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Matt Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 4308 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
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Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:42 am
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Party: Dicey, cartman, Justus S, Mike Collins, Martin S, Guiran, 2 friends of Guiran, Matt
Breccia, definition 1: A coarse-grained rock composed of angular fragments of pre-existing rocks
Breccia, definition 2: Point 6487 northeast of Round Lake, north of Lost Creek Ridge
Breccia, definition 3: A fine winter scramble on a beautiful bright (but short) December day
Breccia Trip Map
We started from the Lost Creek Ridge TH, 1850 feet, at 7:45am. For most of the drive, the road was bare, but there were a few inches of snow on the last mile. In the woods, the trail was completely bare up to about 3000 feet, and had only a thin cover of snow up to Bingley Gap, 4400 feet.
Even with so little snow, the avalanche potential of last weekend’s weather showed. Wherever we crossed a narrow avalanche gully in the woods, it was filled with lumps of hard avalanche debris.
The valley filled with morning mist, but we climbed above it by the time we reached Bingley Gap. I especially like these days when the fog fills the valley so that the each ridge and peak stands out in distinct profile above the sea of white clouds below.
Frosty Fern Looking up avalanche debris to blue mist Misty Forest Slope
Along the ridge, the forest showed the differing effect of opposite exposure to the weather. On the south side, the trees were bare of snow and warming in the morning light. On the north side, it was all shadows and heavy frost on the boughs.
Frosty Bough Spiky Frost Frost & Forest Fir Frost Cedar Frost
Further up the ridge, the snow became deeper but still solid, usually a few inches of powder over a firm crust. Circa 5200 feet, we switched to crampons for the rest of the journey. As the views opened up southward, Sloan & Bedal dominated the view.
Sloan & Bedal appear through the trees Hikers, Sloan & Bedal Traveling along the ridge Round Lake & Breccia summit Glacier Peak Appears Flying Treesicles
The ideal route traverses a little south of the crest to bypass steep high points on the ridge, but we didn’t quite achieve the ideal. At Point 5960, we errantly followed the crest, hit the steep end, and had to backtrack down to traverse past Sunup Lake.
Between Point 5850 and Point 5960 On the way to the summit – Maybe… …Or Maybe Not. Forgot to go around Point 5960. Down below after backtracking Sunup Lake & Glacier Peak
Then we headed to crest lined with frosty trees…
Looking back to Sunup Lake, Point 5960, & Sloan Traversing to the crest Frosty trees I like frosty trees I really like frosty trees
And followed the crest to the wide rounded summit.
Breccia crest to the summit Breccia summit
Panoramic views showed dozens of Mountain Loop peaks, Glacier Peak, and the long stretch of Ptarmigan Traverse peaks in the distance.
Some of the party had arrived long before. I entertained the group by kicking my camera into the snow when I snagged a crampon on the pack that was holding the pole that was holding the camera for a group photo.
Summit group photo Summit tea & Glacier Summit tea with Sloan, Bedal, & Monte Cristo Peaks
Then we headed back down, the last of us arriving at 5pm, just as it became too dark to see in the woods.
Heading down Crampon tracks in the snow Heading toward Sunup Lake Fog & photos
Scary flashback photo from Breccia in Spring 2001:
Red coat, purple shorts, black underwear, blue gators. Also Pugh & Whitechuck.
Stats: 11 miles, 4700 net gain, 5200 cumulative gain, 9:15 hours
Gear used: poles, crampons, ice axe. Gear not used: snowshoes.
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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Stefan Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Posts: 5093 | TRs | Pics
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Stefan
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Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:00 am
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Tazz Member
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 7902 | TRs | Pics
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Tazz
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Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:01 am
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Thats the one I have been waiting for!!!! SWEEEEET!!!! awesome shots and climb you all!!!
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GeoTom Member
Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 3215 | TRs | Pics Location: Earth |
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GeoTom
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Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:08 am
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Nice Matt.
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wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
Living in the Anthropocene
Living in the Anthropocene
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Gabigabs Trail Breaker
Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 841 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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Gabigabs
Trail Breaker
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Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:26 am
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What a trip! All your pics are awesome.
Life is simple... Eat, Sleep, Hike!
Life is simple... Eat, Sleep, Hike!
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Riverside Laker Member
Joined: 12 Jan 2004 Posts: 2819 | TRs | Pics
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Hey, is Mike Collins wearing *two* crampons?!!
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Mike Collins Member
Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 3097 | TRs | Pics
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Everyone in the party showed up with their own pair so I didn't need to share mine which I do when the need arises. It felt good to have both feet firmly anchored onto the styrofoam-like snow.
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Randy Cube Rat
Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 2910 | TRs | Pics Location: Near the Siamangs |
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Randy
Cube Rat
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Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:27 pm
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Dicey is sooo stylish. Is that another new jacket she's wearing?
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Quark Niece of Alvy Moore
Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 14152 | TRs | Pics
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Quark
Niece of Alvy Moore
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Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:35 pm
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I wonder how many different ways this word is mispronounced. I've always mumbled it so that whoever I was talking to thought there was something wrong with their hearing. When in doubt, either confuse 'em or mumble.
My geological terms book says it's "bret-cha," as an italian word.
Lost Creek is such a wonderful ridge. You’re in the dark forest for so long, then once on the ridge, still in the trees. The suddenly you break out of the trees and if you want to, you can stay out of the trees ‘til you get all the way to the Wenatchee River. Lost Creek Ridge makes you feel so good!
"...Other than that, the post was more or less accurate."
Bernardo, NW Hikers' Bureau Chief of Reporting
"...Other than that, the post was more or less accurate."
Bernardo, NW Hikers' Bureau Chief of Reporting
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Mike Collins Member
Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 3097 | TRs | Pics
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Randy wrote: | Dicey is sooo stylish. Is that another new jacket she's wearing? |
Only the best for Dicey...It is a MontBell.
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dicey custom title
Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 2870 | TRs | Pics Location: giving cornices a wider berth |
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dicey
custom title
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Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:56 pm
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cartman Member
Joined: 20 Feb 2007 Posts: 2800 | TRs | Pics Location: Fremont |
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cartman
Member
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Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:19 pm
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Quark wrote: | My geological terms book says it's "bret-cha," as an italian word. |
Everyone I've ever heard pronounces it as breck-ee-uh.
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GeoTom Member
Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 3215 | TRs | Pics Location: Earth |
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GeoTom
Member
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Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:56 pm
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I pronounce it bret-cha as they taught me in geology school. It would be easier, of course, if it were called Conglomerate Peak, but alas, it is not.
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Hiker Mama Member
Joined: 25 Jun 2006 Posts: 3451 | TRs | Pics Location: Lynnwood |
That looks like a really neat trip. I enjoyed looking at all of your bright sunny pictures with glorious blue sky and interesting frost and ice. I don't do much winter travel, so I find it intriguing to see what I'm missing. Thanks for sharing!
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