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TrailPair Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1699 | TRs | Pics
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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 Bridge across Humpback Creek Silly Traveler at edge of Clearcut Leaving the forest Clear cut above Ollalie Meadow Geo Tom Snowing heavily Boone Obstacle on North Ridge Stopping point on North Ridge Climbing to HP 5200ft., east of Silver's North Ridge. White out! Bob with North Ridge beyond Carol attempting to glissade Descent
Elevation Gain: 3600ft
Distance: 8 miles
This thing called work is interfering with my play
This thing called work is interfering with my play
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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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Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:35 pm
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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
Jasper was fine at home today, although I think he would have liked to play with Holly
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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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Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:42 pm
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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 Posts: 1525 | TRs | Pics Location: Bellevue |
♫ 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 Member
Joined: 29 Sep 2003 Posts: 1144 | TRs | Pics
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b00
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Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:19 pm
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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 Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1699 | TRs | Pics
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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
This thing called work is interfering with my play
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Bryan K Shameless Peakbagger
Joined: 29 Sep 2005 Posts: 5129 | TRs | Pics Location: Alaska |
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Bryan K
Shameless Peakbagger
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Sun Jan 27, 2008 1:03 am
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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 Posts: 74 | TRs | Pics Location: Covington |
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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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Sun Jan 27, 2008 10:59 am
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A couple photos showing how lovely the weather was:
Food break At our high point
And Miss Holly:
Where is that Jasper?
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Opus Wannabe
Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 3700 | TRs | Pics Location: The big rock candy mountain |
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Opus
Wannabe
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Sun Jan 27, 2008 2:45 pm
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Great trip, bad weather. 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 Here comes the snow On the way Can he see? Ridge route ends Where to now? Holly Climbing White out Pile of stuff
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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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Sun Jan 27, 2008 3:13 pm
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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
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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bobbi stillaGUAMish
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 8012 | TRs | Pics Location: olympics! |
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bobbi
stillaGUAMish
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Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:47 pm
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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
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 Member
Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 3215 | TRs | Pics Location: Earth |
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GeoTom
Member
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Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:24 am
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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. Underneath will likely be Holly or Boone.
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silly_traveler ~ roaming ~
Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Posts: 1525 | TRs | Pics Location: Bellevue |
bcfc53 wrote: | silly, where's your shoes photo? |
Next time
♫ 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
♫ 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 Member
Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 4776 | TRs | Pics Location: dog training |
Opus, those are some tough dogs, breaking their own trail in the "climbing" photo!
"May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am"
"May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am"
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