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Bloated Chipmunk Cock Rock Searcher
Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 2993 | TRs | Pics Location: Margaritaville |
Old Scab Mtn. has been on my to-do list for awhile, yet another seemingly seldom visited peak with great views in the Bumping Lk. / American River / William O. Douglas wilderness area. There are a few different ways to get there & we chose the shortest w/the least amount of elevation gain - via the south end of Soda Springs trail #975 near Flat Iron Lk. - after we found out that the long forest rds. to get there were open.
From hwy. 410 we turned at the sign for Boulder Cave, then took FR 1706 to FR 1600 toward the Little Bald Mtn. trailhead & a little beyond to the Soda Springs TH on the right. Greentrails claims this TH sits @ 5100' but it's actually more like 5800'. Where the 700' discrepancy came from is anyone's guess.
FR 1706 is snow-free & relatively smooth, & FR 1600 is as well until a little bit before the Little Bald turn off where it gets a little rocky & high clearance is preferable. Once on the ridge, we came across some snow patches, one deep enough that we decided to dig it out before any chance of getting stuck. After that it was a breeze to the TH, which turned out to be practically around the corner. There were no other vehicles which was good b/c the parking area only holds 2-3 cars. We geared up & set out.
Trail sign
The trail drops ~ 200' in the beginning, & soon Old Scab was visible across the way.
1st view of Old Scab. True summit is behind point on left. Old Scab, zoomed. 'shroom Helpful sign. ;-)
We reached some meadows, @ which point other trails in the area confused us & we temporarily got off track. We realized our mistake soon enough & backtracked to the correct trail.
Meadows Meadows Meadows MM's turn to tempt fate
We more or less followed Beckey's instructions as to where to leave the trail, following vague boot/animal paths until they petered out @ which point we would bushwhack until we found another one. Soon we were @ the base of the SE ridge of Old Scab, & started our steep ascent.
Starting up the SE ridge of Old Scab. Little Bald Mtn. MM photographing flowers MM on Old Scab's lower slopes
The trees thinned out & the views opened up to the east & south.
Blue sky Flattish area near the false summit Little Bald Mtn.
As we passed the false summit, we skirted the north side of the ridge next to some lingering snow patches. The ridge got fairly narrow & somewhat exposed & rocky, but not bad. We picked our way over the rocks carefully, meanwhile enjoying views in all directions at this point.
Snow on the north side of the ridge Rocks near the summit we had to pick our way over Another shot of bright lichen
Before long the east end of the summit became visible.
Not quite the true summit... A bit scrambly Rocks
We traversed just beneath this & the west end of the summit (only slightly higher) came into view, complete w/a prominent rock cairn.
The summit cairn awaits The summit! :-)
MM quickened his pace & hopped on top, meanwhile finding the huge summit register.
MM doing the Nixon pose Summit register
This was a bigger tube than I usually see, & I had to manhandle the cap a bit to get it off.
BC w/the big tube BC having trouble getting it off ;-)
The register had been placed by boy scouts almost 9 yrs. ago. I thumbed through the pgs. reading others' entries & eventually put my own.
Summit register Bumping Lk. 2 labels Goat Pk.(?) on American Ridge, Fifes Pks. beyond 3 labels Zoom of Fifes Pk. & Goat Pk./American Ridge Bumping Lk. Houses near Bumping Lk. Distant Stuart Looking down the north face The ridge we picked our way over Looking down at the NW ridge Zoom of Bumping Lk. Nelson Butte
We had a nice leisurely time on the summit to eat lunch, snap photos, & put names to the nearby peaks. No thunderstorms this time.
On the way back, we detoured to check out Flat Iron Lk.
Old snags on Old Scab Flat Iron Lk. Frog pond Little creek through the meadows. Flat Iron Lk. MM @ Flat Iron Lk. Flat Iron Lk.
We took another path back up the hill to the car, this one being much steeper & ending at some campsites along the rd. just north of the car.
Old Scab Mtn. as seen from above Flat Iron Lk. Last look @ Old Scab Mtn.
Nice to get this Old Scab scratched off the list. Another peak w/great views & no people.
Home is where the hiking is.
"Peaks that have come and gone four times should halt a man in his steps." -- William O. Douglas
A balanced diet is a margarita in each hand.
Home is where the hiking is.
"Peaks that have come and gone four times should halt a man in his steps." -- William O. Douglas
A balanced diet is a margarita in each hand.
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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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Mon Jun 22, 2009 10:11 pm
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Great TR BC. Glad to hear you handled that oversized tube.
I like this picture a lot.
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MountainMan Member
Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 365 | TRs | Pics Location: San Diego |
Yep, this was a great summit with awesome views (and more trip ideas)!
Our route:
Old Scab Mtn.
Here are my pictures:
BC at the TH. First view of Old Scab from the trail. Mushroom. BC on the trail. Claw marks? Meadow Applegate's Paintbrush Looking up. Water drops. BC on the way up. Flat Iron Lake. BC at the false summit. Looking up the ridge towards the summit. Cornice BC at the final scramble to the top. Summit just ahead. BC has a big tube. BC having trouble getting it off. 1 label Aix and unnamed peaks to the SW. Looking NW from Old Scab. Nelson Butte Zoom of Aix Goat Mtn. Low flying jet. Stuart BC relaxing on the summit, gazing towards distant peaks. BC and MM on the summit. Us on the summit and views south. BC doing Nixon pose on the summit. Looking SW along the ridge. Knobby tree. BC at Flat Iron Lake. Flat Iron Lake. BC looking back at Old Scab. Looking back at Old Scab from FR1600.
All my pics here.
Slow down, take notice, savor the moment, appreciate the world around you and everything that you have.
Slow down, take notice, savor the moment, appreciate the world around you and everything that you have.
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gone Member
Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 1051 | TRs | Pics
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gone
Member
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Mon Jun 22, 2009 11:27 pm
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Another great report filled with tons of useful info and pics! I really love the meadow with the stream, just beautiful!
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puzzlr Mid Fork Rocks
Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 7216 | TRs | Pics Location: Stuck in the middle |
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
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Tue Jun 23, 2009 2:01 am
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You're starting to specialize in obscure peaks! Nice going
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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
Wow, yous folks are really hitting the southern Cascades hard! Neat to see folks getting to such a quiet and lovely place! One of my favorites is the subalpine frolick of a Mt Aix-Bismark Pk. traverse if you haven't done those yet. Should still be snow to melt near the campsite options.
John
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
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Tag Man side hiller
Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 602 | TRs | Pics Location: Where the roots all twist... |
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Tag Man
side hiller
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Tue Jun 23, 2009 10:59 am
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Another nice report. Thanks
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rockitbiker Just wading bushes
Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 25 | TRs | Pics Location: Left Seatte |
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rockitbiker
Just wading bushes
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Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:34 pm
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Nice job on tagging another one in the great WOD wilderness. It is cool that you were able to drive up that high on north facing roads, so I will have to wander my way over there next time we get a chance out there. I can't wait to see what the next hike will be, all such a pretty area.
Good job BC on getting that big boy off too.
It's Sasquatch, not bigfoot, distant cousin of the Wookie.
It's Sasquatch, not bigfoot, distant cousin of the Wookie.
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MountainMan Member
Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 365 | TRs | Pics Location: San Diego |
Thanks rockitbiker! Maybe we can all do another peak down in the Rimrock area soon.
John Morrow wrote: | ...One of my favorites is the subalpine frolick of a Mt Aix-Bismark Pk. traverse if you haven't done those yet. Should still be snow to melt near the campsite options.
John |
We have done Nelson, Aix and Bismark, but we haven't done a traverse or ridgewalk between them, sounds fun.
Slow down, take notice, savor the moment, appreciate the world around you and everything that you have.
Slow down, take notice, savor the moment, appreciate the world around you and everything that you have.
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Hikingqueen Member
Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 2946 | TRs | Pics
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I like the pics of you two at the summit.
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Bloated Chipmunk Cock Rock Searcher
Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 2993 | TRs | Pics Location: Margaritaville |
Thanks everyone. It was a fun trip. BTW I have re-labeled some of the pics (yet another Greentrails discrepancy discovered - Pt. 6676' is more like 6970').
John Morrow - we saw your name in the summit register. Was it you or someone else w/your name?
Home is where the hiking is.
"Peaks that have come and gone four times should halt a man in his steps." -- William O. Douglas
A balanced diet is a margarita in each hand.
Home is where the hiking is.
"Peaks that have come and gone four times should halt a man in his steps." -- William O. Douglas
A balanced diet is a margarita in each hand.
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