Forum Index > Trip Reports > Scratching an Old Scab off the list 6608' (06.20.09)
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Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher



Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 2993 | TRs | Pics
Location: Margaritaville
Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher
PostMon Jun 22, 2009 8:38 pm 
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 embarassedlaugh.gif - 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. up.gif 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'. doh.gif Where the 700' discrepancy came from is anyone's guess. confused.gif 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. up.gif 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
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.
1st view of Old Scab. True summit is behind point on left.
Old Scab, zoomed.
Old Scab, zoomed.
'shroom
'shroom
Helpful sign. ;-)
Helpful sign. ;-)
We reached some meadows, @ which point other trails in the area confused us & we temporarily got off track. dizzy.gif We realized our mistake soon enough & backtracked to the correct trail.
Meadows
Meadows
Meadows
Meadows
Meadows
Meadows
MM's turn to tempt fate
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.
Starting up the SE ridge of Old Scab.
Little Bald Mtn.
Little Bald Mtn.
MM photographing flowers
MM photographing flowers
MM on Old Scab's lower slopes
MM on Old Scab's lower slopes
The trees thinned out & the views opened up to the east & south.
Peaks to the south
2 labels
Peaks to the south
Pt. 6970'
1 label
Pt. 6970'
Blue sky
Blue sky
Flattish area near the false summit
Flattish area near the false summit
Flat Iron Lk. & MM
4 labels
Flat Iron Lk. & MM
Little Bald Mtn.
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
Snow on the north side of the ridge
Rocks near the summit we had to pick our way over
Rocks near the summit we had to pick our way over
Another shot of bright lichen
Another shot of bright lichen
Before long the east end of the summit became visible.
Not quite the true summit...
Not quite the true summit...
A bit scrambly
A bit scrambly
Rocks
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 cairn awaits
The summit! :-)
The summit! :-)
MM quickened his pace & hopped on top, meanwhile finding the huge summit register.
MM doing the Nixon pose
MM doing the Nixon pose
Summit register
Summit register
This was a bigger tube than I usually see, & I had to manhandle the cap a bit to get it off. embarassedlaugh.gif
BC w/the big tube
BC w/the big tube
BC having trouble getting it off ;-)
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
Summit register
Peaks to the south
6 labels
Peaks to the south
Bumping Lk.
Bumping Lk.
Goat Pk.(?) on American Ridge, Fifes Pks. beyond
2 labels
Goat Pk.(?) on American Ridge, Fifes Pks. beyond
Zoom of Fifes Pk. & Goat Pk./American Ridge
3 labels
Zoom of Fifes Pk. & Goat Pk./American Ridge
Bumping Lk.
Bumping Lk.
Peaks to the south, zoomed
2 labels
Peaks to the south, zoomed
Houses near Bumping Lk.
Houses near Bumping Lk.
Distant Stuart
Distant Stuart
Looking down the north face
Looking down the north face
The ridge we picked our way over
The ridge we picked our way over
Looking down at the NW ridge
Looking down at the NW ridge
Zoom of Bumping Lk.
Zoom of Bumping Lk.
Nelson Butte
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. cool.gif up.gif On the way back, we detoured to check out Flat Iron Lk.
Old snags on Old Scab
Old snags on Old Scab
Flat Iron Lk.
Flat Iron Lk.
Frog pond
Frog pond
Little creek through the meadows.
Little creek through the meadows.
Flat Iron Lk.
Flat Iron Lk.
MM @ Flat Iron Lk.
MM @ Flat Iron Lk.
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.
Old Scab Mtn. as seen from above Flat Iron Lk.
Last look @ Old Scab Mtn.
Last look @ Old Scab Mtn.
Nice to get this Old Scab scratched off the list. Another peak w/great views & no people. biggrin.gif up.gif

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
Magellan
Brutally Handsome
PostMon Jun 22, 2009 10:11 pm 
Great TR BC. Glad to hear you handled that oversized tube. eek.gif
I like this picture a lot.

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MountainMan
Member
Member


Joined: 15 Jul 2008
Posts: 365 | TRs | Pics
Location: San Diego
MountainMan
Member
PostMon Jun 22, 2009 11:07 pm 
Yep, this was a great summit with awesome views (and more trip ideas)! up.gif biggrin.gif Our route:
Old Scab Mtn.
Old Scab Mtn.
Here are my pictures:
BC at the TH.
BC at the TH.
First view of Old Scab from the trail.
First view of Old Scab from the trail.
Mushroom.
Mushroom.
BC on the trail.
BC on the trail.
Claw marks?
Claw marks?
Meadow
Meadow
Applegate's Paintbrush
Applegate's Paintbrush
Looking up.
Looking up.
Unnamed peaks to the SW.
1 label
Unnamed peaks to the SW.
Water drops.
Water drops.
BC on the way up.
BC on the way up.
Flat Iron Lake.
Flat Iron Lake.
BC at the false summit.
BC at the false summit.
Looking up the ridge towards the summit.
Looking up the ridge towards the summit.
Cornice
Cornice
BC at the final scramble to the top.
BC at the final scramble to the top.
Summit just ahead.
Summit just ahead.
BC has a big tube.
BC has a big tube.
BC having trouble getting it off.
BC having trouble getting it off.
Aix and unnamed peaks to the SW.
1 label
Aix and unnamed peaks to the SW.
Looking NW from Old Scab.
Looking NW from Old Scab.
Peak SW of Old Scab.
1 label
Peak SW of Old Scab.
Nelson Butte
Nelson Butte
Zoom of Aix
Zoom of Aix
Goat Mtn.
Goat Mtn.
Low flying jet.
Low flying jet.
Stuart
Stuart
BC relaxing on the summit, gazing towards distant peaks.
BC relaxing on the summit, gazing towards distant peaks.
BC and MM on the summit.
BC and MM on the summit.
Us on the summit and views south.
Us on the summit and views south.
BC doing Nixon pose on the summit.
BC doing Nixon pose on the summit.
Looking SW along the ridge.
Looking SW along the ridge.
Knobby tree.
Knobby tree.
BC at Flat Iron Lake.
BC at Flat Iron Lake.
Flat Iron Lake.
Flat Iron Lake.
BC looking back at Old Scab.
BC looking back at Old Scab.
Looking back at Old Scab from FR1600.
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.
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gone
Member
Member


Joined: 08 Feb 2008
Posts: 1051 | TRs | Pics
gone
Member
PostMon Jun 22, 2009 11:27 pm 
Another great report filled with tons of useful info and pics! I really love the meadow with the stream, just beautiful! up.gif

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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks



Joined: 13 Feb 2007
Posts: 7216 | TRs | Pics
Location: Stuck in the middle
puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
PostTue Jun 23, 2009 2:01 am 
You're starting to specialize in obscure peaks! Nice going up.gif

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John Morrow
Member
Member


Joined: 03 Apr 2007
Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics
Location: Roslyn
John Morrow
Member
PostTue Jun 23, 2009 6:33 am 
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.
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Tag Man
side hiller



Joined: 20 May 2008
Posts: 602 | TRs | Pics
Location: Where the roots all twist...
Tag Man
side hiller
PostTue Jun 23, 2009 10:59 am 
Another nice report. Thanks

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rockitbiker
Just wading bushes



Joined: 09 Jun 2008
Posts: 25 | TRs | Pics
Location: Left Seatte
rockitbiker
Just wading bushes
PostWed Jun 24, 2009 4:34 pm 
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. wink.gif

It's Sasquatch, not bigfoot, distant cousin of the Wookie.
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MountainMan
Member
Member


Joined: 15 Jul 2008
Posts: 365 | TRs | Pics
Location: San Diego
MountainMan
Member
PostWed Jun 24, 2009 5:00 pm 
Thanks rockitbiker! Maybe we can all do another peak down in the Rimrock area soon. biggrin.gif
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. agree.gif

Slow down, take notice, savor the moment, appreciate the world around you and everything that you have.
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Hikingqueen
Member
Member


Joined: 12 Nov 2007
Posts: 2946 | TRs | Pics
Hikingqueen
Member
PostWed Jun 24, 2009 7:19 pm 
I like the pics of you two at the summit. up.gif

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Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher



Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 2993 | TRs | Pics
Location: Margaritaville
Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher
PostWed Jun 24, 2009 8:01 pm 
Thanks everyone. It was a fun trip. smile.gif 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? wink.gif

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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