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Gimpilator infinity/21M
Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 1684 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, WA |
Matt and Colleen invited me to join them for a climb of Tower and Golden Horn. These peaks have been on the most wanted list for awhile. We hiked over Cutthroat Pass up to camp at Snowy Lakes. We encountering Just Todd and Wamtngal along the way. After setting up shop we went over to Tower using the cave ledge to access the main west gully. We followed the zig-zag ledge system along the right side up to the "brown gully" and then scrambled to just below the "white V". From there we followed another complex set of ledges to the southern ridge crest and then the summit. There was a lot of loose rock on the route.
The Needles Golden Horn and Tower 1 label Hardy (look closely for Matt and Cartman) Lower Snowy Lake Camp Gully Action Ledges Colleen Loose Rock In The "Brown Gully" Section Nearing The White V Tower Summit Golden Horn Forest Fire Smoke Hardy, Glacier, Mesahchie, etc. Azurite, Ballard Baker, Shuksan, Jack, etc. The White V Cave Exploration In The Very Back Tower Reflection Fading Light Alpenglow
On our descent we ran into Iron and Hotpantz who were on the way up. It's funny because our same group ran into them the previous year on the summit of Black Peak. Back on the cave ledge I took a moment to explore the cave, which goes back surprisingly far. At camp we were amazed by the mob of people coming up to camp at the lakes. Outside of the Alps I've never seen so many people deep in the wilderness.
First Light On Golden Horn Hardy From Upper Snowy Lake Hardy Looking Good Scree Slog A Smurf High On Golden Horn Matt Summit Tower East Face SW Gully Tricky Spot The Summit Mantle Spot Golden Horn Summit Some Exposure
The following day we rose early to climb Golden Horn. There was a long scree slope and then we came to an impressive vantage of the summit tower. I was glad we didn't have to climb the east face. We circled around to the gully on the southwest side and then I belayed Matt while he climbed up to the summit. From there he belayed Colleen and I up. It was an exposed spot. When we were done with the views, Colleen was belayed for her down-climb and then Matt and I rappelled down. Once again we saw Iron and Hotpantz near the summit. It makes me wonder where we will see them next fall.
That's Not An Elk Our Epic Moose Tower Silver Star Porcupine
Golden Horn was my 30th Bulger peak, although Matt and Colleen both have a lot more than that. While we were packing up camp, Colleen looked up at the ridge above the lake and said "Is that a dog? What is that?". It was a moose! Bears are a dime a dozen in Washington but this was a bona fide moose. None of the other parties around the lake took any notice. It was our moose and we weren't going to share it.
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belowfellow Transplant
Joined: 22 Feb 2009 Posts: 261 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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silence Member
Joined: 25 Apr 2005 Posts: 4420 | TRs | Pics
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silence
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Mon Oct 08, 2012 7:59 am
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PHOTOS
FILMS
Keep a good head and always carry a light bulb. – Bob Dylan
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Redwic Unlisted Free Agent
Joined: 23 Feb 2009 Posts: 3292 | TRs | Pics Location: Going to the Prom(inence) |
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Redwic
Unlisted Free Agent
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Mon Oct 08, 2012 8:16 am
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You also have 1/5 of the steepest mountains in Washington, now, too. Good job!
Oh, and I see someone found my moose costume.
60 pounds lighter but not 60 points brighter.
60 pounds lighter but not 60 points brighter.
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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 Oct 08, 2012 8:20 am
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Hey Gimp -- nice to somewhat meet you. Looks like you guys had a successful trip - we're envious you got to see a moose! Especially with so many people (I'm assuming since we passed so many).
And it looks like your route up Tower was what we all thought would be a route -- the "brown gully."
Opinions expressed here are my own.
Opinions expressed here are my own.
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iron Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 6392 | TRs | Pics Location: southeast kootenays |
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iron
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Mon Oct 08, 2012 9:00 am
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good to see you guys again. my vote for next fall's random encounter: something in the entiat.
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Matt Lemke High on the Outdoors
Joined: 15 Jul 2010 Posts: 2052 | TRs | Pics Location: Grand Junction |
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Matt Lemke
High on the Outdoors
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Mon Oct 08, 2012 10:44 am
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You didn't take the crack 5.6 route anyway on Tower...which is what I would have wanted to do.
Looks like a great trip...
@Matt,
I am very good at keeping rocks in place while climbing
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Matt Lemke High on the Outdoors
Joined: 15 Jul 2010 Posts: 2052 | TRs | Pics Location: Grand Junction |
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Matt Lemke
High on the Outdoors
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Mon Oct 08, 2012 10:46 am
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iron wrote: | good to see you guys again. my vote for next fall's random encounter: something in the entiat. |
Ack! why doesn't anyone invite me along!
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IanB Vegetable Belayer
Joined: 21 Jul 2010 Posts: 1062 | TRs | Pics Location: gone whuljin' |
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IanB
Vegetable Belayer
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Mon Oct 08, 2012 11:01 am
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One tough-looking mountain after another - you make it look so easy!
"Forget gaining a little knowledge about a lot and strive to learn a lot about a little." - Harvey Manning
"Forget gaining a little knowledge about a lot and strive to learn a lot about a little." - Harvey Manning
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puzzlr Mid Fork Rocks
Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 7220 | TRs | Pics Location: Stuck in the middle |
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
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Mon Oct 08, 2012 11:40 am
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Bumped these peaks closer to the top of my list. Great report and pictures.
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Go Jo of the lykkens
Joined: 08 Jun 2003 Posts: 2248 | TRs | Pics Location: Around The Bend |
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Go Jo
of the lykkens
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Mon Oct 08, 2012 8:43 pm
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olderthanIusedtobe Member
Joined: 05 Sep 2011 Posts: 7709 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
Gimpilator wrote: | Hardy Looking Good |
That's such a cool looking peak from that vantage. I climbed the back side of it many years ago. Similar to Golden Horn, mostly a scree slog with a little scrambling at the end.
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Magellan Brutally Handsome
Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 13116 | TRs | Pics Location: Inexorable descent |
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
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Mon Oct 08, 2012 8:59 pm
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Looks super fun. A moose is a real treat to see in this part of the state.
The clear winner!
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Matt Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
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Mon Oct 08, 2012 9:27 pm
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regarding the previous photo. Great job on the colors and the depth of field from the foreground red blueberries to the golden larches to Porcupine Peak in the background.
I can't believe you saw a moose in that area. Which ridge was it on?
Sorry I missed seeing you among the crowds there. Cartman and I carpooled with Mike & Carrie and scrambled up Hardy.
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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Traildoggie Member
Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 158 | TRs | Pics Location: Near Arlington |
We did Heather /Maple on monday early way down at the start of the trail we saw tracks in the dust which I thought were moose tracks. I measured the size of the prints and the distance between them with my hiking poles. but I'd never heard of moose anywhere near Rainy pass so was sure I must have been mistaken.... but maybe not! I was going to take a picure but theyy were obliterated by other hikes by the time we got back down.
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