Forum Index > Trip Reports > Stetattle Ridge Overnight (2/20 – 2/21/10)
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot



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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
PostFri Feb 26, 2010 2:07 am 
Date: February 20-21 Destination: Stetattle Ridge, Sourdough Mtn (NCNP) Party: Matt, GeoTom, Schmidt AltiBabe, Yukon222, Yana Five of us decided to camp overnight high up on Stetattle Ridge. The results confirmed that Stetattle Ridge is perhaps the premier view ridge for the North Cascades, with its broad crest providing panoramic views that just keep getting higher and better the farther you go. And when you can camp high on such a ridge on a clear windless night and spend hours watching the sunset and sunrise light up the surrounding peaks, it’s difficult to get any better. Background on Stetattle Ridge Feel free to bypass this section if you just want to skip ahead to the pretty pictures. First let’s clarify some nomenclature. To get Stetattle Ridge, you start out on the Sourdough Mountain Lookout trail. But the trail is NOT on Sourdough Mountain, and it does NOT go to Sourdough’s summit. The trail begins on Stetattle Ridge, and only later traverses over to Sourdough’s lookout, which is not on the summit. So there’s no reason to go to Sourdough. Instead, continue up Stetattle Ridge, which runs much further and higher than Sourdough anyway. Now let’s look at some topography, and a daunting lesson in cumulative elevation gain. The trailhead is at 890 feet. Circa 1150 feet, you’ll pass a sign that says you’ll be safe from flooding if Ross Dam collapses. Circa 4100 feet, near the Park Boundary marker, the trail turns to head for Sourdough, but going off trail uphill a steep couple hundred feet puts one on the crest of Stetattle Ridge. From there it’s an easy ridge run to the only challenging spot, a narrow dip in the ridge at 5700. Then it’s more easy ridge walking to Lake 5916, which is also the junction between Stetattle & Sourdough peaks. (If you want Sourdough’s summit (6107), it’s only half a mile away and 200 feet higher from here.) From here, Stetattle ridge continues another 4.5 miles onward, with no less than ten marked elevation points on the map. Was it some surveyor’s graduation project, or what? In between every high point are multiple lower points, so the cumulative elevation gain adds up rapidly. But it’s such a seductive easy rolling crest, that each point just tempts one onward to the next, with views getting better at every step. The most noteworthy points along the way are:
  • Lake 5916 (junction between Stetattle & Sourdough), 5000 gain, 100 loss, 3.7 miles.
  • Point 6010 (the first 360 degree viewpoint), gain 200, cumulative gain 5200. 4.0 miles.
  • Point 6308 (best viewpoint for day hikes), gain 300, cumulative total 5500, 4.7 miles.
  • Point 6495 (Stetattle’s south summit), lose 200, gain 400, cumulative total 5900, 5.5 miles.
  • Point 6728 (Stetattle’s main summit), lose 660, gain 900, cumulative total 6800, 6.9 miles.
  • Point 6154 (north end of the ridge), lose 800, gain 200, cumulative total 7000, 8.2 miles.
Stetattle Ridge Map
Stetattle Ridge Map
Our group camped on Point 6495, and made side trips to Point 6728 plus Sourdough’s summit. (I also made another side trip, but I’ll explain that later.) Sourdough Trial & Stetattle Ridge up to Point 6010 We found the trailhead covered by fencing debris from the former Diablo town pool. The smoothly graded trail made for easy elevation gain up to the snow line & park boundary, both about 4100 feet. Through the mossy tree trunks, we were tantalized by views of the Colonial group behind us and the east face of Davis across Stetattle Creek. Leaving the trail, we followed boot tracks up to the ridge crest, then snowshoe tracks on the crest. The narrow cut had enough snow to make for easy steps.
fencing dumped precisely on trailhead
fencing dumped precisely on trailhead
“Safe From Flooding”
“Safe From Flooding”
Tracks just before the narrow cut
Tracks just before the narrow cut
At the ridge junction, with Sourdough Mtn behind
At the ridge junction, with Sourdough Mtn behind
Break on Point 6010 At Point 6010, we took a longer break to enjoy the views that were now open in all directions. Overhead, the sky had only a single tiny cloud, positioned to shade our exact spot during most of the break, while everything else was in sunlight.
Shadow for break on Point 6010
Shadow for break on Point 6010
Sunlight for break on Point 6010
Sunlight for break on Point 6010
Point 6010 to Point 6308
Sourdough Lake
Sourdough Lake
Ascending toward Point 6308
Ascending toward Point 6308
Between 6308 & 6495 At Point 6308, we decided that we would make our camp at Point 6495. The west side of the ridge was easy slopes, but the east side had become corniced cliffs.
Ascending the side of one of the bumps
Ascending the side of one of the bumps
Near the 6308/6495 low point.
Near the 6308/6495 low point.
Looking east at Jack along the way
Looking east at Jack along the way
My shadow backpacking
My shadow backpacking
Point 6495 (Stetattle Ridge South Summit) Point 6495 provided a huge flat expanse for a camp with territorial views. A single rock outcrop marked a safe high spot to stand near the eastern cornices.
The last few rises (& cornices)
The last few rises (& cornices)
Yana conquers the summit
Yana conquers the summit
More of the party approaching Point 6495
More of the party approaching Point 6495
Everyone’s here now
Everyone’s here now
Sunset & Evening at Camp We spent the last hours of the day watching the evening turn to a glowing sunset on the surrounding peaks.
Late light on Jack & Crater
Late light on Jack & Crater
Does this shadow make my butt look too big?  (Actually it’s my tent’s shadow)
Does this shadow make my butt look too big? (Actually it’s my tent’s shadow)
Shadows moving toward the edge
Shadows moving toward the edge
Long-legged sunset shadow
Long-legged sunset shadow
Camp near sunset:
Looking west at our camp as sunset nears (with Triumph, Glee, & Pickets)
Looking west at our camp as sunset nears (with Triumph, Glee, & Pickets)
Looking east at our camp as sunset nears (with Jack & Crater)
Looking east at our camp as sunset nears (with Jack & Crater)
Alpenglow:
Watching the alpenglow develop
Watching the alpenglow develop
Alpenglow on Jack & Crater
Alpenglow on Jack & Crater
Alpenglow on our ridge, Ruby, Logan & Buckner
5 labels
Alpenglow on our ridge, Ruby, Logan & Buckner
Yana dug a walled cooking area into the snow for all of us to share, dubbed Fortress Radenska. We kept three stoves going making hot water bottles to warm us through the clear cold night.
Evening in Fortress Radenska
Evening in Fortress Radenska
Night in Fortress Radenska
Night in Fortress Radenska
Sunrise & Morning at Camp We all arose before dawn to watch the sunrise make its own artwork of the mountains. As the earth rotated us upward into the day, a rainbow band of color descended down the sky and onto the peaks.
Sunrise band above the horizon
Sunrise band above the horizon
Sunrise touches the summits
Sunrise touches the summits
Sunrise descending down the peaks
Sunrise descending down the peaks
The peaks became a contrast of light and shadow.
Fury glowing, Elephant Butte in shadow
Fury glowing, Elephant Butte in shadow
Pickets glowing, Azure Lake in shadow
Pickets glowing, Azure Lake in shadow
The photographers kept busy as sunrise came down to us.
Everyone out photographing the sunrise
Everyone out photographing the sunrise
Sastrugi, Jack, Crater & Sol
Sastrugi, Jack, Crater & Sol
Sunrise hits our camp
Sunrise hits our camp
Alpenglow on the cornices below our camp
Alpenglow on the cornices below our camp
Our camp shone bright in the morning light.
Fortress Radenska with Thornton & Triumph
Fortress Radenska with Thornton & Triumph
Camp, Triumph, Glee, & Pickets
Camp, Triumph, Glee, & Pickets
And the glow spread further across the peaks.
Full alpenglow on SE Fury, Fury, & Elephant
Full alpenglow on SE Fury, Fury, & Elephant
Full alpenglow on Luna & Stetattle Summit
Full alpenglow on Luna & Stetattle Summit
The Elephant at the End of the Ridge Across from the far end of Stetattle Ridge, Elephant Butte appeared to be in perfect condition for a winter ascent. All day yesterday I debated it. In this morning’s light, I decided to go ahead. I skipped breakfast, grabbed the pack that I already had prepared, and hurried out of camp. Stetattle Ridge Point 6728 To get to near the end of the ridge, I first had to climb almost over the top of Point 6728, Stetattle’s main summit. That meant dropping about 450 feet, crossing several smaller bumps, and ascending back up to about 6600 feet.
Elephant on the left and Stetattle summit on the right
Elephant on the left and Stetattle summit on the right
The path up to Point 6728
The path up to Point 6728
My shadow pointing toward my goal for the day
My shadow pointing toward my goal for the day
Rime near the top of Point 6728
Rime near the top of Point 6728
Ahead and west of me, the early morning light brought sharp definition to the peaks. Behind me, the eastern cliffs of Stetattle Ridge stood out in corniced crests and fluted flanks.
East Face of Davis Peak
East Face of Davis Peak
Azure Lake & Southern Pickets
Azure Lake & Southern Pickets
Southern Pickets, Elephant, & Luna
Southern Pickets, Elephant, & Luna
Fluting on the east face of Stetattle Ridge
Fluting on the east face of Stetattle Ridge
Back on Point 6495 (1.4 miles distant), the silhouettes of my companions and our camp were just barely visible.
Can…
Can…
you …
you …
see …
see …
them …
them …
Since the rest of my Elephant Butte trip was separate from the group, it's posted in the separate report "Stuck a Fork in the Orphan Pachyderm" Hopefully, my companions will post the rest of their story soon in this thread.

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks



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puzzlr
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PostFri Feb 26, 2010 2:34 am 
Over the top trip and TR as usual Matt! The return of AltiBabe!

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Tigerotor77W
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PostFri Feb 26, 2010 7:32 am 
Wow... what a place!

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DIYSteve
seeking hygge



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DIYSteve
seeking hygge
PostFri Feb 26, 2010 9:36 am 
Great TR and pics, Matt. up.gif Looks like a fun party. Stetattle Ridge is indeed a special place, one of the few overnight trips that feels like being wayyyyyy back in there. ETA: in late season, one can take the trail all the way to Sourdough Camp (just short of SD Creek) and ascend up vegetated class 1-2 terrain (one short step of class 3) to hit lower Steattle Ridge ENE of Jeanita Lake, then follow Matt's route N-ward from there.

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RokIzGud
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PostFri Feb 26, 2010 9:43 am 
Right on! Awesome pictures. Rime ice is the best!

North by Northwest
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silence
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PostFri Feb 26, 2010 10:01 am 
nice photos matt .. love the b&w -- great job

PHOTOS FILMS Keep a good head and always carry a light bulb. – Bob Dylan
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yukon222
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PostFri Feb 26, 2010 10:25 am 
A very, very enjoyable trip. Nice to see the few peaks I've climbed in the area from this excellent vantage point.
DSD_7710 - Pointy Pyramid Peak
DSD_7710 - Pointy Pyramid Peak
DSD_7713 - Moving quickly (still early morning and packs feel somewhat light)
DSD_7713 - Moving quickly (still early morning and packs feel somewhat light)
DSD_7742 - Magical McMillian Spires
DSD_7742 - Magical McMillian Spires
DSD_7767 - Many pauses to gaze at the views
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DSD_7767 - Many pauses to gaze at the views
DSD_7770 - Easy to smile with warm sunshine and commanding views in all directions
DSD_7770 - Easy to smile with warm sunshine and commanding views in all directions
DSD_7774 - AltiBabe turns her back on Jack Mtn.  For now.  :-)
DSD_7774 - AltiBabe turns her back on Jack Mtn. For now. :-)
DSD_7784 - Sastrugi swirls
DSD_7784 - Sastrugi swirls
DSD_7786 - Tiny people approach giant wind carved snow channel
DSD_7786 - Tiny people approach giant wind carved snow channel
DSD_7801 - Climb and climb some more...
DSD_7801 - Climb and climb some more...
DSD_7803 - ... just a little bit further to camp and see...
DSD_7803 - ... just a little bit further to camp and see...
DSD_7806 - ...  ah, alpenglow on Jack Mountain
DSD_7806 - ... ah, alpenglow on Jack Mountain
DSD_7807 - the Snowfield group beds down for the night
DSD_7807 - the Snowfield group beds down for the night
Pano_DSD_7815 - Snowfield and friends
Pano_DSD_7815 - Snowfield and friends
DSD_7816 - Last of the direct sunlight
DSD_7816 - Last of the direct sunlight
DSD_7820 - Reward in views for the long ascent with winter packs
DSD_7820 - Reward in views for the long ascent with winter packs
DSD_7824 - Ripsaw Ridge
DSD_7824 - Ripsaw Ridge
DSD_7827 - Jack Mountain fading from view
DSD_7827 - Jack Mountain fading from view
DSD_7829 - "I'd rather be winter camping at 6500' than in the plane overhead."
DSD_7829 - "I'd rather be winter camping at 6500' than in the plane overhead."
DSD_7830 - Plane races to catch the setting sun
DSD_7830 - Plane races to catch the setting sun
DSD_7833 - Fleeting view of Mercury
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DSD_7833 - Fleeting view of Mercury
DSD_7836 - Matt is pleased with Nature's show
DSD_7836 - Matt is pleased with Nature's show
DSD_7837 - pre dawn colors and McMillian Spires
DSD_7837 - pre dawn colors and McMillian Spires
DSD_7843 - tip touching the light
DSD_7843 - tip touching the light
DSD_7850 - worth every frozen finger tip
DSD_7850 - worth every frozen finger tip
Pano_DSD_7851 - McMillian to Luna
5 labels
Pano_DSD_7851 - McMillian to Luna
DSD_7858 - camping at the top of the world (well, not quite!)
DSD_7858 - camping at the top of the world (well, not quite!)
DSD_7862 - By dawn's early light
DSD_7862 - By dawn's early light
DSD_7874 - Snowfield, Pyramid and Pinnacle
DSD_7874 - Snowfield, Pyramid and Pinnacle
Stetattle Ridge
Stetattle Ridge
DSD_7892 - Azure Lake hidden until late summer
DSD_7892 - Azure Lake hidden until late summer
DSD_7894 - so many places to go, so little time
DSD_7894 - so many places to go, so little time
DSD_7895 - Tasty Triumph (and Bacon Peak behind)
DSD_7895 - Tasty Triumph (and Bacon Peak behind)
DSD_7897 - Glee(fully) enjoying the dawn
DSD_7897 - Glee(fully) enjoying the dawn
DSD_7903 - Azure Lake basin beneath McMillian Spires
DSD_7903 - Azure Lake basin beneath McMillian Spires
DSD_7905 - untouched beauty
DSD_7905 - untouched beauty
DSD_7909 - So much scenery creates endless photo ops
DSD_7909 - So much scenery creates endless photo ops
DSD_7911 - tempting to just sit down and soak in the snowscape
DSD_7911 - tempting to just sit down and soak in the snowscape
DSD_7913 - edging our way across the face
DSD_7913 - edging our way across the face
DSD_7914 - wind carving its' way thru the ridge
DSD_7914 - wind carving its' way thru the ridge
DSD_7922 - AltiBabe and McMillian Spires
DSD_7922 - AltiBabe and McMillian Spires
DSD_7928 - Traversing beneath another steep ridgeline
DSD_7928 - Traversing beneath another steep ridgeline
DSD_7938 - Always nice to see the route to your summit
DSD_7938 - Always nice to see the route to your summit
DSD_7940 - Lots of rollercoaster ups and downs as we roamed the ridgeline
DSD_7940 - Lots of rollercoaster ups and downs as we roamed the ridgeline
DSD_7943 - Heading for North Stetattle
DSD_7943 - Heading for North Stetattle
DSD_7948 - Darkness comes early to part of the McMillian Spires
DSD_7948 - Darkness comes early to part of the McMillian Spires
DSD_7954 - Heavy winter coating
DSD_7954 - Heavy winter coating
DSD_7960 - Not many ways thru these mountains
DSD_7960 - Not many ways thru these mountains
DSD_7961 - Despair but certainly none today
DSD_7961 - Despair but certainly none today
DSD_7978 - North Stetattle Ridge summit
DSD_7978 - North Stetattle Ridge summit
DSD_7986 - Yana enjoys GeoTom's sudden descent
DSD_7986 - Yana enjoys GeoTom's sudden descent
DSD_7998 - Moon peeks over Stetattle Ridge
DSD_7998 - Moon peeks over Stetattle Ridge
DSD_8008 - Fortunately, a way around the barrier by going hard right
DSD_8008 - Fortunately, a way around the barrier by going hard right
Pano_DSD_8011 - Mammoth ridge and Tiny Tom
Pano_DSD_8011 - Mammoth ridge and Tiny Tom
DSD_8014 - another bump in the ridge
DSD_8014 - another bump in the ridge
DSD_8017 - Climb back to camp
DSD_8017 - Climb back to camp
DSD_8024 - Sleeping Sourdough Lake
DSD_8024 - Sleeping Sourdough Lake
DSD_8028 - Jogging past Jack Mtn
DSD_8028 - Jogging past Jack Mtn
DSD_8032 - Sourdough Mountain summiteers
DSD_8032 - Sourdough Mountain summiteers

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RichP
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PostFri Feb 26, 2010 11:08 am 
This must be the best winter ever for spectacular trips. Too bad I chose to be away this year frown.gif .

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BarbE
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PostFri Feb 26, 2010 12:41 pm 
Awesome scenery and pictures! Impressive elevation gain. up.gif up.gif

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Obi Tony Kenobi
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Obi Tony Kenobi
Waterfall Crazy!
PostFri Feb 26, 2010 1:54 pm 
Wow that is beautiful. I may need to get myself to try this winter backpacking stuff! Great job you guys!

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Hikingqueen
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PostFri Feb 26, 2010 3:15 pm 
Looks pretty Epic! biggrin.gif

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Jim Dockery
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PostFri Feb 26, 2010 5:00 pm 
Great shots, after Josh's TR I was thinking I had to get up there, now it's confirmed. I just wish the pics were bigger to see detail on those incredible mountains!

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DIYSteve
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PostFri Feb 26, 2010 5:11 pm 
Jim, I've been up there late season -- it's one of my favorite overnights in the NC's* -- and I've long intended to do an early spring tour up there. The access route is pretty much deadass S aspect, but pretty densely treed. A couple weeks of warm spring weather should bring it into ski shape, though one should be prepared for some tree bomb action and grunt ski carry up the trail to 4000' or higher. Once on the ridge, there are oodles of ski run opportunities. The camping opportunities up there are endless. *I forebore from posting a TR, lest I might popularize the place. But now the word is out. wink.gif ETA: Jason Hummel just demonstrated that one need not wait until spring for a ski tour up there.

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yukon222
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PostFri Feb 26, 2010 5:25 pm 
Jim Dockery wrote:
Great shots, after Josh's TR I was thinking I had to get up there, now it's confirmed. I just wish the pics were bigger to see detail on those incredible mountains!
Jim - Sorry about that. I had been in my Flickr settings a few days ago and adjusted the wrong thing. Should be able to see the larger size versions now.

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GeoTom
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PostFri Feb 26, 2010 7:10 pm 
Thanks for organizing a good trip Matt. up.gif I even got to use sunscreen over the weekend. My full flickr photo set Here are a few:
Tall trees along the Sourdough trail
Tall trees along the Sourdough trail
Matt arrives in camp
Matt arrives in camp
Yana looks for tent sites
Yana looks for tent sites
Alpenglow Jack
Alpenglow Jack
Snowfield Peak above the Neve Glacier
Snowfield Peak above the Neve Glacier
Tisha and Steve capturing the moment
Tisha and Steve capturing the moment
Matt takes another photo
Matt takes another photo
Matt hurries to take photos
Matt hurries to take photos
Goodbye Sun!
Goodbye Sun!
Welcome back Sun
Welcome back Sun
McMillan morning
McMillan morning
Soapy & Tazz bag Pt. 6,495
Soapy & Tazz bag Pt. 6,495
YanaKing on Point 6,495
YanaKing on Point 6,495
Shadowy figures in the foreground
Shadowy figures in the foreground
Icicle
Icicle
Yana pauses below Point 6,728
Yana pauses below Point 6,728
Small tree and ice
Small tree and ice
Yana looks for Matt
Yana looks for Matt
Stetattle in Black & White
Stetattle in Black & White
Snow shapes
Snow shapes
The Stetattle Four
The Stetattle Four
Stetattle Ridge in Black and White (again)
Stetattle Ridge in Black and White (again)
More sastrugi on Stetattle
More sastrugi on Stetattle
Contour lines
Contour lines
A little fluting
A little fluting
A flock of snags
A flock of snags
Heading up Sourdough Mountain
Heading up Sourdough Mountain
The Sourdough Mountain Lookout
The Sourdough Mountain Lookout
Soapy and Tazz bag a summit tree on Sourdough Mountain
Soapy and Tazz bag a summit tree on Sourdough Mountain
Tisha on Sourdough with Stetattle Ridge behind
Tisha on Sourdough with Stetattle Ridge behind
Pyramid and Pinnacle Mountains in early evening light
Pyramid and Pinnacle Mountains in early evening light

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