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iron Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 6391 | TRs | Pics Location: southeast kootenays |
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iron
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Sun Dec 07, 2008 1:03 am
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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. 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
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 on the ridge proper, heading towards false summits perfect lighting on snoqualmie, lundin, and red 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 gorgeous colors fresh prints looking back towards vicinity of kendall dark and gloomy skies for sure yum crystal clear blue skies for most of the day more nice colors rainier with the lenticulars forming is this beauty getting old? ok, good, i'll continue rainier summit of alaska - great spots to sit too! thomson and price??? looking east along ridge of alaska 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) class 3 scramble to summit exposure to south side of ridge, steep slopes on north boot prints in firm snow on north side of ridge - ice axe used here 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 alaska lake and alta mountain??? partial freeze my favorite shot from the trip frozen over ridge lake it kind of looks like winter, right? prints more prints more of snoqualmie, lundin, and red the good kind of clouds rainier 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
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Matt Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
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Sun Dec 07, 2008 1:08 am
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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
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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Magellan Brutally Handsome
Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 13116 | TRs | Pics Location: Inexorable descent |
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
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Sun Dec 07, 2008 7:21 am
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Good stuff Iron!
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Tazz Member
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 7902 | TRs | Pics
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Tazz
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Sun Dec 07, 2008 7:33 am
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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....
good stuff.
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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 Dec 07, 2008 7:44 am
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Nice work!!
I'm amazed at the lack of snow in that vicinity.
"Make it your Friend" -John Bull
"Make it your Friend" -John Bull
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wamtngal Member
Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 2382 | TRs | Pics Location: somewhere |
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wamtngal
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Sun Dec 07, 2008 9:43 am
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What time were you on top of Kendall? Here's a shot I took from Red (crappy lighting, sorry)...
IMG_1169.JPG
Opinions expressed here are my own.
Opinions expressed here are my own.
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Yana Hater
Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 4212 | TRs | Pics Location: Out Hating |
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Yana
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Sun Dec 07, 2008 9:46 am
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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!
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 Posts: 2248 | TRs | Pics Location: Around The Bend |
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Go Jo
of the lykkens
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Sun Dec 07, 2008 9:58 am
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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
trip stats:18 mi~6000ft~5:45 |
Looks like you proved yourself worthy of the sunshine, great photos also.
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b00 Member
Joined: 29 Sep 2003 Posts: 1144 | TRs | Pics
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b00
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Sun Dec 07, 2008 12:58 pm
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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 Hater
Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 4212 | TRs | Pics Location: Out Hating |
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Yana
Hater
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Sun Dec 07, 2008 1:03 pm
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Yeah, but b00, I was ACTUALLY slow (not lazy, though). ;-)
PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
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Tazz Member
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 7902 | TRs | Pics
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Tazz
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Sun Dec 07, 2008 1:24 pm
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yana you are NOT slow!!!! whatever!
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Randy Cube Rat
Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 2910 | TRs | Pics Location: Near the Siamangs |
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Randy
Cube Rat
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Sun Dec 07, 2008 7:43 pm
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Cool trip for December.
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 Member
Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 582 | TRs | Pics Location: Finding an alternative to Mailbox Pk |
Damn it Iron, those are good shots. I am still pissed I couldn't go. These photos make me even more pissed but still glad someone got out today given the ridiculously wrong forecast.
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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 2:21 pm
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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!
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Roald Member
Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 367 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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Roald
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Mon Dec 08, 2008 5:00 pm
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