Forum Index > Trip Reports > West Craggy & Big Craggy 6-13-18
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ozzy
The hard way



Joined: 30 Jul 2015
Posts: 475 | TRs | Pics
Location: University place, wa
ozzy
The hard way
PostFri Jun 15, 2018 10:14 pm 
Inspired by a fellow NWhiker(jakerobinson)i headed out east, the weather looked bad everywhere else. I car camped tuesday night at copper glance tr, arrived at 130am and woke up at 430am to the goddamn birds chirpin. I wanted to get a early start, since i researched the cloud ceiling and knew it would be dropping to around 8000ft in the afternoon. I was on the trail by 500am, it was a little chilly but no bugs. I planned to hit west craggy first then traverse to the the big one after. Made good time to the copper glance creek crossing and made a beeline west for the upper little basin that is just SE of the west craggy summit. I stayed mostly on snowfields and following the tracks of a recent party. Ascending moderate snowslopes i made it to one of the many gullies, probably got off the snow a little early as i encountered a handful of 4th class ledges! rocker.gif This ledge system lasted well over 500ft or so and was definitely the funnest part of the trip! While on the ledges intermittent snow showers would blow through none lasting too long, then the sun would come back out! It was a joyous time to be in the alpine all alone!!
First views of isabella ridge
First views of isabella ridge
Hit first snowfield with big craggy top right
Hit first snowfield with big craggy top right
West craggy far back still
West craggy far back still
Snow showers movin in, upper basin where i got off the snow too early(climbers right)
Snow showers movin in, upper basin where i got off the snow too early(climbers right)
Clouds gettin low above sherman pk
Clouds gettin low above sherman pk
Sunny again lookin west over isabella ridge
Sunny again lookin west over isabella ridge
Down into the basin from which i emerged
Down into the basin from which i emerged
First view of ridge traverse to big craggy
First view of ridge traverse to big craggy
Ridge leading towards north craggy, i wonder if it goes
Ridge leading towards north craggy, i wonder if it goes
Out west, the clouds are low
Out west, the clouds are low
I was goin at a steady pace in fear of the weather turning and made the west craggy summit at 830am! Somehow my slow was making decent time, lol. It was chilly up there but i found one of the better registers ive seen in awhile! It was pretty much stacked full of NWhikers legends! cheers.gif Its always fun being in the boonies and comin across some familiar etched in a notebook. Drank a beer and took in the views! It was too cold for another brew so i headed towards the next objective, big craggy. I dropped about 700ft to the saddle traversing lots of scree slopes. Tedious at times it went by quick. Snow showers were still intermittent. From the saddle its about 900ft ish of gain. This final slog reminded me a lot of mt larrabee last year. Made the summit area around 1030am I went to all the high points on big craggy searching for a register. Damn snafflehounds must of ran off with it! rant.gif Out to the north the burnt forest reigned supreme over the greenery! It was sad mostly but also a sight to behold. I hope this area gets a much needed break from the fire seasons! I find beauty in all of nature as well, there were still patches in the blackness that were on the rebound. That was crazy how nature finds a way. It was chilly up here too, only time for one beer. Headed down the southern scree slopes of big craggy and was instantly satisfied for goin up west craggy first! It would have sucked to ascend these slopes, lmao! I was scree skiing and triggering such big scree slides it was comical at times! Holy hell for once i probably took the easy way up, damn i think im learning! The sun came out for good, the breeze was just stiff enough to keep the bugs at bay, it was smooth sailin after descending the 1200ft of scree. Made it back to the car at 200pm.This is only my second Pasayten trip and im in love with this place! f### sick day to be alive in the Cascades! Cheers everyone!
Big crag
Big crag
Ill let the pics do the talking
Ill let the pics do the talking
Basin towards no dice lake area, north craggy up high
Basin towards no dice lake area, north craggy up high
West crag and traverse
West crag and traverse
Copper glance lake
Copper glance lake
West crag from big crag
West crag from big crag
Big crag and west crag
Big crag and west crag
Scree shitiness
Scree shitiness
Copper glance lk
Copper glance lk
Rainer shot, they should be payin me for these money shots lol
Rainer shot, they should be payin me for these money shots lol
Meadow greens, lookin towards winthrop
Meadow greens, lookin towards winthrop
Ye olde copper glance mine
Ye olde copper glance mine
Curios little butterfly
Curios little butterfly

“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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Nancyann
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Joined: 28 Jul 2013
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Location: Sultan Basin
Nancyann
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PostFri Jun 15, 2018 10:40 pm 
Nice work, ozzy. We were up there almost exactly a year ago before the fire. I probably will never go back, but it’s nice to hear that you spotted a bit of green already in the blackness. up.gif

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geyer
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geyer
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PostFri Jun 15, 2018 10:56 pm 
Quote:
5/27/2018 - Turd Ferguson
lol.gif lol.gif lol.gif

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Bsaimo
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PostFri Jun 15, 2018 11:00 pm 
Hey there's my name! That's fun.

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Brushbuffalo
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Location: there earlier, here now, somewhere later... Bellingham in between
Brushbuffalo
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PostSat Jun 16, 2018 7:13 am 
Good that you did it before all the snow melted, after which it's even more unpleasant.
ozzy wrote:
Ye olde copper glance mine
Ye olde copper glance mine
Pretty full pack for a day hike. Full of Rainier? drink.gif Or secret IPA?

Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
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neek
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neek
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PostSat Jun 16, 2018 7:19 am 
Mixed-weather days can be some of the best!
ozzy wrote:
It was chilly up here too, only time for one beer
Quote of the day smile.gif

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wildernessed
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Joined: 31 Oct 2004
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wildernessed
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PostSat Jun 16, 2018 7:34 am 
up.gif That is a nice loop whatever direction you do it in.

Living in the Anthropocene
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ozzy
The hard way



Joined: 30 Jul 2015
Posts: 475 | TRs | Pics
Location: University place, wa
ozzy
The hard way
PostSat Jun 16, 2018 11:34 pm 
Brushbuffalo wrote:
Pretty full pack for a day hike. Full of Rainier? drink.gif Or secret IPA?
Lol just 4 rainiers, most of it is just training weight!

“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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iron
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iron
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PostSun Jun 17, 2018 9:10 pm 
'tis not an ozzy TR without a selfie with a crazy bandana look...

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MangyMarmot
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PostSun Jun 17, 2018 9:10 pm 
Nice trip. Cool photos! It must be Craggy Season. We're all ending up there. smile.gif

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fourteen410
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fourteen410
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PostMon Jun 18, 2018 9:43 pm 
Nancyann wrote:
a bit of green already in the blackness
How bad was the burn around the trail? Thought the fire got close, but didn't think it actually touched that one.

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MangyMarmot
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PostTue Jun 19, 2018 6:07 am 
The fire didn't get to this trail. Very close though. You can see the new burn and an old burn in the valley, not far from the trailhead.

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