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Tom_Sjolseth Born Yesterday
Joined: 30 May 2007 Posts: 2652 | TRs | Pics Location: Right here. |
raising3hikers and I linked up for a long day trip to Pyramid and Cloudcomb, two top 200 peaks, yesterday.
We left my house at about 6:15AM in Wenatchee, headed for Big Hill Campground (6,500') up the Entiat, our starting point for this trip. Our plan for this trip was to bring bikes for the first 7.5 miles of trail, allowing us to bike 15 of the total 23 miles this trip would end up being.
We made good time getting to Pyramid Mountain. The trail is in excellent shape for biking, but there are a lot of ups and downs. The trail goes through nice alpine meadows along the way, and wildflowers were still hanging on adding some color.
We ditched our bikes about 7.5 miles in, 2 miles or so before the summit of Pyramid Mountain. Bikes could be taken to the top of Pyramid and ridden off the summit, but pushing our bikes up the last 2 miles didn't sound like much fun, so we opted not to. The summit register on Pyramid Mountain indicates it gets climbed quite often.
From the summit, Cloudcomb Peak looks a long way off, and it is. Not only that, the route up looked tedious and the route to the true summit was not obvious. We made our way down to a saddle between Pyramid and Cloudcomb and dropped into Pyramid Creek on loose talus and dirt. All snow could be avoided, making the choice to leave crampons at home a good one (this time).
The route to Cloudcomb crosses a slew of steep and loose gullies. We made our way over to the summit area and found a deep cleft at climber's left of the summit block (class 4). We made our way up the steep cleft with raindrops falling. The summit area is confusing, and the true summit is not at all obvious. Thankfully we chose the right gully the first time and soon we found ourselves on the secluded summit (aside from the millions of ladybugs). We were the third party to sign in since Fay left the register up there in 2010. The last ascent was in 2012.
With clouds building, we were concerned we'd be walking out in a downpour, so we descended and made the long journey back to our bikes. Once at the bikes, going was slow as I was tired! You gain about 1800' on the way back to the trailhead, and lots of the uphill was too steep to ride on the bikes, so a great deal of pushing ensued. We donned headlamps for the last few miles to the trailhead, which we reached well after dark. Thankfully the rain never materialized.
Thanks to Eric for another great trip in the hills.
Trip stats:
23.5 miles
7800' elevation gain
20170812_083127(0) 20170812_094118 20170812_094252 20170812_114451 20170812_113934 20170812_113941 20170812_182745 20170812_182736 20170812_182728 20170812_182731 20170812_182726 20170812_151504
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awilsondc Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2016 Posts: 1324 | TRs | Pics
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Nice effort guys! Cloudcomb sounds awesome. I love those rarely visited summits. First visitors in five years is pretty cool. Glad you didn't get rained on.
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raising3hikers Member
Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 2344 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, Wa |
Thanks for the trip, Tom. It was a great way to combine those 2 pks. Although the biking helped a little in the morning, I think I was only on my bike for maybe 4 miles total on the day, it was a lot of pushing for me! At least I didn't get a flat tire.
There's not a lot of good things to say after climbing Cloudcomb except that we don't have to go do it again:) It's a loose peak for sure!
Tom on the easier part of the biking still a few flowers hanging around Pyramid the long traverse over to Cloudcomb the summit gully looking up to the summit Cloudcomb register finally getting a little blue sky over Cloudcomb in the Pyramid creek basin
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HitTheTrail Member
Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 5460 | TRs | Pics Location: 509 |
Good effort and beta. I am thinking of doing a hike to Pyramid basin/Grouse Pass area from Big Hill. Is there any water along the trail from the Big Hill TH out to Pyramid basin?
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silence Member
Joined: 25 Apr 2005 Posts: 4420 | TRs | Pics
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silence
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Sun Aug 13, 2017 1:06 pm
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Sweet!
PHOTOS
FILMS
Keep a good head and always carry a light bulb. – Bob Dylan
PHOTOS
FILMS
Keep a good head and always carry a light bulb. – Bob Dylan
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Distel32 Member
Joined: 03 Jun 2014 Posts: 961 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, WA |
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Distel32
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Sun Aug 13, 2017 1:46 pm
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Pyramid looks nice at least
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RichP Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 5634 | TRs | Pics Location: here |
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RichP
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Sun Aug 13, 2017 2:22 pm
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HitTheTrail wrote: | Is there any water along the trail from the Big Hill TH out to Pyramid basin? |
Cartman and I were out that way in early Oct 2015 and found water in the basin below Graham Harbour Mtn and at Pyramid Meadows Camp right by the trail.
The camp below Graham Harbor is nice.
Our comfy camp below Graham Harbor Mtn.
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geyer Member
Joined: 23 May 2017 Posts: 463 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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geyer
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Sun Aug 13, 2017 5:31 pm
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RichP wrote: | The camp below Graham Harbor is nice. |
And if you decide to make the easy ascent up the ridge to the summit of Graham Harbor, it has some of the best views of Lake Chelan to the north and south. Also a good camping spot below the summit.
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raising3hikers Member
Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 2344 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, Wa |
HitTheTrail wrote: | Good effort and beta. I am thinking of doing a hike to Pyramid basin/Grouse Pass area from Big Hill. Is there any water along the trail from the Big Hill TH out to Pyramid basin? |
We ran into 3 or 4 areas of running water on the way to pyramid. A couple streams had good flow and I filled my bottles with good tasting water
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HitTheTrail Member
Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 5460 | TRs | Pics Location: 509 |
RichP wrote: | Cartman and I were out that way in early Oct 2015 and found water in the basin below Graham Harbour Mtn and at Pyramid Meadows Camp right by the trail. |
raising3hikers wrote: | We ran into 3 or 4 areas of running water on the way to pyramid. A couple streams had good flow and I filled my bottles with good tasting water |
Thanks to the both of ya! With RichP's encouraging words about late water on the trail I might even make it a larch trip. I know from several trips up there lots of larches are to be seen in Pyramid basin.
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Matt Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
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Sun Aug 13, 2017 8:35 pm
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I've been hoping to do the Pyramid area as a larch trip this October.
Tom and r3h, you guys are really moving along on cleaning up the T200s.
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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b00 Member
Joined: 29 Sep 2003 Posts: 1144 | TRs | Pics
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b00
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Mon Aug 14, 2017 6:51 pm
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raising3hikers wrote: | At least I didn't get a flat tire. |
congrats on bicycle success and breaking your pattern. although i think you passed this flat tire disease on to me, as both of my bicycle approaches this year - constance, goldmyer - involved flat tires :<( i guess i should wash my hands more often :>)
nice work on the peaks guys!!! you two are awesome!
:>)
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Justus S. Member
Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 1298 | TRs | Pics Location: WA |
Nice daytrip climb.
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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
Matt wrote: | I've been hoping to do the Pyramid area as a larch trip this October. |
As a loop in larchness:
https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7994891
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
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