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adamschneider Member
Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 95 | TRs | Pics Location: Portland, OR |
Anyone have any GPS tracks from a trip to both Sperry Peak and Vesper Peak (Mountain Loop Highway area)? Or maybe just Sperry Peak?
It sounds like Vesper is pretty straightforward, but I'd feel better having a little beta on Sperry.
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awilsondc Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2016 Posts: 1324 | TRs | Pics
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No GPS track either, but I don't think you'll need it. Jeff is right though Sperry is the one you need to be concerned with as far as the route, and I'd agree it's the better summit view of the two. I'll reference the main Summitpost page here, the route page here, and the main route photo below:
My other pointer would be from the Vesper / Sperry saddle stay high on the ridge, sticking to the rocks and avoiding vegetation until you get to the base of Sperry to pick your route up. It kinda sucks from there up, but it's relatively short.
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Mike Collins Member
Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 3096 | TRs | Pics
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I likely didn't do a writeup for Sperry as I couldn't find one. But Beckey is right when he says Class 2. I did it with my son when he was maybe ten. You won't have any trouble on Sperry.
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adamschneider Member
Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 95 | TRs | Pics Location: Portland, OR |
Thanks for the replies. What about the ridge BETWEEN Vesper and Sperry — the one with a 5800'+ peak in between the two saddles? Any tips for that traverse?
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olderthanIusedtobe Member
Joined: 05 Sep 2011 Posts: 7708 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
I haven't climbed Vesper and Sperry at the same time, but I've done both. I've climbed the headwall of the basin just beyond the lake, and then traversed the ridge towards Sperry and towards Vesper. It goes pretty easy. I think once you are there and eyeball it, you won't have any problems. GPS tracks or advice is not necessary.
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puzzlr Mid Fork Rocks
Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 7220 | TRs | Pics Location: Stuck in the middle |
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
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Mon Jul 24, 2017 12:23 am
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adamschneider wrote: | What about the ridge BETWEEN Vesper and Sperry |
Scrambling down Vesper toward the 5800' peak goes fine, and Pt 5800 is a fun scramble with great views of the impressive ridge leading over to Big Four. I don't have notes, but I'm pretty sure we did not continue on the ridge over to Sperry (dropped down and found the "trail" up) but that part of the ridge looks difficult in photos.
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awilsondc Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2016 Posts: 1324 | TRs | Pics
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adamschneider wrote: | What about the ridge BETWEEN Vesper and Sperry — the one with a 5800'+ peak in between the two saddles? |
From what I remember, when you get to the Vesper - Wolf Peak (5800) saddle if you cut straight across the SE face of Wolf at the saddle elevation there is a lot of vegetation to contend with. If you gain ~100 ft elevation (just an estimate) the terrain is a lot more rocky and pleasant albeit a bit scrambly. If you have experience scrambling this should be no problem. Just ascend a bit from the saddle and route find your way across.
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yukon222 Member
Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 1893 | TRs | Pics
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yukon222
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Mon Jul 24, 2017 9:09 am
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mountainflamingo Member
Joined: 15 Nov 2008 Posts: 82 | TRs | Pics Location: Tralfamadore |
Here is a track from 2014 when I did both. We climbed the Ragged Edge up the north side of Vesper and descended the standard route and bivied on some ledges up on the ridge between the two. Unfortunately my camera was out of order at the time, so i don't have any photos. I remember Sperry being a fairly easy scramble, with some brush, via something along the lines of the blue or yellow dots on the summitpost picture.
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adamschneider Member
Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 95 | TRs | Pics Location: Portland, OR |
Thanks again, for even more replies. I think, if we do this, we'll go up Vesper and then see how we feel about traversing over to Sperry. We've got all day.
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olderthanIusedtobe Member
Joined: 05 Sep 2011 Posts: 7708 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
Vesper is definitely the more pleasant climb of the two. Several said better view from Sperry, but I don't think you can see Copper Lake from Sperry. It's in a deep bowl directly below Vesper, and it's gorgeous!
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some names Member
Joined: 08 Jan 2012 Posts: 244 | TRs | Pics
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I recall doing the Vesper-Sperry traverse 08-08-2004 as a Mountaineers scramble . . . actually, b00 and Gabriel were on the trip too. What I remember is that the descent from Vesper toward 5800+ (Wolf Pk), was no problem (agree with Puzzlr). I think we found a ramp a little above 5600 to cross below Wolf Pk to the Vesper-Sperry saddle . . . remember it as enjoyable travel. Have included a few photos to indicate character of travel on the route . . . please excuse the limitations of digital cameras in 2004. The only difficulty seemed to be the final scramble on the Sperry summit block . . . finding the class 2 . . . maybe a couple of Tarzan tree grabs on the way down. All in all, a very enjoyable and scenic route. Each summit definitely has the best view.
08 Aug 2004, On Vesper with b00 and Gabriel present. Sperry Pk behind (L) Crossing shoulder of 5800+ (Wolf Pk) (L). Vesper-Sperry saddle (C) Enjoyable travel descending from Vesper Pk View to Vesper-Sperry saddle and Sperry Pk Sperry Pk from Vesper-Sperry saddle Stitch view of Veper-Sperry route, Vesper Pk (L), Wolf Pk (C-L) Some veggie belays on the way down from Sperry Pk
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somesignaturehere and somesignaturethere
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olderthanIusedtobe Member
Joined: 05 Sep 2011 Posts: 7708 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
some names wrote: | Stitch view of Veper-Sperry route, Vesper Pk (L), Wolf Pk (C-L) |
Nice pic! This reminds me again how much I'd like to traverse that ridge running out to Big Four. Also confirms you can't see Copper Lake from Sperry. You can obviously see the lovely Lake Elan (or Vesper as most refer to it as).
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adamschneider Member
Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 95 | TRs | Pics Location: Portland, OR |
Well, I made it:
I took that photo from near the summit of Sperry Peak at about 4:30 Saturday. The dotted line on Wolf Peak is the way I probably SHOULD have gone; I dropped down to the saddle's elevation a bit early.
In other news, I LOST one of my trekking poles on Sperry Peak. While doing the steep gnarly descent through the trees, I intentionally dropped my poles down a few feet so I could do a two-handed veggie belay — gotta love those flexible non-sticky hemlock branches. And when I got down to where I'd chucked my poles, one of them was missing! I searched around for 15 minutes, but one of them must have slipped in between the trees and gone over a cliff.
So if you happen to be on the west face of Sperry at about N48.01632/W121.50338 (or below that point), keep an eye out for an aluminum Leki trekking pole with duct tape wrapped around it betwen the joints and the grip.
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some names Member
Joined: 08 Jan 2012 Posts: 244 | TRs | Pics
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Yay! Looks like a great day!
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somesignaturehere and somesignaturethere
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