Location : Ardenvoir, Wa
Access : SR 97 > Entiat / Entiat River Rd > See maps
Maps : GTM - Leavenworth and Brief
Stats : 13.6 mi, 3500', 7hr
Steve and I started from behind the Forest Service work shop where we parked just off Steliko Canyon Rd. Hit the Trail and I did a hike to Steliko Lookout and I remembered him saying that there was a trail that started behind the corral, so we thought we saw one, but it petered out or more than likely was burnt out as the entire very steep slope was burnt recently in a wildfire so we just went up over frosty, crumbly dirt and rock to the top and on to the Steliko Lookout.
We had blue skies, though it was pretty cool, a lot of snow, meaning most was gone so we were able to hike on dirt / mud, or on the remaining snow that was thoroughly consolidated.
After a stop at the LO we took off trying to stitch a route together to reach 3750' the highpoint, but not the official summit on Goman Ridge. I traced a route on TOPO the night before, and was surprised to later find out there was a trail going all most exactly the same way so we came to that in short order and followed it (mostly beside it as it was muddy and or snow / ice filled bike rut). The snow was always hard making travel easy when we were in it, but though Goman Ridge looked close in those open spaces it isn't. We did notice a large amount of Balsam Root from last year, so this would be a good wildflower trip.
Eventually we made it to the highpoint having great open views of canyons, valleys, ridges, and mountain ranges and had a nice lunch in the sun, not to be confused with warm. But it was good.
We were a ways out there so we kept a quick pace on the return, and made it back in good time. My knees felt like they took a beating, but a great day for February and I made my weekly miles plus 4.
-------------- I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent_Gandhi
When you say 'Once this was all dense forest' what made it not? Fire? Climate?
One of the states biggest wildfires, then multiple wildfires after that. The upside for hikers and peakbaggers around here is that the lack of tree cover causes the entire basin and south slopes of Chelan Ridge to melt out so you can access some nice ridges and peaks early.
-------------- I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent_Gandhi
Wow, looks like a great outing. I was so down with the flu I almost missed this TR. Looks like some enticing spring hikes all over the place in that area. Keep in touch.
As for the open terrain...I can remember as a child it being mostly forested. Logging operations and a major fire every five years or so took a toll.
Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 636 | TRs | Pics Location: Greater Orondo area
Wed Feb 23, 2011 2:10 pm
Did you see any flowers? A buddy of mine was up Mud Creek (next drainage up) over the weekend and they found a patch of buttercups blooming at 2300 ft. Very bizarre winter. Supposed to get down to 4 degrees for the low in Wenatchee on Friday.
-------------- "Einstein stating that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light, is as a blind man stating that nothing can travel faster than the speed of sound" 1979
They don't make years like they used to.
Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 3391 | TRs | Pics Location: Stuck in the middle
Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:18 pm
I think W hires the crew that cleared snow from the SuperBowl field. They go up the day before and blow all the snow off the mountain. Then he waltzes up like it's September. The secret mission is to raise the value of his house so he can sell it and move to the west side where all the good mountains are.
Did you see any flowers? A buddy of mine was up Mud Creek (next drainage up) over the weekend and they found a patch of buttercups blooming at 2300 ft. Very bizarre winter. Supposed to get down to 4 degrees for the low in Wenatchee on Friday.
Sorry Z I missed your question, no wildflowers seen yet, but last year yellow bells the last week of February at 3-4k' on Entiat Ridge were the first I saw. Also last year we did Goman Ridge from the South to the highpoint and it had up to 3' of snow on it about this time, all powder and we didn't bring snowshoes, quite the workout.
-------------- I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent_Gandhi
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You must use a magnifying glass on those topos! If "they" are correct, you may be back on snow soon! Nice pics. 
