Forum Index > Trip Reports > Morning Star 12/15/05
 Reply to topic
Previous :: Next Topic
Author Message
Andy D.
Member
Member


Joined: 19 Apr 2004
Posts: 209 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bow, WA
Andy D.
Member
PostSat Dec 17, 2005 5:42 am 
Went up for my second attempt at Morning Star after some routefinding issues on the first attempt. On Wednesday I worked all night, got off about 3AM, went home and packed my backpack and left straight for the Sunrise Mine Rd. I found out very quickly that the road was not drivable due to very deep snow, so I parked at the turnoff on the Mountain Loop and walked the two miles to the end of the road. Left the car at 5AM and hiked in the dark for about 3 hours. The snow made traveling much faster and easier than bashing through brush and hopping rocks. The last few hundred feet to the top was VERY steep snow and did not have any runout, so I was cautious and used my ice axe wisely! Reached the top at 11AM...awesome views all around! I had a blast glissading down some of the steeper chutes. Only took 3 hours to get back to the car. Afterwards I went to the company Christmas party...I was exhausted; 36 hours with no sleep! Check out the difference 2 months can make:
looking towards summit
Lewis Peak
Del Campo
Some more pictures from Thursday:
Del Campo & Gothic Peak
Vesper & Sperry Peaks
Looking up from the pass (you can see my footsteps from the bottom-center of the picture on up).

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Mike Collins
Member
Member


Joined: 18 Dec 2001
Posts: 3086 | TRs | Pics
Mike Collins
Member
PostSat Dec 17, 2005 5:51 am 
Strong work!!! I climbed Morningstar in the dog days of summer when the going was much easier.

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


Joined: 14 Feb 2005
Posts: 1558 | TRs | Pics
Location: Arlington
Jimbo
Member
PostSat Dec 17, 2005 5:53 am 
You didn't do that alone did you ??

Guns only have two enemies; rust and politicians
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Andy D.
Member
Member


Joined: 19 Apr 2004
Posts: 209 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bow, WA
Andy D.
Member
PostSat Dec 17, 2005 6:04 am 
Yep, I was alone. Couldn't convince my brother to go with. biggrin.gif Here's a large panoramic from the top:

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


Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7902 | TRs | Pics
Tazz
Member
PostSat Dec 17, 2005 8:44 am 
excellent work up.gif great pics too thanks!

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Backpacker Joe
Blind Hiker



Joined: 16 Dec 2001
Posts: 23956 | TRs | Pics
Location: Cle Elum
Backpacker Joe
Blind Hiker
PostSat Dec 17, 2005 9:49 am 
Wow, that is some pano you've got there. Thanks. up.gif

"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide." — Abraham Lincoln
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Jimbo
Member
Member


Joined: 14 Feb 2005
Posts: 1558 | TRs | Pics
Location: Arlington
Jimbo
Member
PostSat Dec 17, 2005 11:28 am 
IS that Lake Isabel ? What a kick but view man..

Guns only have two enemies; rust and politicians
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Easytouch
Thunder & Lightn



Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 8 | TRs | Pics
Location: zen mountain
Easytouch
Thunder & Lightn
PostSat Dec 17, 2005 5:06 pm 
Great pictures and report. Could you provide a few more details regarding the route you took? Not sure if the best approach is to go off trail heading up along the eastern side or whether its feasible to take the Sunrise Mine trail past the Headlee Pass area and the head up and east from there. Thanks.

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
newdawnfades
i'm no tourist!



Joined: 12 Jan 2004
Posts: 389 | TRs | Pics
Location: Within Your Coverage Area
newdawnfades
i'm no tourist!
PostSat Dec 17, 2005 7:24 pm 
I would like some more route details as well. Impressive work! I am feeling more and more like a slacker each day.

Nothing I can sing will bring you back. Not the songs of a hundred horses running until they become wind. Not the personal song of the rain who makes love to the earth.
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
#19
Member
Member


Joined: 17 Dec 2001
Posts: 2197 | TRs | Pics
#19
Member
PostSat Dec 17, 2005 8:44 pm 
I'm guessing Beckey Green's E route. Beauty of a winter trip, BTW.

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Andy D.
Member
Member


Joined: 19 Apr 2004
Posts: 209 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bow, WA
Andy D.
Member
PostSun Dec 18, 2005 12:35 am 
Yes, I took the East route from the Beckey guide, although the description is somewhat vague. There is another route mentioned in the guide from further towards Headlee Pass, but I'm not really familiar with it. I left the Sunrise Mine trail just before it crosses the Stilly (near Manley Cabin site). When it's not snow-covered there is a trail for about a mile or so. Follow the Stilly upstream on the East side of the river until the valley narrows. The Beckey guide says after 1.25 miles there is a boulderfield ascending rightward. I had troubles finding this boulderfield when I was up there in October, and I'm still not entirely sure where it is. I followed the Stilly to about 3100' where I came upon a large boulder and a slope leading up to the right.
I kept ascending westward up a gully which forked, I went straight up, and climbed to the top of the gully. I continued to ascend southwest toward the summit until around 4100' (I think) I got a view of the ridge. From here you can see four different peaks, you want to aim for the saddle just to the left of the large dome-shaped peak.
From the saddle, you skirt around the basin and ascend up a gully towards the top. (See the last picture in my original post). From there its pretty straightforward. Here is a topo with a very rough estimation of my route. Hope that helps!

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Justus S.
Member
Member


Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 1298 | TRs | Pics
Location: WA
Justus S.
Member
PostSun Dec 18, 2005 1:50 pm 
Nice job, glad to see more people enjoying that peak. I climbed it in the summer by an ascent from the Sultan River side via Kelly Creek. up.gif

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


Joined: 29 Jun 2004
Posts: 4399 | TRs | Pics
ree
Member
PostSun Dec 18, 2005 2:03 pm 
Beautiful pano. Is that Mt. Stuart I see towards the east? Kind of in the center of the pano? Wow, nice pictures...

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
peppersteak'n'ale
Member
Member


Joined: 28 Aug 2003
Posts: 1996 | TRs | Pics
peppersteak'n'ale
Member
PostSun Dec 18, 2005 7:23 pm 
Ditto on the pano - great shot up.gif

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Andy D.
Member
Member


Joined: 19 Apr 2004
Posts: 209 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bow, WA
Andy D.
Member
PostSun Dec 18, 2005 11:28 pm 
Thanks, glad you liked the pictures! I'm not sure if Mt. Stuart is visible or not, I don't know where it is at least. Glacier Peak is visible right behind Sloan Peak.

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 > Morning Star 12/15/05
  Happy Birthday noahk!
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