Forum Index > Trip Reports > kendall peak, alaska mountain - 2008-12-06
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iron
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Joined: 10 Aug 2008
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iron
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PostSun Dec 07, 2008 1:03 am 
i just really hate those days when you get poured on the entire day. fortunately, today was not one of them. it was another late start (slept in, yet again), so i was worried the rains would catch up with me. nope. the trip started from the commonwealth basin trailhead. about 1/2 mile in, i lost the trail. i didn't look very hard to refind it since i knew the pct was not far away, but some thorns and an icy grass created a bit of a spill that snapped one of my carbon fiber trekking poles. waah.gif there's a silver lining to this event, however: it was to remind myself that there's some icy and slick conditions out there and that a fall is possible anywhere. i held this thought throughout the day as the exposure increased.
snoqualmie and lundin from pct beneath kendall ridge
snoqualmie and lundin from pct beneath kendall ridge
now on the pct, it was smooth going. there were icy patches, but nothing bad. by EL 5000', it was all ice, so i threw on the microspikes. i originally thought of heading up to kendall via the heather and dirt route, but it didn't look fun. so, i continued onto where the north ridge meets the pct. actually, i stopped before the ridge and headed up on the west side of the ridge the entire time beginning at EL 5450'. there was a bit of firm snow, but nothing you couldn't kick a good step into. i sidehilled and skirted the ridge for awhile, seeing there would be many ups and downs on the ridge proper. eventually, you want to head up to the ridge as the sidehilling gets steep - it'll be obvious. a little class 2-3 scrambling up to the summit. i met up with z-man once on the summit and we chatted for a bit. he came up the gully route (east of the ridge) and said the initial part of it sucked. on the way down, we both took the ridge proper and then dropped off to my route.
EL 5450', where i headed up to kendall
EL 5450', where i headed up to kendall
on the ridge proper, heading towards false summits
on the ridge proper, heading towards false summits
perfect lighting on snoqualmie, lundin, and red
perfect lighting on snoqualmie, lundin, and red
mt. price???, mt. thomson, alaska mountain, huckleberry mountain, chikamin peak
mt. price???, mt. thomson, alaska mountain, huckleberry mountain, chikamin peak
we parted ways and i began the slow slog over semi-mushy snow for the remainder of the pct to the eastern ridge of alaska mountain. this is the point where the pct jumps to the other side of the ridge and you get a view of joe lake. from here, i traversed the steep, hard-snow cover slopes of the north side of the ridge until about 50' shy of the summit where there was a sprinkle of class 3 to top out. the views here were stellar.
kendall catwalk
kendall catwalk
gorgeous colors
gorgeous colors
fresh prints looking back towards vicinity of kendall
fresh prints looking back towards vicinity of kendall
dark and gloomy skies for sure ::)
dark and gloomy skies for sure smile.gif
yum
yum
crystal clear blue skies for most of the day
crystal clear blue skies for most of the day
:up:
up.gif
more nice colors
more nice colors
rainier with the lenticulars forming
rainier with the lenticulars forming
is this beauty getting old? ok, good, i'll continue
is this beauty getting old? ok, good, i'll continue
rainier
rainier
summit of alaska - great spots to sit too!
summit of alaska - great spots to sit too!
thomson and price???
thomson and price???
looking east along ridge of alaska
looking east along ridge of alaska
chikamin, four brothers, and joe lake
chikamin, four brothers, and joe lake
mandatory summit shot (my trekking pole camera monopod was the one that suffered the break earlier in the day - hence, handheld)
mandatory summit shot (my trekking pole camera monopod was the one that suffered the break earlier in the day - hence, handheld)
class 3 scramble to summit
class 3 scramble to summit
exposure to south side of ridge, steep slopes on north
exposure to south side of ridge, steep slopes on north
boot prints in firm snow on north side of ridge - ice axe used here ::)
boot prints in firm snow on north side of ridge - ice axe used here smile.gif
gotta love these clouds - almost like there's a huge, low angle mountain in the backdrop
gotta love these clouds - almost like there's a huge, low angle mountain in the backdrop
in fact, the views all day long were amazing. i am thoroughly impressed just how gorgeous this stretch of the pct is, especially for being right on top of i90.
heading back
heading back
alaska lake and alta mountain???
alaska lake and alta mountain???
partial freeze
partial freeze
my favorite shot from the trip
my favorite shot from the trip
frozen over ridge lake
frozen over ridge lake
it kind of looks like winter, right?
it kind of looks like winter, right?
prints
prints
more prints
more prints
more of snoqualmie, lundin, and red
more of snoqualmie, lundin, and red
the good kind of clouds
the good kind of clouds
rainier
rainier
low angle sunlight on waterfall over pct
low angle sunlight on waterfall over pct
on the return route, i opted to stay on the pct the whole time to avoid getting in a pre-darkness bushwack back to the parking lot. trip stats: 18 mi ~6000ft 5:45 116 pictures gear not used: full crampons (per tazz's suggestion) extra jacket two winter hats two winter gloves extra LS shirt two pb&j's ... yes, i came a bit overprepared for the worst weather imaginable. again, i love proving the forecasts wrong up.gif

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Matt
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Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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Matt
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PostSun Dec 07, 2008 1:08 am 
That's a long way to go on a short day. Lot better weather than I expected for today.

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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Magellan
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Magellan
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PostSun Dec 07, 2008 7:21 am 
Good stuff Iron! up.gif

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Tazz
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PostSun Dec 07, 2008 7:33 am 
well then I didn't say you had to USE the crampons...just thought you may be safer...i am a chicken shi-t when solo.... embarassedlaugh.gif good stuff.

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Movenhike
\m/..mmmmetal\m/



Joined: 16 Apr 2007
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Movenhike
\m/..mmmmetal\m/
PostSun Dec 07, 2008 7:44 am 
Nice work!! I'm amazed at the lack of snow in that vicinity.

"Make it your Friend" -John Bull
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wamtngal
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PostSun Dec 07, 2008 9:43 am 
What time were you on top of Kendall? Here's a shot I took from Red (crappy lighting, sorry)...
IMG_1169.JPG
IMG_1169.JPG

Opinions expressed here are my own.
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Yana
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Yana
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PostSun Dec 07, 2008 9:46 am 
Wow! I want to be slow and lazy, too. The thing you think is Mt. Price is actually Big Snow. Mt. Price (which is "in front" of Big Snow from your vantage point) is not visible as it is blocked by stuff in the foreground, although I think part of the ridge of Price might be visible in the first photo.

PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
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Go Jo
of the lykkens



Joined: 08 Jun 2003
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Go Jo
of the lykkens
PostSun Dec 07, 2008 9:58 am 
iron wrote:
i just really hate those days when you get poured on the entire day. fortunately, today was not one of them.
dark and gloomy skies for sure ::)
dark and gloomy skies for sure smile.gif
trip stats:18 mi~6000ft~5:45
Looks like you proved yourself worthy of the sunshine, great photos also.

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b00
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b00
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PostSun Dec 07, 2008 12:58 pm 
Yana wrote:
Wow! I want to be slow and lazy, too....
you may not remember this yana, but last february you were slow 'n lazy with us on dixie pk. you remember, one of those winters we had snow. :>)

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Yana
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Yana
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PostSun Dec 07, 2008 1:03 pm 
Yeah, but b00, I was ACTUALLY slow (not lazy, though). ;-)

PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
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Tazz
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PostSun Dec 07, 2008 1:24 pm 
yana you are NOT slow!!!! whatever!

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Randy
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Randy
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PostSun Dec 07, 2008 7:43 pm 
Cool trip for December. up.gif As much as I can, I intentionally choose the weekends I have to be on call for November and early December with the expectation the weather will be worthless and the skiing almost non-existent. I'm getting screwed this year!

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seattlehikertoo
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seattlehikertoo
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PostSun Dec 07, 2008 8:08 pm 
Damn it Iron, those are good shots. I am still pissed I couldn't go. These photos make me even more pissed rant.gif but still glad someone got out today given the ridiculously wrong forecast. smile.gif

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yukon222
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PostMon Dec 08, 2008 2:21 pm 
Boy, you were hauling Iron! Hard to imagine how fast you could go on a perfect early dry morning next Summer! And some very interesting pics too. Like seeing that north ridge of Kendall - doesn't seem like ice and slick conditions slowed you much at all. Guess we'll have to wait for 36" of fresh powder to give you much of a challenge! hockeygrin.gif up.gif

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Roald
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Roald
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PostMon Dec 08, 2008 5:00 pm 
Way to style that trip! up.gif up.gif I too am pissed off I couldn't join you - or rather, try to keep up with you. I also want to echo Randy's comment - I schedule work trips in Nov and early Dec, thinking it is the slowest month for getting outside. This year that has been a losing bet. Looking for snow... eyes.gif

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