Forum Index > Trip Reports > Mixed Welcome (Welcome Pass Points 5743, 5933, 5854) 2/17/08
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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 Feb 19, 2008 2:50 am 
Three dogs herded their people to various points above Welcome Pass today:
  • Jasper’s Group, Point 5933: GeoTom, don b, Randy, mtnmike, Suzanne R, Fay P
  • Dougie’s Group, Point 5743: Ian & Mary Jane McK, Greg & Sara K, Lori J
  • Dakota’s Group, Point 5854: paultkuhn, Matt, Natala G, Juan E
This trip report could also be titled "Little Black Dots on Long White Ridges." After the group divided at Welcome Pass, we could see each other on the opposite ridge as smaller and smaller black dots leaving a trail of white tracks further and further into the distance. Even a couple miles away, those receding black dots were just barely visible against the white crest. This was the third time to Welcome Pass for me:
  • First time, the crest was a soft mystery of fresh-falling flakes, it’s edges and ends disappearing into shifting curtains of mist and snow.
  • Second time, the crest was a wind-carved sculpture of rippled crust and corniced waves, surrounded by shoals of snowy peaks under clear cold skies.
  • Third time, the crest was a gleaming banquet of bright whipped cream and folds of satiny silk, swooping along the ridges and soaring up the faces of the peaks, all basking under warm deep blue skies.
The greatest dilemma was whether to keep exploring further for the beautiful views, or just luxuriate longer in the wonderfully warm sunshine.
Trip Map (dogleg on left is incorrect)
Trip Map (dogleg on left is incorrect)
360 degree pan from Point 5854, with labels
33 labels
360 degree pan from Point 5854, with labels
As before, we parked by SR542 (2000ft), hiked about ¾ of a mile up the road to the trailhead (2500), and another ¾ mile where the trail follows another road. We missed the point where the trail leaves the road (3000), found it a hundred feet uphill, followed it awhile, then lost it again (circa 3500), and made our own route the rest of the way to the pass (5350). A strong group kicked steps all the way up to the summit. Directly up. With big long steps. No matter how steep. With nary a concession to such trivialities as switchbacks. Alas, they soon were too far ahead to hear the pleas for mercy or cries of outrage from the us normal humans trailing along behind.
Trailhead
Trailhead
On the trail
On the trail
Hangdog
Hangdog
Welcome Pass & Point 5854
Welcome Pass & Point 5854
Welcome Pass & Sefrit
Welcome Pass & Sefrit
From the pass, Jasper’s group headed east to Point 5933. Dougal’s group, arriving later, headed the same direction, but stopped on the flats near Point 5743. I joined Dakota’s group to head west and north to Point 5854. Along the way, we could look east and watch the tiny black dots of the other parties moving higher and cutting a bright track up to the end of their ridge.
Don setting perfectly spaced steps eastward
Don setting perfectly spaced steps eastward
Group heading east
Group heading east
Paul heading west
Paul heading west
Groups heading both directions
Groups heading both directions
Paul kicked steps all the way to the top. The warm damp snow was stable, tended to cling to one’s snowshoes like concrete. The route to 5854 turned out to be easy – a walk westward on the main ridge, a curve to the right to get around a steep corner, and then a hike northward up to the summit. The final ridge was almost an arête, with a minor cornice and lots of snowball tracks down the side slopes, but nothing loose. The summit had a nice flat area just below the top, with a few rock and snow outcrops for decoration.
Ascending 5854
Ascending 5854
Side slope of 5854 (Note dots of hikers approaching 5933 at right)
Side slope of 5854 (Note dots of hikers approaching 5933 at right)
Tracks on the crest
Tracks on the crest
We relaxed for an hour on the summit, basking in the warm sunshine and bright views.
5854 summit group – Natala, Juan, Paul, Dakota
5854 summit group – Natala, Juan, Paul, Dakota
5854 summit from side outcrop
5854 summit from side outcrop
Matt on a side outcrop
Matt on a side outcrop
Matt just below the summit
Matt just below the summit
Summit tea & Welcome Pass
Summit tea & Welcome Pass
Summit tea & Point 5933
Summit tea & Point 5933
Views of the other groups (if you enlarge the photos, you can see the little black dot people:
Group at 5933 summit (with Winchester behind)
Group at 5933 summit (with Winchester behind)
Departing 5933 summit
Departing 5933 summit
Group near Point 5743
Group near Point 5743
Views of surrounding peaks:
Damfino
Damfino
American Border
American Border
Larrabee
Larrabee
Goat
Goat
Sefrit, Ruth & Icy, & Welcome Pass
Sefrit, Ruth & Icy, & Welcome Pass
Shuksan
Shuksan
Baker
Baker
Reluctantly we departed.
Paul & Dakota heading down
Paul & Dakota heading down
Juan & Natala heading down
Juan & Natala heading down
Snow wheels heading down
Snow wheels heading down
Loathe to leave too soon, I ambled over to the 5600 closed contour a little further west on the main ridge, dwadling to watch how the afternoon sun dimpled the snowbanks and stretched long shadows from the trees. The melt patterns on the trees also showed the sun’s one-sided impact.
Looking back at Point 5854 (with Damfino & Tomyhoi)
Looking back at Point 5854 (with Damfino & Tomyhoi)
Shadow dimples
Shadow dimples
Half & Half Trees
Half & Half Trees
Icy
Icy
Horizontal & Vertical
Horizontal & Vertical
From here, I could see all three of the destinations I’ve explored near Welcome Pass
Point 5850, 2/15/04
Point 5850, 2/15/04
Point 5933, 1/21/08
Point 5933, 1/21/08
Point 5854, 2/17/08
Point 5854, 2/17/08
Welcome Pass itself
Welcome Pass itself
Then I followed my own lengthening shadow back down to the pass
Tall as the trees
Tall as the trees
Long legs
Long legs
Nearing the pass
Nearing the pass
The moon rose over the ridge, where wide lanes of tracks led back from 5933.
Hikers returning to Welcome Pass (with Goat Mtn)
Hikers returning to Welcome Pass (with Goat Mtn)
Randy & Don waiting for me
Randy & Don waiting for me
Tracks & Moon
Tracks & Moon
Dropping down from the pass went quick. On the lower slopes, the snow had softened and compressed enough to allow about 500 feet of easy glissading right through the trees. When we hit the road part of the trail, I got a picture of Dougie’s group, since I’d missed them earlier. After crossing the creek at 2850, we angled downhill on a shortcut suggested by mtnmike, which cut off a loop of road walking and brought us back to the road below the trailhead.
Dougal’s Group
Dougal’s Group
Chronology: Depart cars 8:45am, arrive Welcome Pass 12:00pm, arrive Point 5854 1:24pm, depart 2:30pm, side trip to 5600 2:55pm, return to Welcome Pass 3:25pm, return to cars 5:05pm Stats: 9 miles, 4300 gain, 8:15 hrs

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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GeoTom
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Joined: 19 May 2005
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Location: Earth
GeoTom
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PostTue Feb 19, 2008 8:49 am 
Thanks Matt for organizing this outing, and to Paul for driving and Dakota for putting up with Jasper. And to Fay for retrieving the shovel handle that jumped ship off my pack. A strenuous day for me, but well worth the effort. Glad I applied sunscreen too. cool.gif Some of my photos from the day

Knows literally nothing
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paultkuhn
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Joined: 11 Jun 2007
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paultkuhn
Member
PostTue Feb 19, 2008 9:24 am 
GT, I love that picture of Dakota. I think the best way to get a shot of her is to have somebody keep her attention with a sandwich.

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WildCelticRose
Oooh ! Shiny !



Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 242 | TRs | Pics
Location: Tacoma
WildCelticRose
Oooh ! Shiny !
PostTue Feb 19, 2008 11:14 am 
Awesome pictures! Sorry I had to miss it this time, but the way my legs feel today (not to mention my tush after Sunday's bike ride) it was the right call. I had to come back to work to rest up.

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. John Muir
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TrailPair
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Joined: 17 Apr 2005
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TrailPair
Member
PostTue Feb 19, 2008 11:28 am 
Welcome Pass and the associated points is one of our favorite hikes! You caught the ridge on a bluebird day. WOW!!!!!! eek.gif

This thing called work is interfering with my play
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John Morrow
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Joined: 03 Apr 2007
Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics
Location: Roslyn
John Morrow
Member
PostTue Feb 19, 2008 12:10 pm 
Wow! Quite the Who's Who of Peakbaggers!!!

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.” ― MLK Jr.
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dicentra
Plant Geek



Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 1127 | TRs | Pics
Location: Der Town
dicentra
Plant Geek
PostTue Feb 19, 2008 1:19 pm 
Wow!!! Nice pics! up.gif agree.gif

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Randy
Cube Rat



Joined: 18 Dec 2001
Posts: 2910 | TRs | Pics
Location: Near the Siamangs
Randy
Cube Rat
PostTue Feb 19, 2008 2:29 pm 
As usual, great TR and pictures Matt. Thanks again for putting together such a fine trip. It was great to meet some new folks yesterday. Here are a few pictures from the trip to Point 5933' - some really nice winter scenery up there!
Welcome Pass
Welcome Pass
On the Way to 5933 - Don Admires the Views
On the Way to 5933 - Don Admires the Views
Along the Ridge - Baker Looms
Along the Ridge - Baker Looms
Encountering Skiers (Right)
Encountering Skiers (Right)
Group on the Summit
Group on the Summit
GeoTom Heads for Home
GeoTom Heads for Home
American Border Peak (L of C)
American Border Peak (L of C)
Ridge Route
Ridge Route
Over a Hump on the Return
Over a Hump on the Return
Wide Open
Wide Open

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Gabigabs
Trail Breaker



Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Posts: 841 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle
Gabigabs
Trail Breaker
PostTue Feb 19, 2008 2:39 pm 
Gorgeous photos. We're heading up there on Saturday, hoping to get at least a tiny bit of the spectacular views you guys got.

Life is simple... Eat, Sleep, Hike!
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bobbi
stillaGUAMish



Joined: 13 Jul 2006
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Location: olympics!
bobbi
stillaGUAMish
PostTue Feb 19, 2008 4:23 pm 
fantastic TR and pictures! up.gif up.gif up.gif

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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wildernessed
viewbagger



Joined: 31 Oct 2004
Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics
Location: Wenatchee
wildernessed
viewbagger
PostTue Feb 19, 2008 4:51 pm 
Quality stuff as usual. You can't beat a wintry ridge and views. hockeygrin.gif

Living in the Anthropocene
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Schmidt Alti-Dude
4th class poster



Joined: 06 Jul 2007
Posts: 1361 | TRs | Pics
Location: Looking for Adventure 201!
Schmidt Alti-Dude
4th class poster
PostTue Feb 19, 2008 5:14 pm 
What great weather, looks like fun! cool.gif ~Jeremy and Tisha

Anything stated by me in no way reflects the attitudes or opinions of my wife
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drewcoll
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Location: Seattle
drewcoll
Member
PostTue Feb 19, 2008 11:39 pm 
Very Nice! up.gif

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Magellan
Brutally Handsome



Joined: 26 Jul 2006
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Location: Inexorable descent
Magellan
Brutally Handsome
PostTue Feb 19, 2008 11:46 pm 
Gorgeous pictures everyone. Thanks for the post Matt.

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goats gone wild
Mr. Goat



Joined: 19 Aug 2007
Posts: 2524 | TRs | Pics
Location: Vampireville
goats gone wild
Mr. Goat
PostWed Feb 20, 2008 12:06 am 
Matt, really enjoyed your description of the different conditions on each of your trips to Welcome. Sounds like third time is indeed a charm. Looks like a great outing with a lot of nice folks and furry friends. up.gif Gorgeous cup of tea, too. coffee.gif

.....leaving me wanting to return over and over in what ever capacity that may be, even if one day my knees are too old and I can only see the mountains from my porch. Jason Hummel
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Forum Index > Trip Reports > Mixed Welcome (Welcome Pass Points 5743, 5933, 5854) 2/17/08
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