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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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Sat Nov 29, 2008 8:17 pm
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Seems Earl peak is the place to be lately so off we went to join the party. Everyone else must have finished off the booze and snacks because all we found were some clouds and a whole lot of wind up there. But we didn't have to use our rain gear, aside from wind protection, so that's always a plus! The crew this trip included myself, JimK, MiddleE, Trailpair, and Brewmaster and his son.
The road in was largely clear of snow, just some thin packed stuff approaching the trailhead. Someone has also cut in fairly deep drainage ditches across the last part of the road. Even Brewmaster's sedan made it through but drive carefully. We left the trailhead around 9:45 and made the summit around 2.5 hours later, thankfully with no sight or smell of the dead horse along the way. The trail was covered in a thin layer of slippery slush after crossing Bean creek but overall very snow free. Views were local but not too bad. We could see out to the neighboring peaks and swirling clouds in all directions.
Before long the wind chased us off the top and we chose to slip slide our way back down to the cars, making it in a brisk 1.5 hours. Equal drive to hike time ratio for this one but well worth it to escape the rain and get in another 7000 ft peak before the snows hit! And thanks to Barry's enrollment in the Suzanne Driving School we were out and back in record time!
That's a new warning. Summit assault Cloud factory
foEarl peak I'm the Michelin man (photo from JimK) Frozen tarn
on
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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 Nov 29, 2008 8:26 pm
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Nice.
That's a new warning.
It's actually been there since late September
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TrailPair Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1699 | TRs | Pics
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We were just happy that we didn't get rained on! Had it not been so windy on the summit, we would have considered running the ridge to Bean Peak. Oh well.....next time!
Jim K and Bob Golden light below summit David (Opus) and Bob on west ridge Mystical trees Judy's Peak A sunbreak below the summit K on "South Summit" Earl summit Hikers above the rocks Middle E, Opus, and Jim K Brewmaster and his son, Peter Peter and David on left. Bob, David, and Barry on summit. Bob with Bean Peak
...oh yea, we want to acknowledge Peter for his fancy footwork crosssing Bean Creek....and keeping his boots dry.....
This thing called work is interfering with my play
This thing called work is interfering with my play
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Middle E no more moustache
Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 432 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle, WA |
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Middle E
no more moustache
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Sat Nov 29, 2008 8:46 pm
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Opus wrote: | And thanks to Barry's enrollment in the Suzanne Driving School we were out and back in record time! |
Didn't you see all those cars passing us? It was a C- effort for sure.
My camera refused to take pictures until I set the date and time, but here's my offering...
Saddle below Earl Pk Ridgeline from the summit Bean and Mary, somewhere
pithy yet insightful signature
pithy yet insightful signature
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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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Sadie's Driver Sadie's Driver
Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics Location: Welcome Pass |
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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Movenhike \m/..mmmmetal\m/
Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 642 | TRs | Pics Location: Leavenworth, WA |
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Movenhike
\m/..mmmmetal\m/
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Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:09 am
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Awesome. I'm glad that you folks had favorable results. The day we had, mayun, we shoulda run the ridge to Bean Peak, I feel guilty now sorta
"Make it your Friend" -John Bull
"Make it your Friend" -John Bull
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MikeBeebe Seeking the Ur
Joined: 05 Aug 2008 Posts: 279 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle, Washington |
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MikeBeebe
Seeking the Ur
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Sun Nov 30, 2008 3:08 pm
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GeoTom wrote: | Nice.
That's a new warning.
It's actually been there since late September |
Wow, that thing's been dead a long time!
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Brewmaster Member
Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Posts: 30 | TRs | Pics Location: Issaquah, WA |
Glad to have my son Peter home for Thanksgiving vacation. We both enjoyed the hike up Earl.
Was not so sure that my Acura would make it up over the water bars on the road. Just a dusting of slick snow, but actually made it fairly easily. I had put the snow tires on and probably would not have made it otherwise.
Despite all of the signs warning of the Dead Horse, we did not see (or smell) any signs of it.
Here are a few pics from the trip (that Peter took). The clouds forming on the back of the ridge were amazing. Must have something to do with slightly lower pressure below the ridge as the wind whips over the top causing the moisture to condense out? I am sure that someone will explain this a lot better.
Opus pointing Middle E up ahead Clouds forming 1 Clouds forming 2 Heading up to the top Almost blown over
And the stats.
Earl peak track Earl peak elevation
All in all a great trip, despite the long drive. The lack of rain made the trip worth it.
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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 Nov 30, 2008 5:46 pm
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Looks like a great trip. I really enjoyed my trip up to Earl earlier this year.
I wonder why one would should make noise when approaching a dead horse? Hmmmmm
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Sadie's Driver Sadie's Driver
Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics Location: Welcome Pass |
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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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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Sun Nov 30, 2008 8:42 pm
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Bryan wrote: | I wonder why one would should make noise when approaching a dead horse? Hmmmmm |
The sign was there on September 20, the day after the horse died. The horse was actually in the creek, but on the Turnpike Trail.
Why make noise? Suppose a bear or some other critter is eating the horse? The noise is in order to scare that animal (or animals) off before you get to the horse.
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Joey verrry senior member
Joined: 05 Jun 2005 Posts: 2794 | TRs | Pics Location: Redmond |
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Joey
verrry senior member
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Sun Nov 30, 2008 10:34 pm
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Since we own a backhoe, I'm the local dead horse undertaker in our neighborhood. None that I have encountered so far (8 and counting) require any noise to be made. What am I missing regarding the USFS warning?
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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 Nov 30, 2008 10:44 pm
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Joey wrote: | Since we own a backhoe, I'm the local dead horse undertaker in our neighborhood. None that I have encountered so far (8 and counting) require any noise to be made. What am I missing regarding the USFS warning? |
They're worried about the dead horse attracting some predator, then an unsuspecting hiker walks up and spooks it. Making noise should hopefully scare off whatever may be up the trail.
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Curtissimo Member
Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 295 | TRs | Pics Location: Mexico Lindo y Querido si Muero Lejos de Ti |
regarding the notice for the horse this is very common in Montana when I went to Glacier NP some trails were even closed due to a dead elk on the trail. Grizzlies are attracted to that like dogs to a dead bird. I am sure bears can smell something like that a mile away.
you guys should have gone up on Sunday weather was beautiful! Looks like a great trip in any event.
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