrail Member
Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 5452 | TRs | Pics Location: 509 |
Say! That's a mighty fine looking rig Steve got. Can't wait to take a trip to the TH in it.
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wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
Heading North and Steve is driving so you have your chance. Rides nice and built like a tank. A little more stout than the Toyota low rider we got most everywhere in 10 years ago.
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oneeyedfatman Member
Joined: 14 Dec 2015 Posts: 26 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle, WA |
wildernessed wrote: | and a road impassable due to ruts |
What road are you referring to? The one out to the north summit of Burch?
I was up on Burch Mountain on May 14. I had planned to hike from the south summit to the north after reading a report that made the road in between sound impassable. But I decided to let Bessie have a try, and she made it to within 1/4 mi. of the north summit.
Bessie, a 2000 Subaru Outback with 263,000 miles on her, still has some grit in her gut.
The road definitely had some deeply rutted sections, as well as big potholes and road-straddling puddles made by the ORV crowd, but it wasn't the worst Bessie and I have been on.
Like you, we had unsettled weather, with a mix of clouds, rain, and sunbreaks rolling down the Wenatchee valley all afternoon. Made me wish I had a stop-action camera and a few hours to linger.
Amazing play of light and clouds, looking down Nahahum Canyon to the town of Cashmere.
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wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
I was referring to another road Burch Mountain Rd. is in good condition all the way gating it was a good idea.
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