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awilsondc Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2016 Posts: 1323 | TRs | Pics
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After the mid September snow had fallen, the forecast called for some clear weather over the weekend. Jake and I made plans to bag some peaks around Leroy Basin. Leading up to the trip, our plans changed a few times. I wanted to hit up Carne and take the high route over to Maude. Jake wanted Seven Fingered Jack and Maude. I had already done 7FJ, but uncertainty over snow cover and the possibility of having difficulty route finding the Carne high route eventually ruled out that possibility. We decided to go for 7FJ and Maude figuring that even with up to a foot of snow we'd be able to get at least one of these peaks. I didn't mind repeating Seven Fingered Jack, as it was pretty cool the first time. I rolled into the Phelps Creek Trailhead to meet up with Jake around 11pm for a few hours of shut eye before our 4am alarm. By 4:40 we were on the trail by headlamp.
The first hour was pretty cruiser up the easy trail to the junction up towards Leroy Basin. The trail gets pretty steep here and Jake later mentioned he had a "what the hell are we doing" moment hiking up the steep trail by headlamp. As we neared the basin it grew light enough we were able to turn our headlamps off and a few minutes later we had reached Leroy Basin.
Leroy Basin - Jake eyes 7FJ Tiny larch and Maude Jake making his way towards 7FJ Fall colors Larch w/ Glacier Peak
As we looked up towards Seven Fingered Jack we both though, what?! Where's the snow? Other trip reports had reported 6-8" of snow at 6000ft, but looking up we were both shocked how little snow there was. We both agreed that if you had suggested this particular outcome to us prior to the trip, we'd have given it about a 10% chance. None the less we were stoked and even had grand visions of descending via the Carne high route. First up was 7FJ. We made our way up to Upper Leroy Basin, noting a few isolated larches that had begun to turn. Only 2-5% were showing any yellow. As we climbed higher, Glacier Peak rose above the horizon and a few sun breaks among the near overcast skies provided for some dramatic lighting. This particular vantage point of Glacier Peak is probably my favorite view of any of the cascade volcanoes. I just love it, and the light made it even better!
Jake scoping out Maude Jake ascending, Glacier looming Glacier Peak close up Rainier Dramatic light on Glacier Peak
At ~7500ft we started hitting patches of snow which became more continuous in the low to mid 8000's topping out at ~4" at the deepest. Not too bad when you come expecting a foot! We ascended a gully too early and had to cross a rib over to the standard route and eventually reached the summit ~5 hours after we started.
Ascending the gully Reaching a saddle Jake working up a ramp near the summit of 7FJ Seven Fingered Jack summit panorama Click this photo, then click again, then drag and scroll
Views from the summit were incredible! Better than I had remembered, plus the early morning light breaking through the clouds provided for some dramatic views.
The north face of Mount Maude Dome Logan and Goode Bonanza Mountains Golden Horn Fernow Glacier Peak
We stayed only 25 minutes or so before heading down and over to Maude. We dropped back down to Upper Leroy Basin where we filled up on water and started making our way over to Maude. The scenery was spectacular, although I wish more larch were showing color but looks like that's a week or two away. From Upper Leroy Basin we took the west gully of Maude and angled up towards the south ridge. As we neared the ridge I crashed hard. Bonked, if you will. Despite eating plenty the whole trip I was running on fumes. The last 1000 vertical feet to the summit was a sufferfest for me and I slowed to probably 1/3 my normal pace. I was happy to finally reach the summit and was able to mow down on some thai fresh rolls I had brought for lunch which helped bring me back to my normal self.
Down the gully Onward to Maude! Looking back at 7FJ Jake hiking through upper Leroy Basin, Buck in the background Deer Jake making his way up Maude
The views from the summit weren't that great. Clouds had really moved in blocking a lot of the distant scenery. We didn't linger here too long. 20 some minutes on the the summit and we were heading down. After the miserable last 1000 feet up Maude all desire to descend via the Carne high route was gone. We decided to descend via the standard route for Maude. We probably should have gone back down the west gully. We lost the trail as it neared the westward angling ridge line (trail went east of the ridge, we went west of the ridge) and we ended up descending some unpleasant loose scree until we reached the basin and were able to find the trail.
Jake on the summit of Maude Light on Fernow Spectacle Buttes Jake looking out into Ice Lakes basin 7FJ and Maude on the way back Fall colors on the trail Fall colors 2 Light on Seven Fingered Jack
The rest of the hike out was pretty uneventful. We leapfrogged a few times with a couple trail runners who had come up the Entiat side, up to Ice Lakes (they said this portion was post burn log hopping and bushwacking for 2 1/2 miles), and were exiting via Phelps Creek TH. On the drive out we got stuck behind a couple trucks towing horse trailers. They were going super slow, like under 10 mph, which I get it... you're towing horses. They refused to pull over for over 20 minutes despite several opportunities to do so until they eventually had to stop for some other reason (a guy got out to check the trailer or something) and we were able to finally get by. An irritating end to an otherwise great day!
18 miles 8100+ ft gain, 13:37 car to car
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tmatlack Member
Joined: 21 Aug 2007 Posts: 2854 | TRs | Pics
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tmatlack
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Tue Sep 26, 2017 1:32 am
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Scramblin',
Cool photos. That pano with scrollin' is awesome and fun.
Tom
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Kat Turtle Hiker
Joined: 05 Oct 2003 Posts: 2560 | TRs | Pics
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Kat
Turtle Hiker
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Tue Sep 26, 2017 4:24 am
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Great pics and trip! There was still a water source in Leroy basin - ?
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awilsondc Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2016 Posts: 1323 | TRs | Pics
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Kat wrote: | There was still a water source in Leroy basin - ? |
There was water in a stream a bit before Leroy Basin, I didn't see any water in lower Leroy Basin (where most people camp) but didn't look for any either. We found water in upper Leroy Basin approximately where marked on the topo at just below 6800ft, north of the island looking mark on the topo. Somewhere around there at least.
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mbravenboer Member
Joined: 20 Oct 2013 Posts: 1422 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
Great photos The panorama is particularly nice and sharp.
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Fletcher Member
Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Posts: 1870 | TRs | Pics Location: kirkland |
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Fletcher
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Tue Sep 26, 2017 8:51 am
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Wow, you got some spectacular shots up there!
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Rigafari Member
Joined: 22 Sep 2005 Posts: 98 | TRs | Pics
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Rigafari
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Tue Sep 26, 2017 8:51 am
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Every time I drive up that road I get blocked by someone who refuses to pull over! It's a thing there
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MtnGoat Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Posts: 11992 | TRs | Pics Location: Lyle, WA |
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MtnGoat
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Tue Sep 26, 2017 9:41 am
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Yeah it is. When someone comes up on you, let them pass! Is it really that hard to fathom? If they caught you in the first place they'll be gone ahead of you soon enough.
Fantastic trip report. Climbed 7FJ 30+ years ago, those pics bring it all back. Great colors too.
Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock. - Will Rogers
Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock. - Will Rogers
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ozzy The hard way
Joined: 30 Jul 2015 Posts: 475 | TRs | Pics Location: University place, wa |
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ozzy
The hard way
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Tue Sep 26, 2017 9:12 pm
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Damn boys! Savages, long ass day as well, lol! Sick pics and tr. Cant blame you for crashin, 8100ft of gain, holy balls! Sounds like you finished hard. Drink a Rainier next time, its the nectar of the gods it'll give you that extra push! Lol.Cheers dudes, keep up the gnarliness!
“I don’t know what’s gonna happen, but I wanna have my kicks before the whole shithouse goes up in flames”-Mr Mojo Risin
“I don’t know what’s gonna happen, but I wanna have my kicks before the whole shithouse goes up in flames”-Mr Mojo Risin
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Jetlag Member
Joined: 17 Aug 2010 Posts: 1410 | TRs | Pics
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Jetlag
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Tue Sep 26, 2017 9:51 pm
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Great TR!
As others have mentioned that pano shot is superb, with so many favorite mountains linked up.
Your zoomed shots of individual peaks are remarkably clear!
Thanks for posting!
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geyer Member
Joined: 23 May 2017 Posts: 462 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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geyer
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Thu Sep 28, 2017 10:02 pm
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I saw Jake's post on this on fb and it looks really cool. A few friends and I were originally going to hit up Ice Lakes for an overnighter this weekend, but the weather is looking pretty crappy... My friend and I are still going to go for at least Maude as a day-hike, snow be damned! Hopefully the cloud ceiling is pretty high.
Also, love the pano!
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awilsondc Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2016 Posts: 1323 | TRs | Pics
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Thanks all! Yeah, the slow trucks with horse trailers were pretty annoying. To top it off,
after we pass them there's another passenger vehicle going slow that wouldn't pull over either!
Fortunately it was only about 5 minutes before we got to the passing zone. Some people just don't have basic courtesy. Whatever.
geyer wrote: | A few friends and I were originally going to hit up Ice Lakes for an overnighter this weekend, but the weather is looking pretty crappy... My friend and I are still going to go for at least Maude as a day-hike, snow be damned! Hopefully the cloud ceiling is pretty high. |
Nice! I think you'll have some colorful larch to keep you company at least. I was up at Easy Pass yesterday and they're definitely starting to turn! Have a good trip!
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goleary Member
Joined: 26 Jan 2017 Posts: 17 | TRs | Pics
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goleary
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Fri Sep 29, 2017 1:15 pm
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I got stuck behind a truck with a horse trailer on the way up Chiwawa Friday afternoon. They wouldn't let us pass for the longest time until the turn off up to Phelps creek. One of them got out and didn't seem to have a clue what was going on when I mentioned their lack of courtesy. Don't think there was any malice involved, just lack of awareness...
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Cue Member
Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Posts: 7 | TRs | Pics
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Cue
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Sat Sep 30, 2017 11:05 am
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We were camped at upper Ice Lake and watching a few people descend the ridge of Maude, and likely saw you! Great weather up there that day. We also ran into those two trail runners below upper Ice Lake.
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silence Member
Joined: 25 Apr 2005 Posts: 4420 | TRs | Pics
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silence
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Sun Oct 01, 2017 9:21 am
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PHOTOS
FILMS
Keep a good head and always carry a light bulb. – Bob Dylan
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