Forum Index > Trip Reports > Red Mountain (Salmon La Sac) 3-25 (Adventure & Map added!)
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics
Location: Shoreline
Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
PostMon Mar 26, 2007 12:12 am 
Red Mountain Part 1: The Ascent Looking for a dry hole in the cloudy weather, twelve of us went to Red Mountain near Salmon La Sac: myself, cartman, ErinB, Aussie, Mesahchie Mark, EF, silly_traveler, GeoTom, JimK, TrailPair (2), and Jasper the dog.
Red Mountain Route
Red Mountain Route
We parked at the junction with Forest Service Road 46, half a mile before the Salmon La Sac campground (2350 feet). Crossing the Cle Elum River, we were encouraged to see large patches of blue sky overhead and the summit in the distance shining with fresh white snow in the sunlight. We hiked the road about 1.5 miles to the Red Mountain trailhead (2600 ft), then put on snowshoes and headed uphill on the snow.
Cle Elum River Bridge & Red Mountain, summit is whitest high point on right
Cle Elum River Bridge & Red Mountain, summit is whitest high point on right
Hiking the road
Hiking the road
Creek coming down to the road
Creek coming down to the road
The warm snow under the trees packed firmly underfoot and made for steady progress. Circa 3200 we gradually veered rightward up onto the long ridge that extends westward from the summit, and followed the ridge to the top. ErinB led all the way and we made a fast pace uphill.
Ascending the forested ridge
Ascending the forested ridge
Up
Up
Up Up
Up Up
Up Up Up
Up Up Up
On the highest part of the ridge, we were on more open terrain, with sun breaks lighting up the snowy trees and high snowy basins.
Snowy Twigs
Snowy Twigs
Terrain Opening Up
Terrain Opening Up
Erin Jogging Upward (the only time I could get in front of her long enough for a picture)
Erin Jogging Upward (the only time I could get in front of her long enough for a picture)
Payoff! My favorite kind of winter trip scene is scattered trees upon high meadows, when the clouds first open up after a snowstorm, with fresh snow flocking all the trees, white silhouettes against a blue sky.
Sun & Shadow, Trees & Meadow, Snow & Sky
Sun & Shadow, Trees & Meadow, Snow & Sky
Snowy Trees 1
Snowy Trees 1
Snowy Trees 2
Snowy Trees 2
Snowy Trees 3
Snowy Trees 3
The final hundred feet to the summit was scalloped with cornices, which were the first of many cornices that we would find on the crest of Red Mountain.
Nearing the top
Nearing the top
Corniced approach to north summit
Corniced approach to north summit
Reaching the summit
Reaching the summit
The group sat on the northern summit for a food break. Intermittent sunshine lit up the ridges, and gaps in the clouds gave occasional glimpses of peaks on the Snoqualmie crest further north. Trip to the summit was 4 miles, 3.5 hours, 3500 gain.
Group on the north summit
Group on the north summit
Dramatic Land & Sky
Dramatic Land & Sky
The summit has two approximately equal bumps a few hundred yards apart, with another prettily corniced ridge in between. After the break, we traversed across to the southern summit.
Looking ahead from north summit to south summit
Looking ahead from north summit to south summit
Crossing from north summit to south
Crossing from north summit to south
Looking back from south summit to north summit
Looking back from south summit to north summit
Summit Tea, looking from south summit to north summit
Summit Tea, looking from south summit to north summit
From the rocky edge of the southern summit, we could survey the many-corniced crest of the mountain extending further south.
Group on south summit
Group on south summit
Group on south summit
Group on south summit
Matt near south summit, with north summit behind
Matt near south summit, with north summit behind
I wandered around taking more pictures of the snowy trees.
Windblown snow & rimed little tree
Windblown snow & rimed little tree
Snowy Pine
Snowy Pine
Snowy Firs
Snowy Firs
Then we stood on the summit, considering which way to go down. Looking further southward, corniced ridges connected to Point 5722 and 5703 beyond that. But the ridge had some steep bumps, including a rock step immediately in front of us. With plenty of time left, periodic sunshine, and beautiful terrain ahead, I proposed making a loop trip by following the ridge to Point 5722 or further.
Considering Which Way to Go Down
Considering Which Way to Go Down
Looking south to Point 5722
Looking south to Point 5722
The Ridge of Adventure, with the Icy Rock of Foreshadowing
The Ridge of Adventure, with the Icy Rock of Foreshadowing
For the record, I did make a disclaimer stating that I didn’t know if the ridge would run or whether it would have difficult terrain. Some people decided it would be wiser to return by our ascent route. ErinB, Aussie, Mesahchie Mark, and cartman decided to try the loop with me. (I don’t have time to finish the report today, but the pictures below can be a foretaste. Adventure segment will probably be finished very late on Tuesday. Didn’t someone suggest that different forms of trip report could be entertaining? Consider this to be a serial.)
Start of Adventure
Start of Adventure
Crux of Adventure
Crux of Adventure
Looking Back at Route of Adventure
Looking Back at Route of Adventure
Some chose wisdom; some chose adventure….. "Red Mountain Part 2: The Adventure" is on page 2 of this thread.

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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ActionBetty
Im a dirty hippie!



Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 4807 | TRs | Pics
Location: kennewick, wa
ActionBetty
Im a dirty hippie!
PostMon Mar 26, 2007 5:33 am 
Did you run into Dicey and Putz, they were headed to Red yesterday?

"If you're not living good, you gotta travel wide"...Bob Marley
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GeoTom
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Joined: 19 May 2005
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GeoTom
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PostMon Mar 26, 2007 7:20 pm 
Thanks Matt for organizing this little trip, and thanks to ErinB for leading the way. Any faster and the snow would have melted under her feet. Get my pictures out of the way first. I am sure better ones will follow:
Sunny and snowing
Sunny and snowing
Single file
Single file
silly traveller ascends
silly traveller ascends
South summit
South summit
Summit party on Red
Summit party on Red
Heading to the south summit
Heading to the south summit
Rime near Red Mountain summit
Rime near Red Mountain summit
The ridge of adventure
The ridge of adventure
Cathedral Rock
Cathedral Rock

Knows literally nothing
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silly_traveler
~ roaming ~



Joined: 04 Jun 2006
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Location: Bellevue
silly_traveler
~ roaming ~
PostMon Mar 26, 2007 8:13 pm 
Thanks to Matt for organizing the trip! Lots of fun and a great workout! Didn't take that many pictures for some reason huh.gif Here are a few to share smile.gif
trail sign
trail sign
heading up
heading up
Matt
Matt
TP
TP
Miss Emma on summit
Miss Emma on summit

♫ You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. And you're the one who will decide where you'll go. Oh the places you'll go. - Dr. Seuss
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Sadie's Driver
Sadie's Driver



Joined: 24 Apr 2006
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Location: Welcome Pass
Sadie's Driver
Sadie's Driver
PostMon Mar 26, 2007 8:29 pm 
Niiiicccceeee!!!! up.gif agree.gif Sadie is soooooo jealous!!! So many sandwiches - so little time. And her stuck in Seattle. Bummer frown.gif bawl.gif shakehead.gif Can't wait for the rest of the pictures and the rest of the story!! Rumor has it, Erin B has one speed - FULL!! Great report, all!!! s.d.

Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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Randy
Cube Rat



Joined: 18 Dec 2001
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Randy
Cube Rat
PostMon Mar 26, 2007 8:39 pm 
Whoa! Look at that blue sky!!

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Tazz
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Tazz
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PostMon Mar 26, 2007 9:08 pm 
Yahoo!! Nice, folks!! thanks smile.gif

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trailjunky
Backcountry Bumpkin'



Joined: 14 Jun 2004
Posts: 1124 | TRs | Pics
Location: timberline
trailjunky
Backcountry Bumpkin'
PostMon Mar 26, 2007 10:03 pm 
Great shots, way to go! up.gif

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Yana
Hater



Joined: 04 Jun 2004
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Yana
Hater
PostMon Mar 26, 2007 10:16 pm 
Matt wrote:
Some chose wisdom; some chose adventure….. Tune in tomorrow for lots of pictures (mostly of snowy trees and corniced ridges) and the rest of the story.
You are an evil, evil man. Still, looking forward to the rest of the story!

PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome



Joined: 26 Jul 2006
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
PostMon Mar 26, 2007 10:22 pm 
Quote:
ridge of adventure
ridge of adventure
Tell me more, tell me more...

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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics
Location: Shoreline
Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
PostTue Mar 27, 2007 12:53 am 
I edited the pictures into my original post. Time runs out, and I still haven't finished the adventure section. Tune in again tomorrow (very late on Tuesday). Think of it as a serial trip report.
The Ridge of Adventure, with the Icy Rock of Foreshadowing
The Ridge of Adventure, with the Icy Rock of Foreshadowing
Some Chose Adventure
Some Chose Adventure

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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Tazz
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PostTue Mar 27, 2007 1:02 am 
great action shot of Mark!! good stuff ! thanks Matt. smile.gif

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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics
Location: Shoreline
Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
PostTue Mar 27, 2007 1:09 am 
Then there's the upcoming shot of Erin crossing a steep icy slope with crampons strapped onto her stuff-sack covered tennis shoes.

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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Aussie
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Aussie
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PostTue Mar 27, 2007 6:41 am 
Even though I was on the trip, reading this TR has me in suspense !! Great trip, Matt - thanks for organising.

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Yet
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Joined: 23 Apr 2005
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Yet
Member
PostTue Mar 27, 2007 7:06 am 
I'm glued to the screen, and I have popcorn! Matt, nice going keeping everyone in suspense. It's almost better than BSG. up.gif Hopefully, we won't have to wait until 2008 for the rest. hockeygrin.gif

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