[Mesahchie Mark]

Hawkins & Esmeralda 6/11/17 Sunday saw me make another trip to the Teanaway, this time to visit Hawkins Mountain (7160') and Esmeralda Peak (6765'). I had some recent experience with the De Roux trailhead, so it was an easy choice to start from there. I got started around 9:45 AM. A Mountaineers scramble group left for Esmeralda just before I did. I would see their tracks later. It took about 30 minutes to reach the fork between De Roux proper and De Roux-Boulder. Some downed trees needed to be negotiated, but nothing too hard. Snow started around 5k, but the trail was still easy to follow. The stream crossing provided some challenge but I kept my feet dry.

Early on the Trail

One of Many

Around the Bend

Meadow after Creek Crossing

Hawkins East

I reached Gallaher Head Lake in two hours. The lake is partially melted out. I then headed west to gain the main gully between Hawkins' two summits. Here, I geared up (ice ax and crampons). A steepish snowfield gave access to the west peak summit ridge. It was an easy ridge run to the top. 3.5 hours, TH to summit.

Gallaher Head Lake

GH Lake, Different Angle

Slope to Main Gully

Snow Slope to Summit Ridge

Cle Elum Rive Drainage (from summit)

The Ridge

Steep N Face

Cascade Crest

Stuart in Clouds

Hawkins' Thimble

I encountered two other parties summiting at about the same time - a solo climber and a couple. Seems we all took different routes to get there! The register was freshly stocked with new sheets. I hung out for 30 minutes before heading for my next destination: Esmeralda. It only took my an hour to return to the lake. From there, I maintained my elevation and contoured east/southeasterly to gain the upper SW facing snowfield. The summit has two high points. I went to the east one first, then looked over at the west one, which seemed higher. So I went to the west one (2.25 hrs from Hawkins). I found the register- lots of familiar names there, some quite recent (Memorial Day weekend).

Next Up - Esmeralda

De Roux, Louvre, Jolly (I think)

Look Back at Hawkins

Ascending Esmeralda

To Registered Summit

East Main Summit

East Summit from West Summit

Windmills in the Distance

Stuart Revealed

Hawkins - again

Tracks back to Trail

As mentioned before, the Mounties were scrambling Esmeralda on Sunday as well, and left copious tracks. It was a simple task to follow them down and back to De Roux-Boulder trail. I was back to the car by 6:30 PM, for an 8 hr, 45 minute day. 5200' el gained, maybe 13 miles traveled.

[Chico]

Was as late as 1978 (plus minus a year or two as I don't recall what the year was anymore) that they ran sheep in there. Father and I hiked in to the lake to spend the night and we ran into one of my former coworkers from Ocean Spray in Markham (I left there in 76). This fellow had family in Ellensburg and again, too many years to recall names. It was the family's sheep. A lot of the trails we now traipse are from sheep herders. The sheep didn't bother us and I don't recall any even at the water.

[huron]

That's a handsome looking summit block on Esmeralda.

[Magellan]

Good stuff, Mark