Forum Index > Trip Reports > Hannegan, Granite, Copper Lookout (Oct 1-2, 2019)
 Reply to topic
Previous :: Next Topic
Author Message
neek
Member
Member


Joined: 12 Sep 2011
Posts: 2329 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle, WA
neek
Member
PostThu 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
Sefrit, Nooksack Ridge
Jake heading toward Granite
Jake heading toward Granite
The Three Bears
The Three Bears
Jake pondering the  Pickets
Jake pondering the Pickets
Redoubt
Redoubt
Whatcom, Challenger, Fury
Whatcom, Challenger, Fury
Baker
Baker
Shuksan
Shuksan
Heading down Hannegan Peak toward Copper Ridge
Heading down Hannegan Peak toward Copper Ridge
Another bear
Another bear
Icy, Ruth
Icy, Ruth
Pickets
Pickets
Egg Lake
Egg Lake

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Jake Robinson
Member
Member


Joined: 02 Aug 2016
Posts: 521 | TRs | Pics
Jake Robinson
Member
PostThu Oct 03, 2019 2:23 pm 
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
Ruth
Hannegan summit area
Hannegan summit area
Granite
Granite
So many berries, our footprints in the snow were red. Shame they were past their prime
So many berries, our footprints in the snow were red. Shame they were past their prime
Nick on Granite summit
Nick on Granite summit
Shuksan
Shuksan
Nick Granite hero shot
Nick Granite hero shot
Blueberry sidehilling
Blueberry sidehilling
Snowy blueberry sidehilling
Snowy blueberry sidehilling
Granite, Chardonnay
Granite, Chardonnay
Ruth
Ruth
Shuksan
Shuksan
Hannegan Peak summit camp
Hannegan Peak summit camp
Ruth Creek
Ruth Creek
"Hey Jake try to look cool, I'm taking your new tinder picture"
"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
Really terrible descent off Hannegan Peak. Don't go this way, stick to the east ridge
What we came down on Hannegan
What we came down on Hannegan
Heart tarn
Heart tarn
Snowy part of Copper Ridge trail
Snowy part of Copper Ridge trail
Copper Mountain Lookout
Copper Mountain Lookout
Indian, Red Face, Luna, Whatcom, Challenger, Fury, Crooked Thumb, Terror
Indian, Red Face, Luna, Whatcom, Challenger, Fury, Crooked Thumb, Terror
Ruth, Shuksan, Baker, Nooksack Ridge
Ruth, Shuksan, Baker, Nooksack Ridge
Mineral Mountain
Mineral Mountain
Ruth
Ruth

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
SteeperColder
paralysis x analysis



Joined: 18 Mar 2016
Posts: 67 | TRs | Pics
SteeperColder
paralysis x analysis
PostThu Oct 03, 2019 2:44 pm 
great pics, great report... +30miles?

"You won't find reasonable men on the tops of tall mountains" - Hunter S. Thompson
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Tom
Admin



Joined: 15 Dec 2001
Posts: 17835 | TRs | Pics
Tom
Admin
PostThu Oct 03, 2019 3:15 pm 
Gorgeous!

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
awilsondc
Member
Member


Joined: 03 Apr 2016
Posts: 1323 | TRs | Pics
awilsondc
Member
PostThu Oct 03, 2019 3:19 pm 
stun.gif Best eye candy I've seen on here in awhile!!! Great job you two. This one has been on my list for awhile. I'm going to have to keep it in mind for prime berry season one of these years. Thanks for sharing! up.gif up.gif up.gif

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Michael Lewis
Taking a nap



Joined: 27 Apr 2009
Posts: 629 | TRs | Pics
Location: Lynnwood, WA (for now)
Michael Lewis
Taking a nap
PostThu Oct 03, 2019 3:39 pm 
nICE

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
RAW-dad
Member
Member


Joined: 07 Jul 2017
Posts: 119 | TRs | Pics
Location: Oregon
RAW-dad
Member
PostThu Oct 03, 2019 6:30 pm 
Great pics! up.gif up.gif Must have been pretty lonely.

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
rubywrangler
Member
Member


Joined: 04 Aug 2015
Posts: 509 | TRs | Pics
rubywrangler
Member
PostThu Oct 03, 2019 11:12 pm 
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:
neek wrote:
Hannegan was my first ever summit camp, such a great spot!

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Brushbuffalo
Member
Member


Joined: 17 Sep 2015
Posts: 1887 | TRs | Pics
Location: there earlier, here now, somewhere later... Bellingham in between
Brushbuffalo
Member
PostSat Oct 05, 2019 6:26 am 
Just plain wonderful!
neek wrote:
The Three Bears
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
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
User-Name
Member
Member


Joined: 10 Aug 2010
Posts: 312 | TRs | Pics
Location: bellevue
User-Name
Member
PostSun Oct 06, 2019 8:28 pm 
omfg...those alpenglow shots are sweet! ..kinda wishing I'd gone now...well, not really. I hate camping! hahaha Congrats, guys! up.gif up.gif up.gif

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Bootpathguy
Member
Member


Joined: 18 Jun 2015
Posts: 1787 | TRs | Pics
Location: United States
Bootpathguy
Member
PostSun Oct 06, 2019 8:47 pm 
Cool to see a ptarmigan in plumage transition
neek wrote:

Experience is what'cha get, when you get what'cha don't want
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
GaliWalker
Have camera will use



Joined: 10 Dec 2007
Posts: 4916 | TRs | Pics
Location: Pittsburgh
GaliWalker
Have camera will use
PostMon Oct 07, 2019 5:03 am 
neek wrote:
Jake pondering the  Pickets
Jake pondering the Pickets
Baker
Baker
Woof! Love these two. up.gif

'Gali'Walker => 'Mountain-pass' walker bobbi: "...don't you ever forget your camera!" Photography: flickr.com/photos/shahiddurrani
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
D. Inscho
Not bored yet...



Joined: 28 Feb 2010
Posts: 973 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bellingham,WA
D. Inscho
Not bored yet...
PostTue Oct 08, 2019 6:38 am 
neek wrote:
Redoubt
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
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Nancyann
Member
Member


Joined: 28 Jul 2013
Posts: 2314 | TRs | Pics
Location: Sultan Basin
Nancyann
Member
PostTue 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 Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
   All times are GMT - 8 Hours
 Reply to topic
Forum Index > Trip Reports > Hannegan, Granite, Copper Lookout (Oct 1-2, 2019)
  Happy Birthday speyguy, Bandanabraids!
Jump to:   
Search this topic:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum