Forum Index > Trip Reports > Long day up Rock Mt, Mt Howard and Mt Mastiff 8-4-09
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Bryan K
Shameless Peakbagger



Joined: 29 Sep 2005
Posts: 5129 | TRs | Pics
Location: Alaska
Bryan K
Shameless Peakbagger
PostThu Aug 06, 2009 10:57 am 
Our original plan was to summit Rock Mt from the Snowy Creek route. On the drive up we decided to add in Howard and Mastiff. We left the TH at 8:15am after I stashed a can of Pepsi in the cold creek for later consumption.
At the trailhead
At the trailhead
After about a mile down the trail it get rather brushy. Not hard to find one's way through though.
The brush has overgrown the trail a bit, but still easy to follow
The brush has overgrown the trail a bit, but still easy to follow
We reached the meadow and saw the avy debris that we had read about at the TH. We took a suggestion from a note at the TH and stayed to the right of the debris and would cross it later, found out later that it was not the greatest choice. A few times further up the trail we encountered more debris.
Avalanche debris over the trail
Avalanche debris over the trail
We reached the open grassy slopes and the views were beautiful and expansive.
Views abound along the route. Not sure which peak that is off in the distance
Views abound along the route. Not sure which peak that is off in the distance
Looking down we could see the avalanche path.
Looking down the slope to the meadow below. Just below the center you can see where the avalanche went barreling through the trees
Looking down the slope to the meadow below. Just below the center you can see where the avalanche went barreling through the trees
We reached the summit of Rock Mt in about 2.5 hours and we were feeling great.
Complete 360 view from the summit of Rock Mt
Complete 360 view from the summit of Rock Mt
Me and Adam on the summit of Rock Mt
Me and Adam on the summit of Rock Mt
Adam at the summit where a fire lookout used to stand
Adam at the summit where a fire lookout used to stand
We descended down to Rock Lake and followed the trail around the ridge and found ourselves at Crescent Lake.
Crescent Lake pano
Crescent Lake pano
Following around the lake we ascended up the gully at the back of the lake and then traversed to the right above all the scrub trees and other growth. We ended up taking a less than desirable route up a gully that was tricky since Adam still has a broken arm. We perserveered though up.gif We stopped at a snow patch for a breather and for Adam to don his traditional "snow hat". The bugs were not pleasant so we did not dilly dally too long. We finally got up to Howard and sat to enjoy our high peak for the day for about 5 minutes. We found the register and saw a few familiar names in it.
Summit register on Mt Howard
Summit register on Mt Howard
Adam on Mt Howard
Adam on Mt Howard
Me on Mt Howard
Me on Mt Howard
We looked to our east and spied our last summit for the day.
Mt Mastiff, our next destination
Mt Mastiff, our next destination
We descended the ridge and back up the ridge to Mastiff.
Ridge route to Mastiff
Ridge route to Mastiff
The route up was pretty good with only a few spots where we had to muscle through some low thick trees. At the summit we were rewarded with good views all around again. Lake Wenatchee to our east and our 2 previous summits to our west.
Me on the summit of Mastiff
Me on the summit of Mastiff
Looking down from the summit of Mastiff
Looking down from the summit of Mastiff
Signed in up here relaxed a bit and I took a ton of pics for a summit pano that is too big to upload shakehead.gif We started our descent and I was getting low on liquids. Adam suggested we stop at a snow patch and get some into my Nalgene bottles and let it melt. This turned out to be a great idea!!! I steered clear of the watermelon snow and after not too long I was enjoying nice cold water on our journey back.
Adam in a strange position on a snow patch
Adam in a strange position on a snow patch
Oh, our descent of Mastiff wasn't the same way we went up. After a bit of the ridge we headed straight down and made a beeline for a low spot on the south ridge below Howard Mt. Saved us some time as I was getting a bit concerned about our route around the avy debris in possibly fading light later on. Once over the ridge we headed towards the gullies and we found a better and safer route down this time. We battled some Slide Alder and in short time were at Crescent Lake. A few more stops to load up on snow and we were descending to grassy slope below Rock Mt with a good amount of daylight left.
Looking up the grassy slope below Rock Mt
Looking up the grassy slope below Rock Mt
Taking a photo break on the grassy slope
Taking a photo break on the grassy slope
We made it back to the car by 8:15 pm, very tired and exhausted. We were pretty darn proud of ourselves though for putting together a 12 hour, 16 mile, 7700+ feet of gain day!!!
A very long route of almost 16 miles round trip and 7800' elevation gain
A very long route of almost 16 miles round trip and 7800' elevation gain
My cold Pepsi awaited me in the creek and I was a happy hiker getting recharged by some friendly caffeine. Thanks for being such an awesome hiking partner Adam, it was a lot of fun!!!!

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Gimpilator
infinity/21M



Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 1684 | TRs | Pics
Location: Edmonds, WA
Gimpilator
infinity/21M
PostThu Aug 06, 2009 12:02 pm 
One of the biggest days hiking I have ever experienced. I'm glad we did it together. Great Report!

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Redwic
Unlisted Free Agent



Joined: 23 Feb 2009
Posts: 3292 | TRs | Pics
Location: Going to the Prom(inence)
Redwic
Unlisted Free Agent
PostThu Aug 06, 2009 12:03 pm 
7700' elevation gain and three summits in one day! Bryan- I hope you didn't wear out the G-Man too much for his hiking this weekend... I bow down to your awesomeness!!! rocker.gif banana.gif eek.gif

60 pounds lighter but not 60 points brighter.
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bertman
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Joined: 17 Jul 2006
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bertman
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PostThu Aug 06, 2009 12:07 pm 
Wow! You guys are hardcore. Great idea on stashing your Pepsi in the creek. When I was a kid, I remember having family outings to the river and we would cool our drinks, watermelons, and veggies in the river. Bertman

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ragman and rodman
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Joined: 28 Apr 2005
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ragman and rodman
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PostThu Aug 06, 2009 12:15 pm 
Dang... that is one serious journey. I might have done a couple of things differently: 1. This might not have been possible, but I would have tried like heck to have a second car stashed at the Merritt Lake trailhead and make it a through-hike. 2. I would have definitely stored a different beverage in the creek. winksmile.gif

"Teanaway 70" Peaks List... a guide to hiking and scrambling in the Teanaway Area. ----------------
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome



Joined: 26 Jul 2006
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Location: Inexorable descent
Magellan
Brutally Handsome
PostThu Aug 06, 2009 3:06 pm 
Hiking hardmen! rockband.gif Seriously, strong effort! up.gif

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wildernessed
viewbagger



Joined: 31 Oct 2004
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Location: Wenatchee
wildernessed
viewbagger
PostThu Aug 06, 2009 3:12 pm 
Nice way to piece meal some nice peaks together. up.gif

Living in the Anthropocene
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Schmidt Altitude
Whippet Entourage



Joined: 28 Mar 2007
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Location: The Quah
Schmidt Altitude
Whippet Entourage
PostThu Aug 06, 2009 4:09 pm 
Something about your map makes me want to visit this area real soon! -Dude

"Forest 101: These big wood stick things are called trees. The big rocks are called mountains, and the little rocks are their babies." Elliott from Open Season
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raz2sea
Daddy RAZ



Joined: 04 Dec 2007
Posts: 1060 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle
raz2sea
Daddy RAZ
PostThu Aug 06, 2009 10:43 pm 
Wow, nice day's work. up.gif up.gif

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EastKing
Surfing and Hiking



Joined: 28 Mar 2007
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Location: 77 miles from Seattle!
EastKing
Surfing and Hiking
PostThu Aug 06, 2009 11:23 pm 
Awesome job!!! up.gif up.gif

YouTube | SummitPost Saw the depths of despair. Now I am salvaging what time I have left on Earth.
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Mike Collins
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Joined: 18 Dec 2001
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Mike Collins
Member
PostFri Aug 07, 2009 6:02 am 
When I did these three peaks we exited at Merritt Lake. Hitchhiking up US2 was not fruitful though and we ended up walking the 2+ miles or so back to the car.

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Hikingqueen
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Joined: 12 Nov 2007
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Hikingqueen
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PostFri Aug 07, 2009 4:20 pm 
That's ALOT of gain..good job! I have a hard time with 3,000.

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Forum Index > Trip Reports > Long day up Rock Mt, Mt Howard and Mt Mastiff 8-4-09
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