Forum Index > Trip Reports > Score on Persis, 4/12/08
 Reply to topic
Previous :: Next Topic
Author Message
Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics
Location: Shoreline
Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
PostSat Apr 12, 2008 5:36 pm 
An even score of creatures reached the summit of Persis today - 16 hikers and 4 dogs. People: Matt, Cartman, Don b, Martin S, Loper, Wamountaingal, Todd, Trailpair (2), Opus, Twodogdad, Bad Dog (2), 11th Essential, Mountainsun, Micitz. Dogs: Banjo, Holly, Boon, Docs We were able to drive to about 2050 feet on the road, and saved some road-walking distance with a shortcut up a gully near where the trail starts. We couldn't find the exact TH in the snow, but worked our way up in the scrubby trees for a couple hundred feet and then up the snow-covered clear-cut slopes. Snow on the lower slopes was soft and inclined to posthole, but the snow got better higher up. The summit had great clear views of the surrounding peaks, especially the ornately corniced ridge leading to Persindex and Index. We decided to not go any further because the hot weather was weakening the snow rapidly. But some of us longingly studied the ridge in anticipation of future trips. The group enjoyed about an hour of relaxing in warm sun on the summit, then headed down. The softened snow was a minefield of people-eating pits on the lower slopes going down. The weak snow cover would break and drop you into pits of brush and clearcut slash. I think everyone fell in at least waist deep, and some went chest or shoulder deep.
Persis Route Map
Persis Route Map
Persis & Index Map
Persis & Index Map
Road Walking
Road Walking
Shortcut
Shortcut
High Reaches of Persis
High Reaches of Persis
Raptor Cornices
Raptor Cornices
Persis Summit
Persis Summit
Making tracks up Persis
Making tracks up Persis
Many-ringed Snow Wheel (I count at least 9 rings)
Many-ringed Snow Wheel (I count at least 9 rings)
14 of 16, near the Persis Tarns
14 of 16, near the Persis Tarns
The ridge to Persindex
The ridge to Persindex
Index
Index
Cornices
Cornices
Enjoying the summit
Enjoying the summit
Me
Me
Persis Tarn
Persis Tarn
Another snow wheel
Another snow wheel
Snow flowers growing from soft snow
Snow flowers growing from soft snow
A few more photos:
Heading up from Persis Tarns
Heading up from Persis Tarns
Bellevue & Seattle
Bellevue & Seattle
Index Summit
Index Summit
The route to Persindex
The route to Persindex
Gunn, Townsend, Merchant, Baring
Gunn, Townsend, Merchant, Baring
Panoramic of Index:
Index Pan
5 labels
Index Pan
Stats: Parking 2050, Summit 5464, net gain 3400, cumulative gain 3600, 6 miles, 7:30 hours, countless postholes.

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
TrailPair
Member
Member


Joined: 17 Apr 2005
Posts: 1699 | TRs | Pics
TrailPair
Member
PostSat Apr 12, 2008 7:05 pm 
First, we would like to thank Matt for organizing this fun trip. It was a large group of very nice people. We were even joined by "Mike", who just discovered the NW Hikers website last night, and decided to join us. With the warm weather, K got a chance to try her summer single point crampons with heel elevators, which are well ventilated and stylish. Although the descent was hideous with the traps and soft snow, the glissade down the "short cut" made it all worthwhile! And what views!
Steep climb through the clear-cut
Steep climb through the clear-cut
Open slope
Open slope
Plastered trees
Plastered trees
Tom "waiste deep".
Tom "waiste deep".
Mt. Index
Mt. Index
Snow sculpture
Snow sculpture
Trail Pair
Trail Pair
Persis-Index ridge
Persis-Index ridge
Opus on pointing duty with Troy.  Bad Dog on left.
Opus on pointing duty with Troy. Bad Dog on left.
Heading down
Heading down
All spread out of Persis summit
All spread out of Persis summit
For Silly_Traveler
For Silly_Traveler
Single Point crampons
Single Point crampons

This thing called work is interfering with my play
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
silly_traveler
~ roaming ~



Joined: 04 Jun 2006
Posts: 1525 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bellevue
silly_traveler
~ roaming ~
PostSat Apr 12, 2008 7:10 pm 
Nice pictures!!! cool.gif K - lol.gif up.gif very stylish! agree.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
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
drewcoll
Member
Member


Joined: 19 Sep 2007
Posts: 288 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle
drewcoll
Member
PostSat Apr 12, 2008 7:17 pm 
waah.gif I so wanted to go. Looks like lots of fun. Sadly I was in an auditorium until 1:30. mad.gif Very jealous. up.gif

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
loper
Member
Member


Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Posts: 453 | TRs | Pics
Location: seeking the sun
loper
Member
PostSat Apr 12, 2008 7:29 pm 
Thanks Matt for organizing. A good day in the mountains. Enjoyed meeting you all. smile.gif Oh, almost forgot. Awesome single point crampon sandal shots! lol.gif L
Cool Tree on Persis
Cool Tree on Persis
Persis with lots of people
Persis with lots of people
Index from Persis April 2008
Index from Persis April 2008
Traverse to Index April 2008
Traverse to Index April 2008

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Opus
Wannabe



Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Posts: 3700 | TRs | Pics
Location: The big rock candy mountain
Opus
Wannabe
PostSat Apr 12, 2008 7:38 pm 
What a great trip, thanks for organizing it Matt! up.gif Between the Northlake social and this trip I've met a lot of new people this week. Great views from the top, much better than my last trip. I took about a bazillion photos too, many more than I'll post here. The rest are viewable at the link below, as well as the full sized panoramas. Mt. Persis trip photos
Big group
Big group
Tree-hole attack!
Tree-hole attack!
Into the sun
Into the sun
Cornices
Cornices
Breaking trail
Breaking trail
Under the sun
Under the sun
Upwards
Upwards
Nearing the top
Nearing the top
Textured snow
Textured snow
Big view
Big view
Mt. Index
Mt. Index
Lap dog
Lap dog
Dog lift
Dog lift
Pondering the traverse
Pondering the traverse
Cornices
Cornices
Glissade!
Glissade!

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
wamtngal
Member
Member


Joined: 13 Jun 2004
Posts: 2382 | TRs | Pics
Location: somewhere
wamtngal
Member
PostSat Apr 12, 2008 7:40 pm 
Awesome pano, Opus! up.gif It was great to meet everyone - and on such a hot day! Much thanks to Matt for organizing the trip and making sure our headcount came to 16 + 4 canines at the end. Looking forward to getting out with all of you again! cool.gif My measly photo contribution...wish I had brought the better camera on a day like today!
Donb and Todd head up
Donb and Todd head up
11th Essential showing his pearly whites
11th Essential showing his pearly whites
Donb eyeing th prize and Index
Donb eyeing th prize and Index
Almost there...not quite
Almost there...not quite
Line of ants
Line of ants
Snow  sculpture
Snow sculpture
Index
Index
Dance to the Sun God
Dance to the Sun God
Ze traverse
Ze traverse
Still a bit more to go...
Still a bit more to go...
From the steep stuff to the steeper stuff
From the steep stuff to the steeper stuff

Opinions expressed here are my own.
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Hiker Mama
Member
Member


Joined: 25 Jun 2006
Posts: 3448 | TRs | Pics
Location: Lynnwood
Hiker Mama
Member
PostSat Apr 12, 2008 7:40 pm 
What a spectacular looking trip! Matt, your photos are wonderful. I especially like the last one with all the snow flowers. TrailPair, I really like the photo of Mt. Index with the scraggly tree in front. I can't imagine postholing up to my shoulders, or even waist! Thanks for sharing your adventure.

My hiking w/ kids site: www.thehikermama.com
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
mntsun
Wunderer



Joined: 08 Jul 2007
Posts: 206 | TRs | Pics
Location: Squaresville
mntsun
Wunderer
PostSat Apr 12, 2008 8:43 pm 
Too Much Fun
It was a terrific group of people with whom to slog up Persis! A perfect weather day, 56 degrees on the summit with almost no wind; however, descent was challenging. It was very enjoyable both snowshoeing and meeting everyone. Thanks to Opus for reposting the pano, Trail Pair for the sparkly single point crampon pictures, wamtngal for finding my basket, all the trail breakers for their steps, the whole group for the great experience and especially thanks fo Matt for organizing and being aware enough to help the hiker out and down.
WhulgeSeattleAndClimbers
WhulgeSeattleAndClimbers
RouteSelectionTime
RouteSelectionTime
TheRouteNotTaken
TheRouteNotTaken
BaringRoute
BaringRoute
TroubleAhead
TroubleAhead
MyLeastFavoriteSpot; All those snowshoe tracks are mine
MyLeastFavoriteSpot; All those snowshoe tracks are mine
RelaxingAndGettingSunburnOnTheRoadOut; finally a flat spot
RelaxingAndGettingSunburnOnTheRoadOut; finally a flat spot

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
11th Essential
Member
Member


Joined: 09 Jun 2007
Posts: 203 | TRs | Pics
Location: Shoreline, WA
11th Essential
Member
PostSat Apr 12, 2008 10:02 pm 
Big thanks to Matt for putting this together up.gif . Perfect Day. Was great to meet so many new folks and put faces to the avitars. Fortunately I made it out of that hole and was able to take these pics,
Lone Rock
Lone Rock
Rainier and Cornice
Rainier and Cornice
Mt Index
Mt Index
Unidentified Butt Glassaider - Troy?
Unidentified Butt Glassaider - Troy?
Nearing the top
Nearing the top
Loper, one of the few moments she wasn't breaking trail.
Loper, one of the few moments she wasn't breaking trail.
WA Mtn Gal and Todd
WA Mtn Gal and Todd
Pers-Index
Pers-Index
Lunch Crowd
Lunch Crowd
Thru the trees
Thru the trees
Heading up
Heading up
Matt sweeping the stragglers, only kidding....
Matt sweeping the stragglers, only kidding....
Looking east, Mt Index and the lunch crew
Looking east, Mt Index and the lunch crew

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics
Location: Shoreline
Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
PostSun Apr 13, 2008 12:24 am 
I added a few more photos and a pan of Index to my original post. Glad everyone enjoyed the trip. A couple other anecdotes: Where we parked, there were three young guys departing at the same time, but they didn’t have snowshoes and didn’t make it to the summit. On the way down, I met one of them postholing, and was appalled to see that he was wearing soaking wet bluejeans. Somehow he survived, but it was funny just to recognize my own reaction. When I noticed the jeans, I found myself internally exclaiming in horror, “Oh my God, he’s wearing cotton!” I also forgot to put on sunscreen. This evening my son has been amusing himself by poking my face to watch the red skin turn white and then back to red.

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
#19
Member
Member


Joined: 17 Dec 2001
Posts: 2197 | TRs | Pics
#19
Member
PostSun Apr 13, 2008 1:22 am 
Well golly gee. He was probably as appalled to see a group of 20 on such a small mountain, as you were to see him in jeans. rolleyes.gif Wouldn't you just love to arrive at a summit to find the lunch crowd. eek.gif

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks



Joined: 13 Feb 2007
Posts: 7216 | TRs | Pics
Location: Stuck in the middle
puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
PostSun Apr 13, 2008 2:18 am 
Thanks all for the report and the clear pictures of the Pers-Index ridge. Last fall I scrambled up the back route on Index and looked all over the site for pictures like this to let me know what to expect, but everyone who did it either didn't take the shots or was on Persis in bad weather. Now there's an abundance of Beta shots on the Index route.

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
wildernessed
viewbagger



Joined: 31 Oct 2004
Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics
Location: Wenatchee
wildernessed
viewbagger
PostSun Apr 13, 2008 8:08 am 
up.gif Nice look at that ridge. The snow yesterday was like slush, I put on SPF 50 all day and still got a burn on top of last weeks. Sweet views, despite the haze and smog layers.

Living in the Anthropocene
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
GaliWalker
Have camera will use



Joined: 10 Dec 2007
Posts: 4916 | TRs | Pics
Location: Pittsburgh
GaliWalker
Have camera will use
PostSun Apr 13, 2008 1:52 pm 
Looks like a beautiful trip! Lots of eye candy... Opus, these 2 shots are really good!
Opus wrote:
Under the sun
Under the sun
Cornices
Cornices

'Gali'Walker => 'Mountain-pass' walker bobbi: "...don't you ever forget your camera!" Photography: flickr.com/photos/shahiddurrani
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
   All times are GMT - 8 Hours
 Reply to topic
Forum Index > Trip Reports > Score on Persis, 4/12/08
  Happy Birthday speyguy, Bandanabraids!
Jump to:   
Search this topic:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum