Previous :: Next Topic |
Author |
Message |
gone Member
Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 1051 | TRs | Pics
|
|
gone
Member
|
Fri Jun 19, 2009 10:46 am
|
|
|
A cadre of TNAB rebels defied washouts, wipeouts, and gravity itself to put Mt Defiance to bed last night. The body count was high, but scattered in time and space, with lots of preNABs, alternate route finders, and multiple summit shifts. The defiant bunch included ewb, moosefish, seattlehikertoo, nature man, zeusdaddy, dicey, omega, barbe, dan s, 11th essential, malachai constant, larry, jason and friend (whose name was lost amidst the post-defiance jubilee), yukon222, schmidt alti-babe, and Int’l Joe. The rather less defiant four legged gang included digger, zeus, athena, tokul, rowena and kiefer. And, in a show of like-minded, but unplanned, contumacy, gabrielx and lindsay happened by the summit on their way to, um, someplace. Rebels unite!
The hike began from varying points along troubled road 9031, or with a bushwhack up from Tinkham (er, me), and then proceeded up the Ira Spring trail. Soon after passing over the now unplugged whistle directing Mason Creek once again under the trail, the way turned left on to the old Mason Lake trail, which switchbacked a bit, then bifurcated, providing high and low routes to the lake. Though some went high, most went low, keeping close to the moderately full Mason Creek and its many beautiful falls, and all soon left the sounds of I-90 behind. Word was that the high route offered some challenging talus crossings, especially for the rebel dogs, but the low route proved equally tricky at times, presenting only a faint path, or multiple paths, or no paths at all, and dodging over and under ancient blowdowns. Luckily, as I discovered, the lost need only continue in a northeasterly direction with the creek on their left and eventually all becomes clear. Or you run into BarbE and simply follow her back to the trail. Rebels tag along!
After an obligatory look at the pretty and mostly thawed Mason Lake, the woodsy trail continues around the west side and onto very packed snow, which mostly covers the way until back onto the ridge proper at about 4,900'. Soon the trees are behind, meadows ahead, and the eyes filled with long views of the valley in both directions and fields upon fields of emerging flowers. After an easy traverse across the steep meadow, the way turns steeply up the west ridge, requiring one to defy gravity for about 300' more before finally attaining the summit. Rebels sit down!
It was here, on the summit of Mt Defiance, while wrapping my freezing battered torso in layers of clothing and contemplating my 4.5 hours of hiking and 4,300' of gain, that my mind turned to Gloria Gaynor and her glorious 70's tribute to defiance, in which she sang "Did I crumble? Did you think I'd lay down and die? Oh no, not I. I will survive." And I realized, I might not. So I ate a cookie (mmm, rebel snickerdoodles - thanks Jo!), aimed for the highway, and put gravity to work for me. Unfortunately, gravity proved an unequal partner at times, leading to some extemporaneous dirt glissades, but the end result was still a loss of elevation, so it was all good. Special thanks to Yukon and Alti-Babe for the brief, but worthy, lesson in snow glissading. Not sure I'm prepared for anything much larger, but it was good to break the ice in the company of experts. Alti-Babe, sorry you had to witness me trip over my own feet and face-plant after the second run. If I'd been thinking straight I would have popped up and said "Meant to do that!" Rebels save face!
Back at Mason Lake, I made my obligatory wardrobe change and listened to the voices of TNABers large and small fade into the valley below the lake as most descenders opted for the lower old Mason Lake trail. Not wanting to experience lost and dark at the same time, I opted to continue along the main Mason Lake trail back to the Ira Spring trail. Except for forgetting that this would cost me another 300' of gain, which proved a bit hard to conjure, the trail was wonderful: wide, having an easy grade, and entirely snow-free. As a result, I was able to make good time down. In fact, unless my leg has been thoroughly pulled, I succeeded in intercepting the last of the defiant TNABers as they emerged from the old trail. Well, actually, Yukon and Alti-Babe intercepted me, unleashing banshee whippets on me from out of the dark recesses beside the trail. Rebels pee their pants!
Then it was down the trail, back to the road, a brief meeting of minds about how best to dispose of Dan's vehicle, before he emerged from his defiant rebel off-trail talus trek to spoil our plans, then off to the Pour House for drinks and more unruliness. One more special thanks to Yukon for saving me a dark bushwhack back to Tinkham! Rebels to bed!
Mason Creek Mason Lake Summit Push Summit Flowers Summit Flowers
Good times, TNAB! See you all next week!
|
Back to top |
|
|
GeoTom Member
Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 3215 | TRs | Pics Location: Earth |
|
GeoTom
Member
|
Fri Jun 19, 2009 10:50 am
|
|
|
Ha. I was defiant by not even showing up.
|
Back to top |
|
|
Malachai Constant Member
Joined: 13 Jan 2002 Posts: 16093 | TRs | Pics Location: Back Again Like A Bad Penny |
You may take our lives but you will never take our FREEDOM!!!
"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
"You do not laugh when you look at the mountains, or when you look at the sea." Lafcadio Hearn
|
Back to top |
|
|
The Angry Hiker SAR Blacklistee
Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 2890 | TRs | Pics Location: Kentwila |
Did you guys find your ammo box full of bottle caps and barbie heads?
|
Back to top |
|
|
Go Jo of the lykkens
Joined: 08 Jun 2003 Posts: 2248 | TRs | Pics Location: Around The Bend |
|
Go Jo
of the lykkens
|
Fri Jun 19, 2009 5:45 pm
|
|
|
If you keep writing such fantastically creative and detailed trip reports you may find yourself conscripted into the TNAB Torch Team Administrative Staff TR Department. No pay, but the glory is good Well done ewb!
TLABs haven't moved or even 'requested' dinner yet so I know it must have been a challenging hike last night. Good to see everyone made it out in one piece. Have a great hike next week ~Jo
|
Back to top |
|
|
GaliWalker Have camera will use
Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 4930 | TRs | Pics Location: Pittsburgh |
|
GaliWalker
Have camera will use
|
Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:03 pm
|
|
|
Fantastic trip report! One of the better ones I've read this year.
|
Back to top |
|
|
Magellan Brutally Handsome
Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 13116 | TRs | Pics Location: Inexorable descent |
|
Magellan
Brutally Handsome
|
Fri Jun 19, 2009 8:40 pm
|
|
|
Awesome writing Eric. I am really sorry to have missed this one. Defiance is perhaps my favorite on I-90. Will Magellan even make one TNAB this year?!?
|
Back to top |
|
|
gone Member
Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 1051 | TRs | Pics
|
|
gone
Member
|
Sat Jun 20, 2009 8:42 am
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Couvehiker86 Member
Joined: 28 Mar 2009 Posts: 133 | TRs | Pics Location: *Insert cutesy one-liner here* |
Ok, I'll bite, what is TNAB?
|
Back to top |
|
|
ADrewzki Snow angels are hot
Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 188 | TRs | Pics Location: Denver |
|
ADrewzki
Snow angels are hot
|
Sat Jun 20, 2009 5:25 pm
|
|
|
Couvehiker86 wrote: | Ok, I'll bite, what is TNAB? |
TNAB is just a group of people who love to hike. Normally we meet Thursday afternoon between 5pm-6pm depending on skill level and "cruise" up a mountain on the I-90 corridor. Upon summitting, there's usually some drinking, socializing, obligatory summit/Ranier pictures, and then everyone heads down shortly after. It's not a "club" and anyone is welcome to show up. First timers must pay for nachos at the Pour House. Kidding.
|
Back to top |
|
|
seattlehikertoo Member
Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 582 | TRs | Pics Location: Finding an alternative to Mailbox Pk |
Sorry about the delay, but here are my pics... http://farm4.static.flickr.comTall Hemlocks on this route TNABers pounding out some steep trail through a grove of huge Hemlocks TNAB tree-scrambling near Mason creek drainage TNABers near Mason creek TNAB bouldering on talus field just below Mason Lake Defiance summit from the talus field just below Mason Lake. The trail begins traversing the summit near the notch in the trees just below and to the right of the summit Mason Lake nearly melted out Mason Lake with little remaining ice These TNABers waste little time marching up from Mason Lake to Defiance TNABers adjusting their camera at the beginning of the meadow traverse Bands of wildflowers blanket the steep meadow below the summit Wildflowers blooming on the final ridge to the summit TNABers immersed in their usual array of summit activities of deep thought, drinking and eating, doggy appreciation, and of course enjoying the views Summit view Fields of yellow glacier lilies
|
Back to top |
|
|
yukon222 Member
Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 1893 | TRs | Pics
|
|
yukon222
Member
|
Sun Jun 21, 2009 8:01 pm
|
|
|
Another fun read, Ewb!! Here are a few more pics from that night's adventure.
|
Back to top |
|
|
gone Member
Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 1051 | TRs | Pics
|
|
gone
Member
|
Sun Jun 21, 2009 8:24 pm
|
|
|
yukon222 wrote: | Ewb glissading thru the boulders at dusk!! |
Hey, that almost makes it seem dangerous! My daughter was very impressed!
Thanks!
Also love those cloud shots - that's just what it looked like, and the look down the slope with all the wonderful colors!
|
Back to top |
|
|
moosefish I am the fish
Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Posts: 1210 | TRs | Pics Location: monkey herder |
|
moosefish
I am the fish
|
Sun Jun 21, 2009 10:28 pm
|
|
|
After all the talk about being defiant I feel awfully foolish Scott and I were delayed by my need to fill out a wilderness permit...
Closer than they appear... at least a mile between our parties
|
Back to top |
|
|
BarbE Member
Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 1153 | TRs | Pics
|
|
BarbE
Member
|
Mon Jun 22, 2009 12:34 pm
|
|
|
Great TR Ewb! Never having been on the Old Mason trail and not knowing for sure if I was actually on it, I was glad to run into you and confirm I was on the right track.
And what a wonderful trail it is -my new favorite in the 1-90 corridor.
Starting by myself an hour early to spend extra time on the summit made route finding around the mostly snow covered Mason Lake trail a bit more challenging, but fun.
Eventually I discovered one lonely set of prints in the snow and followed them until they disappeared. After some straight up bushwhacking I caught up with Bob and his trusty GPS.
The ridge walk amongst the fields of glacier lilies was a delight.
Having a TNAB summit to myself even for a short time was a new experience for me.
Another trail and summit I am adding to my favorite list.
Ewb on old Mason trail Mason Lake reflections Flower show Bob enjoying the scenery Almost there Kool Kula Kula MC being chased by clouds Larry made it! Where's the sunset? Larry tossing the cookies Some proud dad Seattlehikertoo & Kula Kula Cloud photography tricks -thanks Yukon! Glacier lilies show Time to enjoy the views
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
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
|
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate NWHikers.net earns from qualifying purchases when you use our link(s).
|