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GeoTom Member
Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 3215 | TRs | Pics Location: Earth |
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GeoTom
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Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:19 am
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Hinkers: GeoTom and Zeusdaddy
Access: Highway 2 > Icicle Creek Road > Eightmile Road
Maps: Green Trails #209S The Enchantments and a custom TOPO! creation
Trails/Route: Eightmile Lake trail #1552 > Lake Caroline trail #1554 > Off-trail travel
Mileage: ~18 total
Elevation Gain: ~6,300 total (per GPS)
Photos: My full flickr set (many included below)
The story
With a favorable weather forecast for Saturday I set my sights on Cashmere Mountain. Hoping for a little company on the trip I asked a few people that haven't yet blocked my emails. Here is a sampling of the responses I received:
dicey- "I've already been up Cashmere, stupid."
Yana- "I already have plans this weekend, stupid."
Oggie- "I'm going fishing with my dad, stupid."
Jasper- "I'd love to have you chase me to the top, but dogs aren't allowed on those trails, stupid."
Ok, nobody actually said stupid in their responses, but I could tell from the tone of their emails (or in Jasper's case, the way he started chewing on his toy) that they were thinking it.
However, there was one person who was stupid enough to join me: Zeusdaddy. And, he was even willing to do the driving. How stupid was that?
We arrived at the trailhead to find a solitary hunter with his dog and a group of 3 climbers about to head out for Cashmere, but they said they were going to try a route on the southeastern side. We wished them well and headed up the Eightmile Lake trail, maintaining a slightly slower than TNAB pace. Eventually we reached Little Eightmile Lake and turned right onto the Lake Caroline trail. The sun was out and the temperature was good for hiking in t-shirts. Well, pants too. And shoes.
We took a short break at the saddle above Caroline Lake, before continuing to the lake and beyond to Little Caroline Lake. At the switchback ~6,800' we considered leaving the trail for the direct route up the southern rib to the summit ridge, but eventually decided to continue along the trail to Windy Pass. Apparently we needed the extra mileage.
Scott starts up the trail Axis Peak Little Eightmile Lake Peaks, stumps and trail Axis through the snags Stuart north side Caroline Lake morning Top of Cashmere poking up above the ridge Scott heads for Windy Pass
From Windy Pass the route was easy to follow along the western ridge. Views increased as did the shutter delay. Just before the 8,000' saddle we caught up to a group of 3 that had been camped at Caroline Lake. They were considering continuing beyond, but wanted to see what we did first. What did we do? We stopped to eat lunch.
After (first) lunch we put on our helmets, tightened our laces and headed for the summit. The route description had us traverse along the north side of the ridge for a little while before ascending one of several gullies. There was a layer of fairly new snow that made travel a little annoying, but we were able to punch steps so we were able to make our way around the mountain. Thinking we had arrived at the correct gully we started up for the visible notch. Zeusdaddy took a more direct route to the notch, while I angled left then back right to arrive at the notch before him. I was tempted to yell insults and toss rocks down at him, but I decided that would be a really stupid thing to do. You know, with him driving and all.
On the south side of the notch the snow was gone, and I even noticed a couple small cairns. Kicking them over as we went by, we headed for what appeared to be the summit. I was a little worried that there might be a higher point beyond that might require backtracking, but we ran out of mountain and saw no higher points nearby. I looked briefly for a summit register, but did not find one. Second lunch was eaten, and we enjoyed the views from a flatter spot just below the top. I even decided to head back to the summit (that's right, I climbed Cashmere twice in one day) for a photo op. My mom always complains that there are hardly any photos of me from my trips. One look at me and most of you will realize why, but I decided to humor her this time.
View north from Windy Pass Mt. Daniel Still a ways to go One step at a time The summit block is in sight Look Tom, no crampons! View from our first lunch spot Go left Ready for snow travel? Our gully? Nope, not yet Scott considers his options Scott ascends to the saddle View from the final saddle No snow on the south side Another summit for the happy couple Rock on! This one's for you mom Improper use of a helmet A look east from the summit Big Jim and Big Lou
Our 45 minutes of leisure at the summit came to and end and we retraced our steps back to the 8,000' saddle. From there we took the obvious bootpath down the southern rib. The bootpath faded as we descended, but the terrain was open and we ended up hitting the trail within 10 feet of where we had considered leaving it on our way up. The descent to Caroline Lake and Little Eightmile Lake went well. The final 3 miles to the trailhead had mysteriously gotten longer since the morning, but not long enough for us to make it back to the car without needing our headlamps.
Enchanting We took a different way back Scott and Cashmere Mountain Descent route Little Annapurna Rock in field Goodbye Caroline Lake Another snag Shy chipmunk Follow the trail Scott descends Last light on Cannon
Dinner and beer at Gustav's was appreciated, although Zeusdaddy's beer choice was a bit questionable. We made it through the Gold Bar-Startup-Sultan metropolis without experiencing the dreaded backups, and before I knew it I was being pushed out of the car in front of my driveway. Jasper seemed excited to see me. Luckily he doesn't hold grudges too long when I don't take him hiking.
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Dani Kimtah's Mom
Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 136 | TRs | Pics
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Dani
Kimtah's Mom
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Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:31 am
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Very nice I am glad the weather held.
Keeping GeoTom in line since 1998
Keeping GeoTom in line since 1998
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TrailPair Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1699 | TRs | Pics
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This thing called work is interfering with my play
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wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
Nice spot for a blue sky day !
Living in the Anthropocene
Living in the Anthropocene
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Karen˛ A Real Canadian Girl
Joined: 25 Jul 2002 Posts: 1367 | TRs | Pics Location: Behind the Lens |
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Karen˛
A Real Canadian Girl
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Mon Sep 13, 2010 12:47 pm
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GeoTom wrote: | Dinner and beer at Gustav's was appreciated, although Zeusdaddy's beer choice was a bit questionable. |
Probably because there weren't any Canadian beers on tap?
That's quite the impressive stats for a dayhike, who is this Zeusdaddy you speak of? He hardly has any posts on nw, he needs to participate more. He must be a machine to keep up with you GeoTom.
In all seriousness, good job guys! As always your TR's make me laugh - thanks.
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Dani Kimtah's Mom
Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 136 | TRs | Pics
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Dani
Kimtah's Mom
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Mon Sep 13, 2010 2:21 pm
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Yup J was hanging out with mom all day. He was helping me around the house!
Keeping GeoTom in line since 1998
Keeping GeoTom in line since 1998
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wamtngal Member
Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 2382 | TRs | Pics Location: somewhere |
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wamtngal
Member
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Mon Sep 13, 2010 4:57 pm
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Very, very stupid photos, Tom!
What was the poor beer choice of Mr. Zeusdaddy? DO TELL.
Opinions expressed here are my own.
Opinions expressed here are my own.
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GaliWalker Have camera will use
Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 4931 | TRs | Pics Location: Pittsburgh |
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GaliWalker
Have camera will use
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Mon Sep 13, 2010 5:22 pm
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GeoTom wrote: | Just before the 8,000' saddle we caught up to a group of 3 that had been camped at Caroline Lake. They were considering continuing beyond, but wanted to see what we did first. What did we do? We stopped to eat lunch. |
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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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Mon Sep 13, 2010 5:46 pm
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zeusdaddy Member
Joined: 17 Oct 2008 Posts: 20 | TRs | Pics Location: North Bend, Washington |
A great (though long) trip!
I won't admit too much about my choice of beer, but fatigue and dehydration probably had a lot to do with it. In my defense, I didn't know the beers on tap were on the backside of the drink menu... I thought I only had a few bottled beer choices to choose from.
I did buy a case of Kokanee on the way home today, just to make Karen happy. It's glacier beer, you know.
I have attached a few of my pics, the others can be found here:
flickr pics
Snagographer We ended up walking the ridge in the background from left to right. Pano from near Windy Pass from Windy Pass Tom ascending to the ridge above Windy Pass Pt 8279 on the left, Cashmere just beyond Neat rock garden along the ridge Getting closer to Cashmere Trying to spot the proper gully. Working our way up in the new snow Watch that first step! Heading back down after a break A little snowy on the North side Tom surveying our best route down I thought this was supposed to be summer time North ridge of Cashmere Great relaxing descent Random Rock in a Field Snags and Cashmere
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GeoTom Member
Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 3215 | TRs | Pics Location: Earth |
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GeoTom
Member
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Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:44 pm
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Magellan wrote: | Class 3? Spontaneous or climber induced rockfall? |
Mostly Class 2 with a little Class 3. The various route descriptions* say you can get into 4th and even low 5th Class if you go off route. If you pay attention you shouldn't stray off route. We could have gone without the helmets, but decided to wear them since we had carried them that far. Maybe without the snow covering we "enjoyed" the gullies might have been more of a bowling alley.
*I had route descriptions from Smoot's Climbing Washington's Mountains, Goldman's 75 Scrambles and Stephenson/Bongiovanni's Summit Routes.
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Bloated Chipmunk Cock Rock Searcher
Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 2993 | TRs | Pics Location: Margaritaville |
Thanks for the beta, as Cashmere is still on my list. That's too bad about the snow though--looks like the brief summer window has already closed & this will have to be put off, again.
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.
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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raising3hikers Member
Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 2344 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, Wa |
Thanks for the TR! I'm 0-2 on that mountain, it's about time for another try
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Davidą Token Canadian
Joined: 25 Jul 2002 Posts: 3040 | TRs | Pics Location: The Great White North |
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Davidą
Token Canadian
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Tue Sep 14, 2010 7:20 pm
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6300 feet! I'm not that stupid!
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fzte All in the Boots
Joined: 27 Dec 2009 Posts: 85 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, WA |
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fzte
All in the Boots
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Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:57 pm
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Looks like a great trip with a little something for everyone.
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