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Sadie's Driver Sadie's Driver
Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics Location: Welcome Pass |
As the trail turns - changing plans, the sequel!!! OK - so, flexibility is an important attribute when you are talking about organizing NW Hikers! So, we delayed our departure this morning so Trailpair Bob could get his dreadlocks cut ; but then, the folks that were supposed to meet up with them were late, so they suggested Barry (Middle E), Jim K, the driver and Gus should go on ahead without them. Plus, we lost Opus (David) to holiday demands - sorry, David, we used up all of the sunshine today - looks like you're going to have pretty crummy weather tomorrow! The original plan was to meet at the Ira Spring trailhead and do Bandera - the real summit. So, the possibilities now opened up. Barry had been lobbying for a Putrid Pete/Banana Ridge/Defiance/and possibly Bandera route to become the new destination. Neither Jim nor the driver were quick enough to think of a good reason why not! Now, any of you who know Putrid know that it's a steep little puppy! Oh sure, it starts off innocently enough, but you end up gaining about 2500' in about a mile! So, we got to the parking lot about 8:40 a.m. and we were on our way about 8:50 a.m. There were maybe six other cars in the lot at that time.Getting ready Trailhead sign
You are barely started on the Ira Spring when you reach the first switchback - it's here where you head straight, rather than continuing on the Ira Spring.Peel off to the left from the Ira Spring to head to Putrid
The route is fairly gentle - a little gain, but nothing spectacular for the first mile - most of that is through the trees and the crossing of a boulder field.Start of trail through the trees Jim crossing the boulder field on the way up to Putrid Pete
It's right on the other side of the boulder filed that the route gets serious. I can't really call it a trail now - but up until this point, it was a good, well maintained trail. Now, you head UP and it's a steep little pitch! But you are soon out of the trees and the views really open up.McClellan Dirty Harry's Balcony with Mt. Washington behind Barry with Mt. Washington and the Balcony behind
About all I can say is that it's up until you hit the summit - when the weather is as clear as it was today, all you need to do is just keep heading up.Barry and Gus heading to Putrid Jim heading up the steep slope above the East Fork of the I-90
This seems to be the view I usually have of Barry! Barry almost to the summit Barry on summit of Pete
Before long, we were all on the summit - although it had been quite sunny and almost warm on the way up - should be, it's a bit of hump to get up to the summit of Putrid Pete - but there was a nippy little breeze on the top and we needed to bundle up. The summit register was intact and we added our names - there was another treasure inside the register box - a picture of Pete!Putrid Pete (the photo!)
We took some picsGlacier Peak from the summit of Putrid
and grabbed a snack - it took us about 2 hours to reach the summit.Gus and driver on the summit of Putrid Pete - Dec. 6, 2008
So far, my new boots were doing well - not as comfy as the old ones, but it was time.New boots!
From the summit of Putrid - the run of Banana Ridge looked a bit dubious and a little scary - but off we headed to conquer Defiance.Looking back to Putrid Peak to run the ridge Barry, Jim and Gus heading along Banana Ridge to Defiance (in background) Jim's Pointer is still working!!!
Along the ridge, Gus found a refreshing drink!Nautral bowl of water on Banana Ridge - 12-06-08
Along our way, we spotted a view of Granite - little did we know that Trail Pair had headed there (we thought that they might do McClellan) Granite Peak
The ridge walk was absolutely lovely! Not difficult at all - a real surprise. We took one last look at PutridLooking back at Putrid Peak on our way to Defiance
and then entered some trees and soon found the connector trail from Thompson Lake to Defiance. We opted to keep heading straight up the ridge and cut off a little of the distance to get to the intersection of the trail up to Defiance. We ended up running into the Defiance trail higher up and soon arrived on the summit of Defiance, where the wind was a little nippy there, too! But the sun was still shining. Of course, it's a small world and who should be on top but a friend of the driver's, SusanSusan and friend on Defiance
and two women, Laura and Laurie.Laura and Laurie on Defiance
Laura knew us by our trip reports on WTA.Gusto, Jim K, Barry and Suzanne
We had a fun time chatting and talking about various trips. After our lunch, we decided that we had spent a little too much time chatting and that didn't leave us enough daylight to hit the true Bandera summit, so we headed off Defiance and to complete a loop, we decided to head down to Mason Lake - where "someone" (hint - four-legged) just had to take a dip in the lake - where there was a very thin layer of ice -
Mason Lake
and then out the old Mason Lake trail.The old Mason Lake trail Mason Creek Mason Creek Mason Creek tumbling through the woods
As we headed down, we got one last look at our original summit goal.
Peek at Putrid on our way out the old Mason Creek trail
A beautiful day in early December - with a brown trail so no schlepping all of the winter gear - but where is the snow? We figure about 9 or 10 miles, about 4000'+ of gain and a great day for an outing!
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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TrailPair Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1699 | TRs | Pics
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Well, it looks like you missed all the ice! We could have had a hockey game on Granite.
This thing called work is interfering with my play
This thing called work is interfering with my play
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Go Jo of the lykkens
Joined: 08 Jun 2003 Posts: 2248 | TRs | Pics Location: Around The Bend |
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Go Jo
of the lykkens
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Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:56 pm
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Great day, great trip, glad you were treated to some sunshine. Thanks for the photo tour from those of us stuck indoors today ~Jo
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seattlehikertoo Member
Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 582 | TRs | Pics Location: Finding an alternative to Mailbox Pk |
you are all very very lucky folks today. congrats on seizing another september-like day.
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TPayne Member
Joined: 06 Dec 2006 Posts: 225 | TRs | Pics Location: Olympia |
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TPayne
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Sat Dec 06, 2008 11:01 pm
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Good stuff, this is on my list for next year.
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Schmidt Alti-Dude 4th class poster
Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 1361 | TRs | Pics Location: Looking for Adventure 201! |
I've wondered about that traverse - good stuff!
Anything stated by me in no way reflects the attitudes or opinions of my wife
Anything stated by me in no way reflects the attitudes or opinions of my wife
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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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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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Sun Dec 07, 2008 11:11 am
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This is a favorite ridge walk. Fortunately it's not easy to get to...
A few more photos...
The ridgeline up Mt. Rainier from Pete's Glacier Peak from Pete's Banana Ridge from Pete's to Web Mtn.
pithy yet insightful signature
pithy yet insightful signature
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yukon222 Member
Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 1893 | TRs | Pics
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yukon222
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Mon Dec 08, 2008 2:39 pm
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Putrid is lots of fun - a little initial trail thru the woods to get warmed up, then turn and go UP!! Good to see this loop works so well - I considered it earlier this past summer but never got around to it. From the looks of your nice pics, it is a very worthy loop trip.
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