Forum Index > Trip Reports > Leecher Mountain 5020' - Leecher Lookout (Methow Valley)
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wildernessed
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wildernessed
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PostSun Feb 05, 2012 12:39 pm 
Location : East of Carlton, Wa. off SR 97 Access :SR 97 > Old Carlton Rd > Texas Creek Rd Maps : GTM - Twisp and TOPO Stats : 7 Mi, 2700' r/t
Leecher Mountain - Lookout
Leecher Mountain - Lookout
Steve, Lloyd, and I made the drive up to Carlton and East on Texas Creek Rd. to near Leecher Canyon. We broke out the snowshoes on what looked to be a great blue sky day and headed up the road, then gained the Northern of two ridges.
LLoyd and Steve in the cold canyon to start in the a.m.
LLoyd and Steve in the cold canyon to start in the a.m.
Steve
Steve
Initially it was pretty cool, with crunchy snow, but as we gained elevation into the sun there was a small crust over powder, then wet snow. Wearing my 30's and a pair of lightweight baselayer bottoms it was a warm work out, so I was glad when we hit the summit ridge overlook and had coffee and lunch (though I was thinking maybe a gatorade would have hit the spot). We had lunch, recovered some of our oxygen debt, then snowshoed over to the summit and walked up the lookout as far as we could go, which was above treeline. Incredible vantage point. Returning was much easier and we made good time. Thanks Steve and LLoyd for another good trip. :up
Oval
Oval
Camel's Hump and Reynolds
Camel's Hump and Reynolds
Break
Break
Abernathy and Gardner Ridges
Abernathy and Gardner Ridges
Isabella Ridge, Big Craggy, Eight Mile
Isabella Ridge, Big Craggy, Eight Mile
Leecher LO we went over and went up as far as we could for greater views 360.
Leecher LO we went over and went up as far as we could for greater views 360.
Lunch time
Lunch time
Monument ?
Monument ?
Heading back.
Heading back.
Leecher Mountain Pano I
Leecher Mountain Pano I
Leecher Mountain Pano III
Leecher Mountain Pano III
Leecher Mountaqin Pano II
3 labels
Leecher Mountaqin Pano II

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Hiker Mama
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Hiker Mama
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PostSun Feb 05, 2012 1:04 pm 
Beautiful! up.gif

My hiking w/ kids site: www.thehikermama.com
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HitTheTrail
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PostSun Feb 05, 2012 2:12 pm 
This turned out to be more of a workout than I had planned on. Guess it was breaking through crusty snow with snowshoes the whole way. But well worth the effort once we got up there. Good to get out with you guys again. Looking forward to the next one.
Starting out
Starting out
Near the start
Near the start
Half way
Half way
Lunch coffee
Lunch coffee
At the lookout
At the lookout
Wildernessed on true summit
Wildernessed on true summit
Lookout sign
Lookout sign
In the crow's nest
In the crow's nest
Wildernessed Dirtshoeing
Wildernessed Dirtshoeing

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twodogdad
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PostSun Feb 05, 2012 3:41 pm 
Good use of the weather op, Rob. Not a lot of snow on Oval and the Craggies. Is the lookout unlocked? N

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wildernessed
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PostSun Feb 05, 2012 4:13 pm 
No, we could only get up to the top of the steps, but it got you above all the trees.

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Magellan
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PostSun Feb 05, 2012 10:43 pm 
Nice effort! up.gif We drove all the way up there this summer with the kids. The last 1.5 miles was exciting in the family SUV. Imagine my surprise when Mort was there fire-watching.

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wildernessed
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Joined: 31 Oct 2004
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Location: Wenatchee
wildernessed
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PostMon Feb 06, 2012 5:09 pm 
That LO is in great shape, and appears to be in use in the summer. The views are pretty awesome. The pano with the Upper Twisp River Peaks is a mind bender. I have an idea on some of them, but not all of them. Steve and I did the trip two years ago with more snow and no snowshoes. I imagine it would be a great Spring Wildflower - Mountain view hike.

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jinx'sboy
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PostMon Feb 06, 2012 7:33 pm 
Magellan wrote:
Nice effort! up.gif We drove all the way up there this summer with the kids. The last 1.5 miles was exciting in the family SUV. Imagine my surprise when Mort was there fire-watching.
Yes....Mort had been the lookout on First Butte (north of Wnthrop on the east side of the Chewack R.) for years, but she was moved to Leecher last summer. I don't know if this arrangement is 'permanent' but I suspect so - since most of the terrain visible from First Butte L.O. has all burned in the last decade.

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