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Gimpilator infinity/21M
Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 1684 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, WA |
Frances and I went to Dirtyface Peak yesterday. We did the longer route which traverses from the lookout point trail. We found the route to be generally unpleasant after leaving the trail. To make matters worse, the mosquitoes were just as dense as I have ever seen. As soon as we left the trail, we each had our own personal cloud of mosquitoes in excess of 100. We were happy to have strong Deet and head nets. Frances said this is the toughest hike she’s ever done, but mainly because of the mosquitoes.
Dirtyface Peak – 6240’
The trail which goes to the view point is pleasant and well graded. There were numerous wild flowers. Frances stepped right over a rubber boa without noticing it. Only the second time I have seen this species. At 5500 feet we left the trail and dropped over the east shoulder. Minor snow patches in the basin, but not enough to ease the brush.
We went over a forested pass and then down a gully continuing the traverse to the northwest. The mosquitoes were most dense in these forested basins. Up 600 vertical feet out of the second basin to reach the saddle near Dirtyface Benchmark. We traversed under this peak on the south side at the same elevation of the saddle.
Maude, South Spectacle main peak and benchmark peak Dirtyface Howard benchmark peak
Continuing toward the main peak, we encountered some difficulty staying too high on the final ridge. On the return we were able to avoid it by traversing lower. The final scramble up the peak was steeper than expected and true to it’s name, dirty. I speculated that the peak was named for it’s own dirty faces.
up through this ticks! Frances Poet's Ridge and David
Dirtyface Benchmark - 6223’
On the way back, Frances waited for me while I went up the benchmark summit. Later, back on the trail, we saw two more rubber boas. I was under the impression that this is a rare species to encounter, so seeing 3 on a single hike is a bit shocking.
main peak seen from benchmark trail summit seen from benchmark
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Jake Robinson Member
Joined: 02 Aug 2016 Posts: 521 | TRs | Pics
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Nice we also had horrible mosquitoes a few days ago, but luckily they dissipated quickly with elevation.
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olderthanIusedtobe Member
Joined: 05 Sep 2011 Posts: 7708 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
I still never have seen a rubber boa. I've heard they are very docile.
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Midnight Slogger 'Schwack Job
Joined: 04 Aug 2017 Posts: 96 | TRs | Pics Location: Greater Cascadia |
Thanks for the report! Love the rubber boa shots.
We did that route last December as a snow shoe--no mosquitoes but definitely not ideal!
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iron Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 6392 | TRs | Pics Location: southeast kootenays |
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iron
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Fri Jun 14, 2019 1:31 pm
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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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Fri Jun 14, 2019 1:54 pm
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Brushbuffalo Member
Joined: 17 Sep 2015 Posts: 1887 | TRs | Pics Location: there earlier, here now, somewhere later... Bellingham in between |
Gimpilator wrote: | mainly because of the mosquitoes. |
Weird. I have seen exactly one mosquito all season, including at the area near the Sun Mountain trails, where in the woods in May 2018 they were horribly abundant .
Different places+ different years = different degrees of 'mosquitability'
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
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