About three years ago Greg K., and I did a peak near 5365T...but we ran out of time to do peak 5365T (https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8027017&highlight=5689). So now I returned following generally in Fay's footsteps.
I went in with an overnight pack thinking the distance and gain would force me to do an overnighter for this peak.
I am still amazed at the amount of vehicles at the trailheads. 17 cars when I left at 9:00am. I walked over Little Hump and Big Hump and then put my camp past 5 mile camp. For those interested, there are three camps just PAST 5 mile camp and before the trail heads up again on a rocky shoulder next to the river....and all before entering the official National Park. I recommend any one of those three camps over 5 mile camp due to the amount of people.
I walked to the National Park boundary and then after about another 10 minutes I started heading uphill. The brush was not too bad. Around 2100 feet vine maple showed up, but was not intense and could be easily avoided. I noticed I was following a lot of mountain goat paths even at the lower elevations. At 3200 feet the snowshoes went on and the angle increased. At 4100 feet a 100 yard section of rock outcroppings appeared directly on the ridgeline and were surmounted due to snow around them. The snow became increasing more "mashed potatoes" and I was sinking in to just below knee depth. Tough, and tolerable. Just the angle on the ridgeline made the snowshoeing challenging. Really mushy unconsolidated. I eventually made to the top of 5365T....well the spire directly to east which is actually higher. There I signed into the register took some photos and ate. 4 hours up from the trail.
Going down took 2 hours and at some places I had to downclimb in the snowshoes. I got back in time to eat at the campsite...but I had still some time left and my legs were feeling good. So I hiked out. 14 hours round trip. Probably could have done it in 12.5 hours without the heavy pack and making camp.
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