Previous :: Next Topic |
Author |
Message |
raising3hikers Member
Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 2343 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, Wa |
On Saturday, Distel32 and I headed up Highway 20 for a trip to Holliway Mtn via Swamp Creek. We started hiking at 7am and instead of crossing the road to head up, Distel asked why no one crosses the creek along the highway before heading up. I didn't have a good answer and thought he had a great idea to start on the West side of the creek to avoid the creek crossing in the woods. It worked out great!
Travel was good on the West side of the creek and soon we began heading up the open slopes below Hardy Mtn. After the burn area, we hit snow and it was very firm. Crampons were put on as we began traversing below Hardy to head towards Methow Pass. We traversed at 7300', it was the easiest line despite the extra gain. We then dropped down a steep slope on the way towards the pass.
Black Peak
As we made our way towards the pass, we headed down towards the West Fork Methow River just before Pt 6818. A nice slope and ramp dropped us down to the valley to where the snow covered PCT is. At times, we could tell we were on the PCT because of the occasionally cut log sticking up through the snow. We headed North for a couple miles and finally found a bit of dry dirt (4680'). It was short lived because it was just before Golden Creek, which we would go back off trail and look for the easiest way up towards the Nugget Lakes.
We found a nice spot to cross the creek (5100') and fought a little brush. The snow coverage helped but it was still kind of slow going to the lakes. We made it to the snow filled lakes with an impressive view of the North side of Golden Horn. From there, we spotted the gully we would need to take to Holliway.
Golden Horn Nugget Lakes
We started off on the rib next to the gully to avoid a waterfall. As soon as the gully was constant snow, we jumped in and followed it to within 150' of the ridge. The snow stopped and we scrambled up loose but easy rocks to the ridge. From there, we scrambled to the left and reached the summit 6hrs after starting our hike.
a nice snow gully to the summit ridge Distel heading up with the lakes far below
The skies weren't the best but we could still see hundreds of peaks from the summit. We had great snow conditions and I believe climbing this one with snow would be much better than the sandy loose stuff when melted out.
the Needles Tower and Golden Horn the gully back down to the lake
Although we had reached the summit, we still a bunch of elevation loss and a lot of gain to get back. The plunge stepping down to the lake was nice and quick and so was getting down to the PCT. Then it began to feel a little bit of a slog to get back to the upper slopes of Hardy. I could tell I was getting tired but progress isn't made standing still. So, we kept trudging along and were happy to see highway 20 again, even if we were still way above it. We traversed the upper slopes of Hardy 100' below where we had done it earlier in the day. The lower one traverses, the steeper it is and more gullies are encountered.
We pretty much followed our route the rest of the way down to the road.
A fun and tiring trip! Thanks Luke for joining
15.25 miles
9300' elevation gain
11hrs 20min
|
Back to top |
|
|
Distel32 Member
Joined: 03 Jun 2014 Posts: 961 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, WA |
|
Distel32
Member
|
Sun Jun 18, 2017 3:04 pm
|
|
|
R3H covered everything; all I can say is thanks for a unique and indeed tiring trip!
Some pictures from my blog:
|
Back to top |
|
|
Matt Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
|
Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
|
Sun Jun 18, 2017 3:18 pm
|
|
|
That's a long trip for one day!
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
|
Back to top |
|
|
fourteen410 Member
Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 2622 | TRs | Pics
|
Oh you know, just 9300' gain in a day. No big deal.
|
Back to top |
|
|
Fletcher Member
Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Posts: 1870 | TRs | Pics Location: kirkland |
|
Fletcher
Member
|
Sun Jun 18, 2017 3:29 pm
|
|
|
Nice! Funny to see this pop up, as we were thinking about going in this way to get Azurite and Holliway this week! Decided on something else though.
|
Back to top |
|
|
Gimpilator infinity/21M
Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 1684 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, WA |
Excellent report guys. Holliway has been on my mind, so it's really nice to see you two made it up there.
I can confirm that we were planning to climb this peak today, but as often goes with trip planning, we changed our minds.
|
Back to top |
|
|
iron Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 6391 | TRs | Pics Location: southeast kootenays |
|
iron
Member
|
Mon Jun 19, 2017 9:43 am
|
|
|
so much talk of late about "tired" and "slogs". you must be getting close to 40 or something.
at least your over halfway there for your goal...
|
Back to top |
|
|
Stefan Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Posts: 5082 | TRs | Pics
|
|
Stefan
Member
|
Mon Jun 19, 2017 9:50 am
|
|
|
holy. 9300 feet of gain! wowza you two!
|
Back to top |
|
|
mbravenboer Member
Joined: 20 Oct 2013 Posts: 1422 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
Distel32 always looks way too happy when he's climbing a steep slope.
|
Back to top |
|
|
raising3hikers Member
Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 2343 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, Wa |
@iron
age 40 is already in my rearview mirror, oh well
|
Back to top |
|
|
Distel32 Member
Joined: 03 Jun 2014 Posts: 961 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, WA |
|
Distel32
Member
|
Mon Jun 19, 2017 8:47 pm
|
|
|
only when someone else is kicking steps for me!
|
Back to top |
|
|
iron Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 6391 | TRs | Pics Location: southeast kootenays |
|
iron
Member
|
Mon Jun 19, 2017 8:53 pm
|
|
|
raising3hikers wrote: | @iron
age 40 is already in my rearview mirror, oh well |
well, the lack of gray in your beard makes you look younger...
|
Back to top |
|
|
Tom_Sjolseth Born Yesterday
Joined: 30 May 2007 Posts: 2652 | TRs | Pics Location: Right here. |
Thanks for the good memories, Eric. Nice timing and way to crush it in a day.
|
Back to top |
|
|
wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
Wow, someone had their Wheaties ! Did I see a pair of Vasque Breezes in that one pic ?
Living in the Anthropocene
Living in the Anthropocene
|
Back to top |
|
|
Brushbuffalo Member
Joined: 17 Sep 2015 Posts: 1887 | TRs | Pics Location: there earlier, here now, somewhere later... Bellingham in between |
raising3hikers wrote: | @iron
age 40 is already in my rearview mirror, oh well |
Maybe so, but r3h, you can't see old age ("advanced middle age") even with a telescope!
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
|
Back to top |
|
|
|