Forum Index > Trip Reports > Bustin' ass on Baring 09.23.09
 Reply to topic
Previous :: Next Topic
Author Message
Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher



Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 2993 | TRs | Pics
Location: Margaritaville
Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher
PostThu Sep 24, 2009 12:10 pm 
Yesterday MM & I tackled another peak on our list - Mt. Baring. The steepness of the trail is legendary, so I just had to find out for myself how bad it was, plus it sounded like the views from the top were pretty good. up.gif up.gif We set out early from Issy & made our way up to hwy. 2 & then over to the "town" of Baring, where we turned onto FR 6024. We took it to its end @ the TH for Barclay Lk., where 2 other cars were parked. The trail to Barclay Lk. is flat & easy. The trail to Baring is not. shakehead.gif From the parking area, 2 trails take off in an easterly direction - the higher one on the right is for Baring. We took the higher trail past a box toilet, over some blowdowns, & then turned right uphill at a small steep rock gully. Our flat trail was now over. There is a trail paralleling the creek on the right, & it crosses to the left side in short order.
Near the start of the trail
1 label
Near the start of the trail
Steep
Steep
Not far up the trail, MM slipped on some small roots & then impaled his shin on a nasty spikey root thing. Some cursing & groaning ensued curse.gif & I realized it must've been pretty bad so I came back down the trail to him. He had a nasty gouge in his left shin that looked deep enough to warrant stitches. eek.gif frown.gif We sat down & applied some 1st aid & discussed whether we should continue w/the hike or go to a doctor. whaambulance.gif After a few minutes the bleeding was under control & MM said it didn't hurt nearly as bad, & told me he was fine w/continuing up. He kept an eye on it & changed the bandage a few times as necessary. The trail continues up relentlessly, aided by ribbons tied to the trees. We stopped about halfway up for a quick snack, meanwhile a solo hiker made his way up. We chatted for a bit - he was coming back to finish off the summit after he had taken people from Wisconsin uhh.gif up the trail last Saturday in the rain & the summit was too socked in to make it worth completing. Baring didn't seem like the best trail to take people on from the flatlands of Wisconsin, but hey who am I to judge. wink.gif The solo hiker continued on up while we finished our snack; we would not see him again until the rock gully.
Frog
Frog
A little scrambling
A little scrambling
After gaining ~ 1,700' in 0.4 mi., stun.gif we finally reached the ridge. dance.gif The look on MM's face said it all:
MM on the ridge, not looking too thrilled after the strenuous climb.
MM on the ridge, not looking too thrilled after the strenuous climb.
Once on the ridge, the trail makes a 90 degree turn to the east, following the spine of the ridge for ~ 1 mi. There are small ups & downs & the trail is very pleasant, making for a nice break before the next steep section. We saw some mushrooms along the way.
'shroom
'shroom
Eventually the trail drops a bit to the south side of the ridge to avoid some cliffs, then starts climbing very steeply again through the forest to reach the rock gully. There are a couple of confusing places where there are multiple trails but overall the flagging is still good. When in doubt, just go UP. wink.gif This section of up is, thankfully, shorter & slightly better than that 1st section. up.gif Before too long we reached the gully.
Coming up the 2nd steep forested section
Coming up the 2nd steep forested section
The gully.  Easier than it looks.
2 labels
The gully. Easier than it looks.
We picked our way over the rocks to the start of the incline; the 2nd 1/2 of the gully is steeper than the 1st but never too bad. About halfway up we ran into the solo hiker coming back down from the summit & chatted a bit w/him again.
Starting up the gully.
Starting up the gully.
Looking back down the gully.
Looking back down the gully.
In a little while we reached the top of the gully, where there is a worse gully going down on the other side.
Looking down the gully from the saddle.
Looking down the gully from the saddle.
Looking down the gully on the other (east) side.
Looking down the gully on the other (east) side.
From the saddle, the route turns north up over some rocks, through some small trees & heather, & again over rocks. There is some exposure, but never too bad or for very long. The route goes underneath the summit on the west side & then swings back to it at the very end. The last part is a bit airy, especially to the north & east. eek.gif We looked around for a summit register but couldn't find one; the solo hiker said he couldn't find it either. confused.gif The views were great in all directions, though a bit hazy on this day. The peaks we could see are too long to list, & when we stood @ the edge of the lower north end of the summit, we could peer directly down to Barclay Lk. ~ 3,700' below. hairy.gif I got my boot shot from the summit, MM got his from the north end over the lake. I got close enough to see the lk. but wasn't going to sit on the rock @ the very edge of the cliff! crazy.gif dizzy.gif
Summit is up there somewhere.
Summit is up there somewhere.
Summit marker - slightly below the summit
Summit marker - slightly below the summit
Views from the summit.
Views from the summit.
Views from the summit.
Views from the summit.
Views from the summit.
4 labels
Views from the summit.
Baring's shadow.  We're too small to show up.
Baring's shadow. We're too small to show up.
Looking across to Baring's lower south summit
Looking across to Baring's lower south summit
Looking down to the west
Looking down to the west
Boot shot from the summit.
Boot shot from the summit.
Views NE
2 labels
Views NE
Views north
5 labels
Views north
Looking back toward town - lotsa haze.
Looking back toward town - lotsa haze.
Mt. Daniel & Hinman to the SE
2 labels
Mt. Daniel & Hinman to the SE
View southish
3 labels
View southish
Distant Sloan & others.
3 labels
Distant Sloan & others.
MM on the summit getting the camera ready.
MM on the summit getting the camera ready.
Baring shadows Barclay Lk.
Baring shadows Barclay Lk.
MM gets a boot shot.
5 labels
MM gets a boot shot.
We didn't stay long @ the summit, as there were only a few hrs. of daylight left & we were not sure how much faster we'd be for the descent. We snapped our pics, had a quick snack, & made our way down. Not long after leaving the summit, I smacked my knee pretty hard into a rock hidden by some heather. curse.gif Thankfully it wasn't nearly as bad as MM's injury.
MM going down one of the scrambly sections.
MM going down one of the scrambly sections.
Heading down the steep-ass trail
Heading down the steep-ass trail
Last look @ Baring
Last look @ Baring
The last part of the lower steep section was by headlamp - not a fun trail in the dark but nevertheless we made it down w/o incident. Then on to La Hacienda in Gold Bar for a well-earned margarita. souse.gif hungry.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.
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
GeoTom
Member
Member


Joined: 19 May 2005
Posts: 3215 | TRs | Pics
Location: Earth
GeoTom
Member
PostThu Sep 24, 2009 12:15 pm 
This is nice and all, but I must have missed the photos of the busted ass. clown.gif Thanks for reminding me how steep that trail was. Ugh.

Knows literally nothing
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Ingunn
Hiking Viking



Joined: 01 Feb 2008
Posts: 1751 | TRs | Pics
Location: Redmond
Ingunn
Hiking Viking
PostThu Sep 24, 2009 12:18 pm 
The more reports I read on Baring, the less I want to do it. huh.gif Good job, I hope your various injuries are healing!

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Tazz
Member
Member


Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7902 | TRs | Pics
Tazz
Member
PostThu Sep 24, 2009 12:35 pm 
oh the knee cruncher!! i gotta get back up there when that darn head wall of snow is gone too. good stuff

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
MountainMan
Member
Member


Joined: 15 Jul 2008
Posts: 365 | TRs | Pics
Location: San Diego
MountainMan
Member
PostThu Sep 24, 2009 1:31 pm 
My Baring pics: smile.gif
Haze shrouded sunrise.
Haze shrouded sunrise.
About to start up the first gully.
About to start up the first gully.
How I started out the hike.
How I started out the hike.
BC on the way up the steep "trail" to the west ridge.
BC on the way up the steep "trail" to the west ridge.
Frog on the trail.
Frog on the trail.
Class 5 route...
Class 5 route...
Trees growing out of the rocks.
Trees growing out of the rocks.
Fungus
Fungus
Another fungus under log.
Another fungus under log.
Baring from west ridge.
Baring from west ridge.
Optional way down
Optional way down
Mushroom
Mushroom
Looks like a pancake...
Looks like a pancake...
Gully and basin
Gully and basin
Baring and south peak
Baring and south peak
Looking up towards the saddle from about the midway point.
Looking up towards the saddle from about the midway point.
Looking down at the basin from midway up.
Looking down at the basin from midway up.
Heading up the last part of the gully to the saddle.
Heading up the last part of the gully to the saddle.
Daniel and Hinman
Daniel and Hinman
Looking down the east side from the saddle.
Looking down the east side from the saddle.
Baring survey marker.
Baring survey marker.
Reaching the summit.
Reaching the summit.
Looking down
Looking down
Merchant Peak from Baring
Merchant Peak from Baring
Gunn Peak
Gunn Peak
Views
Views
Views
Views
View north from Baring.
View north from Baring.
Hazy views south and west from Baring.
Hazy views south and west from Baring.
Us on Baring
Us on Baring
Us with Gunn and Merchant behind
Us with Gunn and Merchant behind
BC on Baring
BC on Baring
Baring boot shot over Barclay.
Baring boot shot over Barclay.
My knees hurt already!
My knees hurt already!
Merchant Peak form basin
Merchant Peak form basin
Gunn Peak from basin
Gunn Peak from basin
Baring's south peak
Baring's south peak

Slow down, take notice, savor the moment, appreciate the world around you and everything that you have.
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
sky_pilot
Member
Member


Joined: 29 Apr 2009
Posts: 55 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle
sky_pilot
Member
PostThu Sep 24, 2009 1:47 pm 
Fun trip on a hot day. You folks sure get out a lot. It's fun to look at your trips and pics. I think the "rocky things" in the Views From the Summit photo are Chimney Rock, Overcoat and the Lemah Group. I labeled these formations in the View Southish photo. edited to add Overcoat

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
polarbear
Member
Member


Joined: 16 Dec 2001
Posts: 3680 | TRs | Pics
Location: Snow Lake hide-away
polarbear
Member
PostThu Sep 24, 2009 4:53 pm 
Way to get to the top! up.gif up.gif up.gif Nice photos--I especially like the shadow on Barclay shot!

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Nisquaww
Hot balls



Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1239 | TRs | Pics
Location: Red of Mond
Nisquaww
Hot balls
PostThu Sep 24, 2009 5:09 pm 
rockin!

"Why do you have a beard?" "I don't have a beard. It's just the light; it plays funny tricks." ~ Shel Silverstein
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Magellan
Brutally Handsome



Joined: 26 Jul 2006
Posts: 13116 | TRs | Pics
Location: Inexorable descent
Magellan
Brutally Handsome
PostThu Sep 24, 2009 5:31 pm 
Great TR BC. You guys are tearing it up this summer. I really like this image of the two summits and the gully.
Ingunn wrote:
The more reports I read on Baring, the less I want to do it.
Ingunn, everyone can, and should do Baring once. If you do it twice... confused.gif shakehead.gif dizzy.gif

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
tmatlack
Member
Member


Joined: 21 Aug 2007
Posts: 2854 | TRs | Pics
tmatlack
Member
PostThu Sep 24, 2009 6:06 pm 
Bloat, Great trip on one of the most recognizable peaks in the WA Cascades! Tom

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Mtn Dog
Technohiker



Joined: 01 Aug 2004
Posts: 3336 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bellevue, WA
Mtn Dog
Technohiker
PostThu Sep 24, 2009 7:05 pm 
You know, this is one of many peaks that has only a reference marker left on the summit and no benchmark. Vesper Peak was another. I like how you both take great photos but with completely different perspectives. It's nice to see your trip report from two sets of eyes rather than just one!

Footprints on the sands of time will never be made sitting down.
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Yana
Hater



Joined: 04 Jun 2004
Posts: 4212 | TRs | Pics
Location: Out Hating
Yana
Hater
PostThu Sep 24, 2009 10:10 pm 
Bloated Chipmunk wrote:
After gaining ~ 1,700' in 0.4 mi., stun.gif we finally reached the ridge.
Uh... That would be over an 80% grade, which would make it steep 5th class dirt. dizzy.gif Though it certainly feels that steep! embarassedlaugh.gif MM - hope your shin has stopped bleeding. I feel lucky to have escaped that trail with no injuries.

PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
tigermn
Member
Member


Joined: 10 Jul 2007
Posts: 9242 | TRs | Pics
Location: There...
tigermn
Member
PostThu Sep 24, 2009 10:19 pm 
Bloated Chipmunk wrote:
After gaining ~ 1,700' in 0.4 mi., stun.gif we finally reached the ridge.
That be one steep boot path gaining at the rate of 4250ft/mile!

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
MountainMan
Member
Member


Joined: 15 Jul 2008
Posts: 365 | TRs | Pics
Location: San Diego
MountainMan
Member
PostFri Sep 25, 2009 12:03 am 
My GPS had poor reception and was wandering a lot in that area, so I don't have an accurate GPS route. The one below is redrawn. The distance stated is straight line distance. Sorry for the confusion. The trail twists and turns, but mostly it heads straight up, so maybe it's not that much longer. Does anyone know how long that part of the trail is? Here is a topo and a close up of the section in question.
Baring route
Baring route
Close up of climb to west ridge
Close up of climb to west ridge

Slow down, take notice, savor the moment, appreciate the world around you and everything that you have.
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
pimaCanyon
Member
Member


Joined: 13 Jul 2007
Posts: 1304 | TRs | Pics
Location: at the bottom of the map
pimaCanyon
Member
PostFri Sep 25, 2009 7:49 am 
Yana wrote:
Bloated Chipmunk wrote:
After gaining ~ 1,700' in 0.4 mi., stun.gif we finally reached the ridge.
Uh... That would be over an 80% grade, which would make it steep 5th class dirt. dizzy.gif
OK, I'm confused. I thought "grade" was measured relative to 100 percent which is gaining one mile vertically for every one mile in the horizontal direction. So 100 percent grade is a 45 degree slope. 80 percent grade would be what, 36 or 38 degrees or so? Definitely steep (most folks see a 45 degree slope and it looks near vertical to them), but I don't believe a slope of 38 degrees would actually be 5th class, just a steep ass slope.

It's never too late to have a happy childhood
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
   All times are GMT - 8 Hours
 Reply to topic
Forum Index > Trip Reports > Bustin' ass on Baring 09.23.09
  Happy Birthday speyguy, Bandanabraids!
Jump to:   
Search this topic:

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