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Dayhike Mike Bad MFKer
Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Posts: 10958 | TRs | Pics Location: Going to Tukwila |
Jeremey and Tisha (the dynamic duo otherwise known as Schmidt Altitude) and I just returned from a nine day "grand tour" of the ALW. We had a good time revisiting many of our old favorites, but also got to cover some new ground and see some new sights.
Day 1:
We got an early start Saturday morning and headed east to the Mineral Creek trailhead. Sunny skies awaited us on the east side of the crest and it looked like it'd be a great start to a long backcountry trip.
Noticed two others prepping their packs in the parking lot when we arrived: Marylou and Odonata! We chatted a bit as we packed up and then headed up to greet the brushy unmaintained morass that is the Mineral Creek trail. Met a couple parties coming out the Mineral Creek trail, but saw no one after we reached Park Lakes.
Winds picked up a bit as we approached Glacier and the reason became apparent as we descended to the lake -- large clouds had ensconced Chikamin and Lemah and bad weather was seeping over the top of the crest. We decided to play it safe and decided to camp a bit below the pass to avoid getting wet on our first night in.
Posing at the Parks Weather's rolling in... Descending to Glacier Ready to raft Jeremy's in the freezer Icebox and the Four Brothers Mossy waterway
Day 2:
This was a very very long day.
Great colors at Chikamin, lots of steep loose talus traversing to Grebeci, and hot temperatures rising up the valley and traversing to Taocrevo, but at the very least, we had nice weather for the entire day and all the clouds stayed down in the valley while we traversed the Italians. Gotta love high pressure inversions.
We stopped walking at 8:30pm and I fed the heather twice. Tasty!
Morning at the Tarns Glacier and Chick Magnet Stunning colors and stony rims Agua Chica Chikamin A long look back... Descending to Grebeci Schmidt Altitude floating the 'berg Last light on Overcoat Ready to rise
Day 3:
Weather stayed nice for us and even cleared up as we descended to the valley floor and rose again to reach Drofwarc. Sadly, as we ate our dinner, ominous tendrils of mist and cloud begin to curl over the ridge to the north. This was to be the last good weather we'd get for a while.
Overcoat and misty 'boots Overcoat again Under the Overcoat Glacier Close-up of glacier run off Rising on talus to Cindy's shores Drofwarc Tarn and Summit Chief Camp tarn and Drofwarc
Day 4:
We rose to find ourselves socked in, with clouds and mist threatening to rain. Low visibility made navigation a little difficult as we dropped over the ridge to the north, but we managed to get down to the right elevation and began to traverse to Nori Pac.
Rain was falling, but the clouds lifted from time to time and offered us some partial views as our reward. Hit the ledge at 5400 and continued traversing to Iron Cap Gap. Finally, we rose from the gap in heavy winds and rain to make camp in a sheltered spot just north of the Tanks.
Angeline and Azure Traversing on Talus A touch of color Leaving Nori Pac Building cairns again?
Day 5:
Weather wasn't much better in the morning, so we decided to head north and check out Tahl and Foehn. Tisha and Jeremey, full of energy, headed down to visit Bonnie, but I contented myself by wandering around the plateau a bit.
A little after noon, sun began to break through the clouds and eventually opened up. We broke camp at 3pm and headed east to La Bohn via a high traverse. Found a party of four camping at La Bohn Gap including a member here -- BigSteve.
We'd planned to camp at Lepul this night, but decided that La Bohn might offer a bit more protection in case the bad weather returned.
"I'm not cold...!" But on closer inspection... Tanks in the morning Tisha at Foehn Foehn detail Tahl outflow Tahl outflow horizontal Tahl outflow vertical Azurite, Otter, and copycat tarn Tank vertical Tank horizontal Ilswoot and Cloudy La Bohn Outflow Down the outflow waterfall Northern La Bohn Overhanging rocks Overhang close-up
Day 6:
Headed up onto the shoulder of Hinman under sunny skies. BigSteve had told us better weather was on the way and we were thankful for the warmth.
At the top of the ridge, we dropped pack and headed north to Lepul. Unfortunately, we stopped just short -- steep soft snow kept us from dropping the final 400 feet and reaching the shores of Lepul and better views of Hinman Lake. We headed south to grab our packs and head on...this would be a long day.
We rose toward the summit of Hinman and met BigSteve's party returning from their successful trip up. At the top, we dropped onto the Foss Glacier and then traversed onto rock to descend to the tarns to the NE below. Sadly, the mists and fog had returned and our views were less than optimal.
From the tarns, we headed across the Lower Foss Glacier and crossed the gap between Daniel and Hinman. Finally we traversed west across the southern slopes of Hinman to reach our campsite for the night, perched on a cliff high above Rebecca and Rowena.
Southern La Bohn Southern La Bohn again Middle and Northern La Bohn Rising up Shoreline detail Ridgeline tarn Ridgeline tarn vertical First views of Lake Hinman Hinman and Lepul More tarns and the northern ridge Wishing wistfully for Lepul Hinman and Lepul Jeremy and Tisha on the Foss Glacier Glacial melt First views of the NE Hinman tarns Jeremy, the human cairn
Day 7:
Weather improved overnight and we happily dropped to Rebecca and Rowena and soaked in the views under warm sunny skies. Soon, we were rising up the ridgeline toward Rowena Pass and dropping on talus to the Chain Lakes.
At Williams, we met a ranger camping for the night. She told us that good weather was on its way and we happily headed up to the Dutch Miller Gap. Tish and Jeremey enjoyed another side trip to tarns near the gap while I descended to set up camp at Ivanhoe.
Rowena, from the Gap Rowena horizontal Ivanhoe Waterfall Waterfall pool
Day 8:
We followed the Cascade Crest trail for a bit before heading off cross country toward the Summit Chief Tarns. Following a combination of goat paths and blind luck, we managed to make it into the basin with these beauties and I enjoyed another swim.
We rose on steep snow and rock to the ridgeline, then back down to Summit Chief Lake for one last bagged lake. After a short break, we began discussing food....real food...maybe Mexican food, or fondue!
With renewed vigor , we rose to Escondido Ridge and traversed to the Escondido Tarns. There we met two nice ladies, Linda and Billie, who were going to bag Summit Chief the next day. They graciously offered to help us get back to our car that very evening and perhaps realize our dream of fresh food, clean sheets, and warm water.
After our break at the tarns, we began the long, flat, long, nigh interminable, long, boring descent down the PCT to the valley floor. Somewhere along the way, we lost the inspiration we'd felt on top, and reality and soreness settled in. We camped at the Lemah Creek junction.
Traversing into the valley Lower Summit Chief tarn First views of the upper tarn Mmm...swimming rock Tarn on ridge Wishbone Tarn First view of Summit Chief Lake Interesting rock Summit Chief Lake And the first Vista Tarn
Day 9:
We rose early and headed with renewed vigor for the Pete Lake trailhead. The 6.7 miles flew past and we were out.
Thanks to Tisha and Jeremy for a great trip! You two are truly a great couple to travel with and have truly impressive energy and stamina. This was not an easy trip to make and they made it a real pleasure.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke
"Ignorance is natural. Stupidity takes commitment." -Solomon Short
zimmertr, reststep
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke
"Ignorance is natural. Stupidity takes commitment." -Solomon Short
zimmertr, reststep
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jenjen Moderatrix
Joined: 30 Jun 2003 Posts: 7617 | TRs | Pics Location: Sierra stylin |
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jenjen
Moderatrix
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Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:19 pm
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If life gives you melons - you might be dyslexic
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Magellan Brutally Handsome
Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 13116 | TRs | Pics Location: Inexorable descent |
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
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Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:20 pm
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Thank you sir, may I have some more?
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Mtn Dog Technohiker
Joined: 01 Aug 2004 Posts: 3336 | TRs | Pics Location: Bellevue, WA |
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Mtn Dog
Technohiker
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Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:22 pm
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DH Mike:
And by now I would have thought you'd had enough of the Italian Traverse last year! What an amazing trip - fun to see, and fun to share. As a side note, wouldn't it be more Italian to call it, "PacNori?"
Footprints on the sands of time will never be made sitting down.
Footprints on the sands of time will never be made sitting down.
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Matt Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
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Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:22 pm
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Wow, lot of lakes. Looking forward to the pics.
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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trailjunky Backcountry Bumpkin'
Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Posts: 1124 | TRs | Pics Location: timberline |
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trailjunky
Backcountry Bumpkin'
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Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:25 pm
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Holy crap, that trip sounds awesome, cant wait for the pics.
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Backpacker Joe Blind Hiker
Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 23956 | TRs | Pics Location: Cle Elum |
Wow, Im not sure I could have kept up. Nice work.
"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
"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
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Dayhike Mike Bad MFKer
Joined: 02 Mar 2003 Posts: 10958 | TRs | Pics Location: Going to Tukwila |
Backpacker Joe wrote: | Wow, Im not sure I could have kept up. Nice work. |
I can only speak for myself, but it was definitely quite a challenge. We had a good time, but we had quite a few long days.
Tisha has the stats re: elevation, but I know I started with 16.5lbs of food and a 47 pound pack. I ended with less than 8 oz. of food and down 13lbs of body weight.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke
"Ignorance is natural. Stupidity takes commitment." -Solomon Short
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke
"Ignorance is natural. Stupidity takes commitment." -Solomon Short
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Tom Admin
Joined: 15 Dec 2001 Posts: 17851 | TRs | Pics
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Tom
Admin
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Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:04 pm
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joker seeker
Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 7953 | TRs | Pics Location: state of confusion |
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joker
seeker
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Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:30 pm
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Yeehaw - that's quite a trek. Way to not let a little gate crimp your style!
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Schmidt Altitude Whippet Entourage
Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Posts: 803 | TRs | Pics Location: The Quah |
"Forest 101: These big wood stick things are called trees. The big rocks are called mountains, and the little rocks are their babies." Elliott from Open Season
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Matt Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
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Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:48 pm
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1300 pics. Darn, you doubled my record.
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“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 |
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ActionBetty
Im a dirty hippie!
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Tue Aug 14, 2007 1:31 am
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Ive been waiting for this TR, I was planning on suprising you all with a visit at the end of your trip if it wasnt for this darned JOB thing
sounds like 9 days of bliss
"If you're not living good, you gotta travel wide"...Bob Marley
"If you're not living good, you gotta travel wide"...Bob Marley
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TeeJay Sofa King
Joined: 11 Jul 2005 Posts: 586 | TRs | Pics Location: 2 weeks from everywhere |
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TeeJay
Sofa King
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Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:24 am
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Wow.
Sounds like a 12-14 day trip squeezed into 9 days. Gnarly.
It is not in the nature of politics that the best men should be elected. The best men do not want to govern their fellowmen. -- George MacDonald
It is not in the nature of politics that the best men should be elected. The best men do not want to govern their fellowmen. -- George MacDonald
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Kat Turtle Hiker
Joined: 05 Oct 2003 Posts: 2560 | TRs | Pics
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Kat
Turtle Hiker
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Tue Aug 14, 2007 6:43 am
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Incredible journey! You were carrying more food than my overnight pack weighs! And sorry to hear you "fed the heather twice" if I interpreted that correctly.....
Can't wait to see pics of my favorite places, and those I'd like to make it to some day....
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