Previous :: Next Topic |
Author |
Message |
neek Member
Joined: 12 Sep 2011 Posts: 2329 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle, WA |
|
neek
Member
|
Thu Oct 03, 2019 1:42 pm
|
|
|
The snow forecast made planning a trip for this week difficult, but indecision vanished Monday night when Jake suggested Hannegan Pass, which we knew from recent reports wasn't buried like other areas of the Cascades. Little accumulation meant quick and easy travel, with fall colors and a fresh dusting on the surrounding giants creating spectacular views. We were in for some wildlife treats as well with six bear and a similar number of ptarmigan sightings. Our first destination was Hannegan Peak, where we set up camp and proceeded along the ridge to Granite Mountain. The tragedy here was the blueberries: the largest and densest fields I have ever seen, bursting with perfect-looking fruit that upon sampling ended up being mushy and well past prime. The bears didn't seem to mind. Sidehilling through the stuff meant smashed berries on shoes, clothes, and gloves. But Granite was no more than class 2, and we were soon at the top soaking up the North Cascades view. We considered heading on to Chardonnay; after a rough looking half mile it looked like a very gentle ridge walk. But we knew how cold it was going to get and wanted to have the stoves going before the sun went down. Indeed it got cold but at least the wind was light. Chemical hand warmers saved me. Clouds came in at night and I didn't see any stars.
The next morning had us dropping off the back side of Hannegan with the intention of meeting up with the Copper Ridge trail. Had we known how loose and awful the first 50 ft of rock were, we would have stuck closer to top of the E ridge rather than a little to the N of it. The ridge soon leveled out and presented a well-used game track. A short 'shwack got us down to the trail, which we followed a few miles to the Copper Mountain Lookout. We thought about continuing to Copper Mountain, about 3 miles up the ridge, but again laziness prevailed, so we hung out for a bit then headed back to the car. Without snow it would have been a little more inviting. It's always nice to have a reason to re-visit an area; I now have several.
Sefrit, Nooksack Ridge Jake heading toward Granite The Three Bears Jake pondering the Pickets Redoubt Whatcom, Challenger, Fury Baker Shuksan Heading down Hannegan Peak toward Copper Ridge Another bear Icy, Ruth Pickets Egg Lake
|
Back to top |
|
|
Jake Robinson Member
Joined: 02 Aug 2016 Posts: 521 | TRs | Pics
|
Thanks for having me along Nick. Great area...I'll have to return in blueberry season. I saw more bears on this trip than I saw in the rest of the year.
Ruth Hannegan summit area Granite So many berries, our footprints in the snow were red. Shame they were past their prime Nick on Granite summit Shuksan Nick Granite hero shot Blueberry sidehilling Snowy blueberry sidehilling Granite, Chardonnay Ruth Shuksan Hannegan Peak summit camp Ruth Creek "Hey Jake try to look cool, I'm taking your new tinder picture" Really terrible descent off Hannegan Peak. Don't go this way, stick to the east ridge What we came down on Hannegan Heart tarn Snowy part of Copper Ridge trail Copper Mountain Lookout Indian, Red Face, Luna, Whatcom, Challenger, Fury, Crooked Thumb, Terror Ruth, Shuksan, Baker, Nooksack Ridge Mineral Mountain Ruth
|
Back to top |
|
|
SteeperColder paralysis x analysis
Joined: 18 Mar 2016 Posts: 67 | TRs | Pics
|
great pics, great report... +30miles?
"You won't find reasonable men on the tops of tall mountains" - Hunter S. Thompson
"You won't find reasonable men on the tops of tall mountains" - Hunter S. Thompson
|
Back to top |
|
|
Tom Admin
Joined: 15 Dec 2001 Posts: 17835 | TRs | Pics
|
|
Tom
Admin
|
Thu Oct 03, 2019 3:15 pm
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
awilsondc Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2016 Posts: 1323 | TRs | Pics
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Michael Lewis Taking a nap
Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 629 | TRs | Pics Location: Lynnwood, WA (for now) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
RAW-dad Member
Joined: 07 Jul 2017 Posts: 119 | TRs | Pics Location: Oregon |
|
RAW-dad
Member
|
Thu Oct 03, 2019 6:30 pm
|
|
|
Great pics! Must have been pretty lonely.
|
Back to top |
|
|
rubywrangler Member
Joined: 04 Aug 2015 Posts: 509 | TRs | Pics
|
Wow. I had a 4-day trip to that general area planned last weekend but bailed due to the forecast. You guys are making me regret that decision!
All the photos are great but I especially like this one:
Hannegan was my first ever summit camp, such a great spot!
|
Back to top |
|
|
Brushbuffalo Member
Joined: 17 Sep 2015 Posts: 1887 | TRs | Pics Location: there earlier, here now, somewhere later... Bellingham in between |
Just plain wonderful!
neek wrote: | The Three Bears |
Cool picture the way they are marching along. They look fat and happy from all those plump berries; good prep for a long nap pretty soon.Hesman wrote: | so many biting flies that were trying to murder me when I was there I didn’t stay long. |
Yes indeed, the Hannegan Pass trail is notorious in this area for having a particularly ravenous hoard of black flies every summer. Don't know why, but I know of few if any places in the Cascades that compare, such that I avoid the Ruth Creek valley on a warm summer day.
That's OK, when you consider how beautiful the place is in Fall,as Nick and Jake's fabulous pictures show.,
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
|
Back to top |
|
|
User-Name Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 312 | TRs | Pics Location: bellevue |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Bootpathguy Member
Joined: 18 Jun 2015 Posts: 1787 | TRs | Pics Location: United States |
Cool to see a ptarmigan in plumage transition
Experience is what'cha get, when you get what'cha don't want
Experience is what'cha get, when you get what'cha don't want
|
Back to top |
|
|
GaliWalker Have camera will use
Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 4916 | TRs | Pics Location: Pittsburgh |
|
GaliWalker
Have camera will use
|
Mon Oct 07, 2019 5:03 am
|
|
|
neek wrote: | Jake pondering the Pickets Baker |
Woof! Love these two.
|
Back to top |
|
|
D. Inscho Not bored yet...
Joined: 28 Feb 2010 Posts: 973 | TRs | Pics Location: Bellingham,WA |
|
D. Inscho
Not bored yet...
|
Tue Oct 08, 2019 6:38 am
|
|
|
neek wrote: | Redoubt |
A beauty, No Doubt.
http://david-inscho.smugmug.com/
The key to a successful trip is to do the planning during work hours. -- John Muir
“My most memorable hikes can be classified as 'Shortcuts that Backfired'.” --Ed Abbey
http://david-inscho.smugmug.com/
The key to a successful trip is to do the planning during work hours. -- John Muir
“My most memorable hikes can be classified as 'Shortcuts that Backfired'.” --Ed Abbey
|
Back to top |
|
|
Nancyann Member
Joined: 28 Jul 2013 Posts: 2314 | TRs | Pics Location: Sultan Basin |
|
Nancyann
Member
|
Tue Oct 08, 2019 9:27 am
|
|
|
Wow, what an amazing collection of photos between the two of you guys. Thanks for sharing!
|
Back to top |
|
|
|