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Kim Brown Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 6900 | TRs | Pics
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Winchester Pk (or is it Mtn?)- the lookout peak in the Mt Baker area offa Twin Lakes Road, which, by the way, is in excellent condition, driveable by probably any vehicle. We parked at YAB trailhead & walked 'cause we were told by someone that the day before, they couldn't make it to the trailhead. Can't figure out where that bit of communication went awry.....
Anyway, it was foggy as hell, no views - so this trip report ain't too long. I took tons of photos hoping to get a few to convey the feeling this pretty place gave me, I won't allow the camera to barf up every damn photo I took and so am posting just a few.
I didn't get a photo of the lookout. I'm such a dumbass. Imagine a little white cabin with flip-out shutters and lots of windows. Not on a tower, it's just sitting there.
It got windy as hell, and shivering cold. Rain here and there, but nothing to get all worked up about. Personally, I loved it.Fog and trees1 Hellibore in fall1 Hellibore in fall2 Hemlocks at Twins Lakes Hikers, fog and orange vein in rock anenomae & rock anenome after the rain
The next day we wandered around Huntoon Pt near Artists' Pt. Glorious cloudscapes!Clouds and hill Snag and moraine Baker and clouds and entourage
Shuksan made an appearance as we were leaving. I preferred it partially obscured in clouds.Shuksan Hikers at Huntoon Pt
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
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Magellan Brutally Handsome
Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 13117 | TRs | Pics Location: Inexorable descent |
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
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Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:47 pm
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I have always heard that road was high clearance. Did they actually fix it? Nice pictures, even if they are fake. BTW, Winchester Mountain dude.
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Kim Brown Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 6900 | TRs | Pics
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Thanks, dude. I didn't pay much attention to what the heck we were doing, so didn't consult a map more than once, and that was to fold it up and kill a bug at the trailhead.
It looks like the repairs on the road are pretty new. It's a steeep sucka! If a vehicle can't make it at this time, it's because it's gutless; clearance shouldn't be an issue - at this time.
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
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dicey custom title
Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 2870 | TRs | Pics Location: giving cornices a wider berth |
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dicey
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Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:09 pm
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Magellan wrote: | I have always heard that road was high clearance. Did they actually fix it? |
It was re-graded in August, but don't tell anyone. Oh wait, based on the bazillion people parked and camped at twin lakes when we did Larrabee/ABP, I think the word is out.
Yana's Geo Prizm made it.
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Kim Brown Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 6900 | TRs | Pics
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I thought someone's car got whacked on that road recently. Must be another road..... I knew someone was up there last week or so, but I've been too lazy to look up any trip reports. I was just along for the ride on this trip; didn't matter where we went.
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
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dicey custom title
Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 2870 | TRs | Pics Location: giving cornices a wider berth |
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dicey
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Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:27 pm
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You might be thinking about Franklin's car, which is mentioned in the beginning of this trip report, but that happened at the beginning of the road.
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Eric Peak Geek
Joined: 21 Oct 2002 Posts: 2062 | TRs | Pics Location: In Travel Status |
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Eric
Peak Geek
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Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:42 pm
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I don't think the USFS actually grades that road because they want- or at least wanted in the past- to kill it at the YAB TH. I believe the miners are the ones responsible for grading it and certainly at some points in the past it has been not so bad and at other times it required high clearance and perhaps 4WD.
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dicey custom title
Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 2870 | TRs | Pics Location: giving cornices a wider berth |
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dicey
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Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:50 pm
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Yes, I was told (by the graders) that it was the miners who were responsible for having the road fixed up.
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joker seeker
Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 7953 | TRs | Pics Location: state of confusion |
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joker
seeker
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Tue Sep 22, 2009 11:39 pm
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Hmm - sounds like time to add that hike to this fall's dance card. Who knows how long it will take for the road to return to its former glory.
I like the Clouds and Hill shot. Can't get that kind of view on a bluebird day, eh? But if you haven't been on Winchester on a clear day, do go back someday. Hellebore in Fall 1 and Snags and Moraine are keepers too!
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jd_hiker Member
Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 571 | TRs | Pics Location: Bonney Lake |
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jd_hiker
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Tue Sep 22, 2009 11:39 pm
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I was up there yesterday with no problems. Yes it was the miners as they were running trucks up there most of yesterday. Spent so time talking to them about opening up the gate so I could get closer to point 6508.
Amazing what a difference a day makes as it was clear when I was up there. But the picture of Baker in the clouds is great.
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Jeff R Closet hiker.
Joined: 10 Apr 2005 Posts: 972 | TRs | Pics Location: Everret |
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Jeff R
Closet hiker.
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Wed Sep 23, 2009 12:24 am
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Those sure are some purty pictures Kimmy! Neato. Thankz.
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Dogpatch Member
Joined: 17 Aug 2003 Posts: 1588 | TRs | Pics Location: the dryside |
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Dogpatch
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Wed Sep 23, 2009 8:42 am
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Nice trip and nice pics! Glad to hear it rained a little bit for you.
Re: the road. We wandered on down to the Lone Jack Mine last summer and spent awhile talking to the miners. They're not only maintaining the road, they're also taking care of the campground at Twin Lakes.
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.
Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." – Groucho Marx
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.
Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." – Groucho Marx
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Kim Brown Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 6900 | TRs | Pics
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joker wrote: | Snags and Moraine are keepers too! |
Yay, thanks, joker! That photo was an experiment. My buddy was trying to teach me how to get foreground and background all in good focus on my DSLR - looks like it worked. Normally a shot like that would get me all confused and I'd just pass it by, wishing I could get it.
Re the road - each 10 years there's a new agreement drawn up between the miners and the Forest Service regarding that road; it was up for renewal this year; looks like it went.
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
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joker seeker
Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 7953 | TRs | Pics Location: state of confusion |
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joker
seeker
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Wed Sep 23, 2009 8:54 am
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Three cheers for those miners!
Kim - was it the "focus a third of the way from nearest to furthest points of interest and stop down" tip, or something else? Whatever the case, it worked, and you chose a good time to use it!
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Kim Brown Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 6900 | TRs | Pics
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Yessir, that was the tip. He tried to teach me a bunch of other stuff too, about lighting on the clouds, but I have the attention span of a cat sometimes, so we'll have to start all over with that.
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area."
Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
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