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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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Tue Oct 30, 2012 11:24 pm
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Date: October 28, 2012
Destination: Bearjack West 4600 & East 4800 (USGS Red Top)
Party: Yana, Dicey (& Jack), GeoTom (& Jasper), Lindsay M, Gabriel D, Jeff H, Matt
I expected this hike to be a dud. The destination didn't promise much scenery or challenge, since Bearjack Ridge is relatively low and forest-covered. After all, its greatest distinction is that Bearjack West is the lowest peak on the Backcourt List. Plus the forecast was rainy, and it seemed too late for fall color and too warm for winter snow. Maybe it would at least be mostly dry in the Teanaway.
So I went mainly because it included several hiking friends that I haven't seen since last spring. I figured I could enjoy some good company, even if we didn't see much and maybe got rained on.
My expectations of good company were fulfilled. But my low expectations for weather and color were thoroughly confounded.
The weather became warmer and sunnier as the day progressed.
And I discovered western larches. First there were a few, and then whole hillsides of them, all still in full color. All my previous experiences have been with alpine larches, high up at the treeline and holding their color only briefly. But this area had western larches mixed into the forests up and down every valley. And they were big. And they were bright.
Bearjack GPS Track Sunshine & Larches on Bearjack Ridge
West Bearjack 4600+ (400P)
We parked on the Jack Creek Road at 3100 feet, near the stream that's directly south of West Bearjack, and then hiked up the south ridge to its 4600-foot summit. Travel was mostly open forest, with bits of trail most of the way. The ridge was almost completely snow-free, with just shallow patches in a few sheltered areas.
When we got out of the car, there were a few trees with yellow foliage mixed in with the darker forest. I assumed they were cottonwoods, until someone pointed out that they were larches. Larches? Still gold, and down at this low elevation?
At West Bearjack's summit, we found a register left by Fay Pullen. Our group of seven matched the total number of other visitors in the register since 2004.
The summit with tree-covered, with only glimpse of views to some higher snowier hillsides farther north. But what was this underfoot? The ground was littered with wind-broken pieces of larch branches. So I looked up higher up the surrounding trunks, and then even higher, and discovered that one of them was a larch with its golden crown standing way up high among the darker trees. These western larches grow tall!
First larches down in the valley Bearjack West register Fallen larch branches at Bearjack West
To East Bearjack
We followed the ridge eastward over small ups and downs and across Points 4464 and 4542. Again the travel was generally easy, with a beaten track through many areas, though it seemed to be mostly game trail. Near 4542 we found a rusted can of Borden Milkshake that looked like it had been there for decades.
More tall larches were scattered along the north side of the ridge, and then some on the crest as well, forcing me to pause frequently for photos.
Tall larch More tall larches Sky full of larch tops Somewhere along the ridge
Openings on the ridgetop revealed more clusters of larches going up Bear Creek to the north and on the opposite slopes of Jack Creek to the south, and lots more on further slopes. This was also new to me, seeing stands of larches so thoroughly mixed into the other forest across a variety of terrain.
Larches up the North Fork Bear Creek Larches on the opposite side of Jack Creek
On the final slope up to East Bearjack, there was some brush thick enough to be annoying for the first tie of the day. There were also a few more nice larch trees.
Another tall larch Larch & lichen combo
East Bearjack 4800+ (600P)
Along the way, I wondered if anyplace along this ridge give a good view of the thicker stands of larches we could see in the distance. Then we hit the top of East Bearjack, and saw the view out the open southern side. Wow!
Wow! Fields of Larches More fields of larches
We lingered a long time enjoying the warm sunshine. In fact, as we lay around relaxing on the south side of the summit, snores were heard from at least one member of the group.
Group at Bearjack East summit Summit Tea with Larches 1 label Looking back to 4542, 4464 & Bearjack West
To Southeast Bearjack 4580
For out exit, we ran the ridge further over to Southeast Bearjack, whose east ridge held the prettiest larch slopes. The first section was very brush again, and I shortly discovered that I had lost my GPS. Yana used her SAR skills to organize a grid search, and found it for me. Thank you.
Much of the larch slopes were hidden by closer trees, but the tall larches made a bright canopy far above our heads.
Tall & Skinny Larch canopy Larch tops catching the light Group on Bearjack SE
Exit
Leaving Southeast Bearjack, we followed the ridge crest down a few hundred feet, and found a sizable debris pile from what seemed to be an old camp or blind. There were posts, bits of plywood, plastic, and an odd assortment of old food and beverage packages. We packed up most of it and carried it out.
Garbage on the ridge Cleanup of the garbage
Below that, there was a very clear trail dropping most of the way back to the road. Across the valley, the slopes were dropping into shadow, with just the upper foliage of the trees standing out bright against the darkness.
Larches falling into shadow Larches falling into shadow
Lower down were also some nice stands of big ponderosa pines. Lindsay pointed out the subtle butterscotch & vanilla smell of their bark. Then it was about a two-mile hike back down the road to the cars.
It smells like butterscotch & vanilla Walking the road
The drive home also provided some nice color from cottonwoods in the river valleys. The light was too low for photos, but the big bright yellow lines of cottonwoods neatly outlined the rivers both down the Teanaway River and up the Yakima River to the pass. I was again surprised to notice the western larches scattered through the hillside forests almost all the way up to Snoqualmie Pass. Somehow, I never went through here when they were colored enough to notice them before.
Stats: 7 miles, 2900 gain, 7:30 hours
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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Hulksmash Cleaning up.
Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 7113 | TRs | Pics Location: Arlington |
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Hulksmash
Cleaning up.
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Wed Oct 31, 2012 12:54 am
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"Bears couldn't care less about us....we smell bad and don't taste too good. Bugs on the other hand see us as vending machines." - WetDog
Albuterol! it's the 11th essential
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Chief Joseph Member
Joined: 10 Nov 2007 Posts: 7676 | TRs | Pics Location: Verlot-Priest Lake |
Awesome trip report. Another hike on the TD list.
Go placidly amid the noise and waste, and remember what comfort there may be in owning a piece thereof.
Go placidly amid the noise and waste, and remember what comfort there may be in owning a piece thereof.
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lookout bob WTA proponent.....
Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 3043 | TRs | Pics Location: wta work while in between lookouts |
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lookout bob
WTA proponent.....
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Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:07 am
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"Altitude is its own reward"
John Jerome ( from "On Mountains")
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Hikingqueen Member
Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 2946 | TRs | Pics
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Nice report!
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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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Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:41 am
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LadyÆsa Surefooted Spitfire
Joined: 16 Oct 2012 Posts: 671 | TRs | Pics Location: Custer, Whatcom County, WA |
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LadyÆsa
Surefooted Spitfire
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Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:50 am
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Larches and tea!!
"We have one chance, one chance, to get everything right. We have one chance, one chance, and if we're lucky we might." One Chance, Modest Mouse
"We have one chance, one chance, to get everything right. We have one chance, one chance, and if we're lucky we might." One Chance, Modest Mouse
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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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Wed Oct 31, 2012 10:42 am
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Actually, we thought of you when we found the garbage. Our first repsonse was: "Oh, we should send Hulksmash here so this would get cleaned up." Then we decided maybe we oughta take care of it ourselves. Consider yourself a role model.
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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Blowdown Sawin' Logs ...
Joined: 24 Aug 2011 Posts: 375 | TRs | Pics Location: On the Summit |
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Blowdown
Sawin' Logs ...
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Wed Oct 31, 2012 12:04 pm
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Hear! Hear!
Hulksmash is MY role model!
Thanks and a tip-o-the-hat to Matt and crew, to the inimtable Hulksmash, and to everyone else who takes a little time and effort to make the trails a bit better for the next hiker.
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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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Wed Oct 31, 2012 2:47 pm
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It was a better day than expected, even with Jasper and his person hanging around.
Thanks to dicey for forgetting a camera and sunglasses, otherwise the weather may not have been as nice.
A few photos:
No rain Up up up Jack and Gabriel lead the way Lindsay and her milk shake in a can Jack resting More larches Jasper begs from Yana Summit nap A look west Descent Foraging Wild dogs
Full flickr set
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Alpendave Member
Joined: 01 Aug 2008 Posts: 863 | TRs | Pics
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Very nice larches. Looks like my front yard. But bragging aside, thanks for tidying up out there. I need to remember to bring some trash hauling stuff with me from now on when I'm hiking. BTW, your larches are better than mine by virtue of the fact that yours have mountains on them
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Hiker Mama Member
Joined: 25 Jun 2006 Posts: 3448 | TRs | Pics Location: Lynnwood |
Wonderful writeup, Matt. Glad you got sunshine and time with friends. And after all these years, I think it's cool that you still are learning new things.
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