Forum Index > Trip Reports > Silver Peak attempt via Ollalie Meadow
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TrailPair
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TrailPair
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PostSat Jan 26, 2008 9:22 pm 
Our large group of 9(GeoTom , Walter, TDD, Silly Traveler, Bad Dog , Bruce, Opus and Trail Pair) parked at the junction of Exit 47 and FS road 55. We tried to drive to the TH, but the snow was too deep for our vehicles. However, there was a Ford Expedition with chains parked right outside the Annette Lake parking lot. We headed up the trail with snowshoes on our packs. When we reached the Iron Horse road a decision had to be made. Bad Dog had found a report from April 2007 showing a route up Silver via Ollalie Meadow. This looked more gentle on the map than the usual winter route, leaving the trail after the switchbacks (3200ft.) It was and 8-1 decision to give it a try. So we turned left on Iron Horse for about 100 yards, then found a snowshoe track heading uphill (east). Since it seemed to be heading the way we wanted to go we followed it. This turned out to be a very nice route. It was never extremely steep, and soon we were out of the trees, just above Ollalie Meadow. We angled south, went through a clear-cut, around a few bumps, then up through a beautiful old growth forest. One a clear day this route would be very scenic, but today we had little visibility. It had been snowing lightly at the TH, and was picking up steam! We then came to a pretty basin where we were able to attain Silver's north ridge. Unfortunately, there are some serious obstacles coming from this direction. Had the snow been more stable we think we could have traversed around the rocks, but today, with the snow coming down heavily, we felt it wasn't safe. We dropped back down to the basin, and climbed up HP (5200ft) on the east side of the basin. From here it looked like one could attain the summit ridge, by-passing the rocks. But we didn't feel the snow was stable enough to climb a steep, open slope to regain the ridge. We turned around at this point, and relied on the GPS's to get us down to the forest, since out tracks were already filled in. This is a lovely area which we would like to explore again in better weather.
Parking conditions at the junction
Parking conditions at the junction
Bridge across Humpback Creek
Bridge across Humpback Creek
Silly Traveler at edge of Clearcut
Silly Traveler at edge of Clearcut
Leaving the forest
Leaving the forest
Clear cut above Ollalie Meadow
Clear cut above Ollalie Meadow
Geo Tom
Geo Tom
Snowing heavily
Snowing heavily
Boone
Boone
Obstacle on North Ridge
Obstacle on North Ridge
Stopping point on North Ridge
Stopping point on North Ridge
Climbing to HP 5200ft., east of Silver's North Ridge.
Climbing to HP 5200ft., east of Silver's North Ridge.
White out!
White out!
Bob with North Ridge beyond
Bob with North Ridge beyond
Carol attempting to glissade
Carol attempting to glissade
Descent
Descent
Elevation Gain: 3600ft Distance: 8 miles

This thing called work is interfering with my play
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GeoTom
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PostSat Jan 26, 2008 9:35 pm 
TrailPair wrote:
It was and 8-1 decision to give it a try.
I can't believe you remembered that I was the dissenting vote suuure.gif Jasper was fine at home today, although I think he would have liked to play with Holly wub.gif

Knows literally nothing
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome



Joined: 26 Jul 2006
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Magellan
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PostSat Jan 26, 2008 9:42 pm 
Very interesting TR you guys. Thanks for the heads up on this route. Silver has been in the front of my mind.

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silly_traveler
~ roaming ~



Joined: 04 Jun 2006
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Location: Bellevue
silly_traveler
~ roaming ~
PostSat Jan 26, 2008 10:12 pm 
Nice report TP! up.gif Fun trip today even though we couldn't see much hmmm.gif good exercise and that 3600 ft. gain sure kicked my butt embarassedlaugh.gif GT- I can't believe you didn't bring Jasper huh.gif waah.gif I even made him a peanut butter sandwich rolleyes.gif

♫ 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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b00
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b00
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PostSat Jan 26, 2008 10:19 pm 
TrailPair wrote:
... So we turned left on Iron Horse for about 100 yards, then found a snowshoe track heading uphill (east). Since it seemed to be heading the way we wanted to go we followed it. This turned out to be a very nice route. It was never extremely steep, and soon we were out of the trees, just above Ollalie Meadow. ...
i've met you before and i don't think nicer folks could have followed our tracks :>) our trip report

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TrailPair
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TrailPair
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PostSat Jan 26, 2008 10:32 pm 
bOO, what a fun way to do Mt. Catherine! We will have to try that route someday.

This thing called work is interfering with my play
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Bryan K
Shameless Peakbagger



Joined: 29 Sep 2005
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Bryan K
Shameless Peakbagger
PostSun Jan 27, 2008 1:03 am 
That route up through Ollalie looks fun. Thanks for the heads up for this route heading up to Silver. Should be a great route when the avy danger reduces.

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Mosquito Food
This is how we do it



Joined: 11 Jan 2008
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Mosquito Food
This is how we do it
PostSun Jan 27, 2008 10:42 am 
Great pictures. Thanks

Fueled by cornbread
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GeoTom
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PostSun Jan 27, 2008 10:59 am 
A couple photos showing how lovely the weather was:
Food break
Food break
At our high point
At our high point
And Miss Holly:
Where is that Jasper?
Where is that Jasper?

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Opus
Wannabe



Joined: 04 Mar 2006
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Opus
Wannabe
PostSun Jan 27, 2008 2:45 pm 
Great trip, bad weather. smile.gif We were doing alright on our route I think. If we could have seen further and had more stable snow we could have pushed back up onto the ridge and the summit.
GPS tracks
GPS tracks
Here comes the snow
Here comes the snow
On the way
On the way
Can he see?
Can he see?
Ridge route ends
Ridge route ends
Where to now?
Where to now?
Holly
Holly
Climbing
Climbing
White out
White out
Pile of stuff
Pile of stuff

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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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Matt
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PostSun Jan 27, 2008 3:13 pm 
How do you find those white dogs in the snow? At least Jasper has some black spots.

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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bobbi
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Joined: 13 Jul 2006
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bobbi
stillaGUAMish
PostSun Jan 27, 2008 8:47 pm 
silly, where's your shoes photo?

bobbi ૐ "Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So…get on your way!" - Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss
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GeoTom
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GeoTom
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PostMon Jan 28, 2008 11:24 am 
Matt wrote:
How do you find those white dogs in the snow? At least Jasper has some black spots.
You look for the ball of moving snow. embarassedlaugh.gif Underneath will likely be Holly or Boone.

Knows literally nothing
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silly_traveler
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silly_traveler
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PostMon Jan 28, 2008 8:44 pm 
bcfc53 wrote:
silly, where's your shoes photo?
Next time winksmile.gif

♫ 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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the Zachster
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the Zachster
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PostMon Jan 28, 2008 9:45 pm 
Opus, those are some tough dogs, breaking their own trail in the "climbing" photo! up.gif up.gif

"May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am"
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