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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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Mon May 20, 2019 11:37 am
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Dave and I brought home the bacon yesterday. What a route and what a day! I'm embarrassed to admit that this was my third attempt on this route in as many months.. but third time was a charm.
Quick route info:
1. Take Bacon Creek Road to where it crosses Bacon Creek and take spur 1064 to first fork, either park here (1000 ft) or take a right and drive to turnaround at next switchback (1200 ft), road is not driveable beyond this point.
2. Hike dilapidated spur 1064 for a few hundred yards until you reach some orange flagging, turn right here and begin shwack
3. follow path of least resistance 2600 ft uphill to ridge, take ridge to Pt 4800
4. drop 500 ft into obvious basin to the west, ascend obvious snow gully to 6000 ft and "Diobsud Creek Glacier"
5. Ascend easy glacier and moderate snow slopes to Bacon Peak summit
Dave and I met up at the usual Ash Way park and ride at 4am and I was running off of the usual 2.5 hours of sleep. We would have made better time to the trailhead had I not stupidly cruised by the turnoff for highway 530. By 6:45 am, we were geared up and moving.
starting out
By 7am we left the road and began rapidly gaining elevation uphill. Having gained familiarity with this route on previous attempts, we made good time on the shwack. It is not too bad in North Cascades standards, although there are unpleasant sections. It took us 3.5 hours at a steady pace to reach Pt 4800 where we took a break.
start of the shwack first view of Electric Butte first views of Despair and Triumph
On my past two previous attempts (one in March and one 2 weeks ago) we'd been spooked from proceeding beyond Pt 4800 because the basin below is the funneling point for a huge amount of avalanche generating terrain on Electric Butte above. Back in March we reached Pt 4800 only to witness dozens of slides coming down on our route ahead. 2 weeks ago we reached Pt 4800 to see said basin riddled with debris from numerous climax slides. With warming temps and a lot of cornices holding on above, we decided against proceeding. Yesterday, we felt good about it and decided to move through the line of fire quickly.
There is one section of steep snow dropping down into the basin that we had to down-climb. Travel through the basin was challenging due to all of the spring avalanche debris.
basin debris
We cruised through the basin and made a right up the obvious snow filled gully. Snow conditions in the gully were ideal for kicking steps. We made good time gaining back our lost elevation, avoiding a few deep moats that gave minor pucker effect.
Dave climbing the gully
Upon reaching 6000 ft, we found a dried out rock outcropping to stop and take a break. We were both relieved to be out of potential slide paths and got our first view of our peak which did not look too far away.
there she is pleasant travel ahead Electric and Logger Buttes
We put on snowshoes here and continued on a short distance to the Diobsud Creek Glacier. Travel across the flat section of the glacier was very enjoyable before our final summit slog began. Views were opening up and were incredible.
glacier ahead Dave getting it what a place
The final 700 ft or so to the summit were tiring. We'd both already put in a lot of work to get to this point. The views kept us chugging along.
Southern Pickets Northern Pickets Blum Bear and Redoubt
We topped out at exactly 2:00. The 2500 ft of prominence underfoot excited me in a strange but familiar way. We decided to take an hour break up there to take it all in. I think Bacon has some of the best North Cascades views I have ever had the pleasure to enjoy.
summitshot Baker hey babe Shuksan too many peaks to name in every direction
We left the summit at 3:00 and made excellent time back down to the basin below Electric Butte. It only took us an hour.
Dave leaving the summit south peak descending with views Triumph, Thornton, Jack, and Crater Blum again our tracks and incoming clouds incoming weather on Glacier Peak quick descent quick descent passing back through the avalanche funnel
Gaining the 500 ft back up to Pt 4800 was tiresome. From there, other than a few minor bumps on the ridge, it was all downhill to the car. The crux of the day was the shwack down from the ridge. We were both exhausted and steep downhill bushwacking took its toll on our patience. We stumbled onto the road just after 7pm, relieved. 15 minutes later, we arrived at the car, stoked our our success.
interesting melt patterns some of the pleasant terrain on the deproach whats this? a welcome sight thankful that these guys were able to take me to the top of Bacon Peak
~15 miles
~8000 ft of cumulative gain
~12.5 hours car to car
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Gimpilator infinity/21M
Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 1682 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, WA |
Very few reports for this peak. Thanks.
Give those dogs a break!
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wade63 guitarman
Joined: 21 Jun 2018 Posts: 126 | TRs | Pics Location: Orcas Island |
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wade63
guitarman
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Mon May 20, 2019 11:59 am
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Thanks for the report. We're planning a trip into berdeen and Green Lake. I've tried to get in there a few times one trip up Bacon Creek bushwhack hell and last year circumventing Mount Watson ran into bad weather. We're shooting for Mid August and this time we'll try heading up the ridge on the bacon Creek Side I think.
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Michael Lewis Taking a nap
Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 629 | TRs | Pics Location: Lynnwood, WA (for now) |
Quote: | Give those dogs a break! |
I second that
I keep thinking about this route so I'm glad to see there's interest in it.
NicoleH
NicoleH
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rstoddard24 BBQWingz
Joined: 30 Dec 2016 Posts: 74 | TRs | Pics
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thanks for the report. we were considering for this coming weekend if conditions are good, and your TR is very timely and helpful!
also for your "what's this" photo..my sister says "thats dogwood - duh!"
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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 May 21, 2019 11:21 am
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*bump for video addition
Id be curious to hear from anyone else who has done this route. Obviously someone has been up there in the last few years, evidenced by the flagged route that we followed. The flagging gives you a good idea of where to leave the road, but after that, pick your poison and follow the path of least resistance. The flags don't always lead you to the best route.
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Brushbuffalo Member
Joined: 17 Sep 2015 Posts: 1887 | TRs | Pics Location: there earlier, here now, somewhere later... Bellingham in between |
Fletcher wrote: | The flags don't always lead you to the best route. |
Ain't it the truth? Same goes for cairns on alpine routes...sometimes.
But the worst are blazes....only total greenhorns or idiots ever make blazes.
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
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Mike Collins Member
Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 3085 | TRs | Pics
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Fletcher wrote: | whats this? |
Cornus nuttallii or Pacific Dogwood. It is in the same genus as the lowly 4" tall bunchberry plant. I happened upon your trip report while researching a climb of Bacon Peak. I was atop Watson Peak yesterday and bonded with Bacon Peak.
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cascadetraverser Member
Joined: 16 Sep 2007 Posts: 1407 | TRs | Pics
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What a great alternative to the above the Diobsud brush thrash approach. Yet another great report from you Fletcher....
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