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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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Sun Apr 21, 2013 1:22 pm
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And, lo, though they journeyed but nine days in the wilderness, there passed nigh onto five years before the seventh day of the trip report were posted.
Picket Pass Traverse, via Little Beaver Trail, Whatcom Pass, Whatcom Peak, Challenger Col, Phantom Arm, Pickell Pass, Swiss Peak, Picket Pass, McMillan Cirque, Elephant Butte Bypass, Stetattle Ridge, Sourdough Trail.
Dates: July 19-27, 2008
Party: Matt Burton, Mike Torok, Billie Butterfield, Paul Bakke
This report covers Day 7 of the trip. Previous segments are:
Days 1-3, Into the Pickets
Days 4-5, Cloudbound at Pickell Pass
Day 6, To Picket Pass
“Days 8-9, Out of the Pickets” will be posted later.
Day 7: McMillan Cirque
Day 7 Map (yellow line)
Morning at Picket Pass
I got up before dawn and walked up to the knoll below Point 6900 to watch the sunrise.
Pink alpenglow lit the Southern Pickets.
Southern Pickets Sunrise Degenhardt Glacier Alpenglow
The sunrise lit up our camp right at first light.
1 label Looking down at Picket Pass camp Morning at Picket Pass camp Looking back to Pickell Pass
The Degenhardt Glacier looked especially dramatic, tumbling in a steep vertical band from the pointy rock spire of Terror to a tiny blue pond atop the snowy headwater of McMillan Creek.
Icefalls of the Degenhardt Glacier Degenhardt Glacier Lake Closeup
Picket Pass Tarn
While I was exploring, I had found a small tarn hidden in the rocks above the pass. Since I had packed quickly, I ran back up for Picket Pass swim.
I wanted a photo of myself swimming, but the camera went off early, while I was still running into the water. It created an accidentally fortunate composition. The water sprayed upward in a vee-shaped splash around my feet, which was echoed in the rock slabs angling out from the tarn, and echoed again in the peaks angling up toward the horizon. The whole thing just gave me a feeling of plunging into the Pickets with joyful wild abandonment. (Since it's a family site, I edited the splash a bit higher.)
Picket Pass Tarn at sunrise, with McMillan Spires Picket Pass Tarn reflecting West Fury (taken later while hiking out) Plunging into the Pickets
McMillan Cirque
Looking ahead, McMillan Cirque was a magnificent sight.
Far below was the brushy valley of McMillan Creek. High above were the pointed spires of the southern Pickets. In between curved the glacier-carved southern wall of the cirque, with its hanging glaciers glinting fierce blue defiance at their broken icy edges as they grudgingly retreated back upward from the wall they had carved.
McMillan Cirque
McMillan Cirque Traverse
Now it was time to for the traverse of McMillan Cirque that I had been anticipating and dreading for years.
We’d be threading a path through the living intersection of glacier and rock. – following the horizontal margin between the steep gray slabs below and the retreating line of white glaciers above.
Obstructing our path were the vertical barriers. Cut into the slabs were steep hidden rock gullies, barely accessible through the fault lines of ledges.
Projecting out from middle of the cirque was the big rock rib of the Barricade. On the near side, the Degenhardt Glacier pointed its icy finger down the top half, and snow filled the bottom half, bounded by moraines marking the huge former extent of the glaciers. On the far side, the McMillan Glaciers stretched a horizontal band above the slabs. To get past the barrier, we dropped all the way down to McMillan Creek and then worked our way back up.
The descent would include the following steps:
1. Angle down the blind scary east side of Picket Pass.
2. Cross above the First Broken Slab.
3. Find the Magic Ledge.
4. Descend the Enchanted Gully.
5. Trot down snow to Degenhardt Glacier Lake.
Then the traverse and ascent would include:
1. Follow McMillan Creek down past the bottom of the Barricade.
2. Work through talus and brush around the corner of The Barricade.
3. Splash up a creek through the brush.
4. Cross the Leaping Waterfall Gully.
5. Traverse below the McMillan Glacier.
6. Cross below the Second Broken Slab.
7. Kick steps up snow to the McMillan-Elephant Col.
Route descending Picket Pass (looking back from McMillan-Elephant Col) Route around the bottom of the Barricade (looking ahead from Picket Pass) Route ascending to McMillan-Elephant Col Camp (looking ahead from Picket Pass) The entire route across McMillan Cirque (looking back from the far end)
Here are a couple more photos of the route, taken from the opposite side of the valley in 2010, which was also a higher snow year.
McMillan Cirque Traverse Detail near the Barricade
Descending Picket Pass
The hardest part was getting off the east side of Picket Pass. From above, the route was hidden by its own steepness. We knew where we needed to go, but we couldn’t see it ahead of time, so it was an act of faith to set off downward, a hopeful belief that we could find our way by a combination of the right terrain, our own route-finding efforts, and the guidance of St. Beckey.
We were aided by an unexpected miracle – Beckey’s directions, though sparse, were entirely accurate. And all the pieces were there, never easily, and only a little at a time, but each one led to the next till we got down.
From camp, we walked south uphill toward the base of Point 6900, scrambling down snow onto the side of the pass, then kept angling down and south across various spurs, ramps, and noses, mostly on rock, sometimes on snow. The trick was to keep angling southward across the face of the pass as we descended, and not drop directly down.
Going down the pass wasn’t very strenuous physically, but it was exhausting mentally. With a heavy pack, steep angle, and immediate exposure, the descent required relentless vigilance. I had enough balance and friction to stay on the slope, but only barely. Slipping or stumbling wasn’t an option here. So for a thousand feet downward, with only a few breaks, I had to stay focused on how I made each step. Not just most of the steps, but every single step.
As we worked our way down, I consoled myself with the thought that it would only get better after this. In fact, when we completed today’s passage, I would have accomplished the most challenging trip in my goals, and I’d never have to do it again. Later I’d feel very satisfied to have crossed Picket Pass and fulfilled my wishes, but at the moment I simply felt relieved to have it behind me.
Looking back at the first snowfield and talus basin. Studying Beckey on the way down (we need to get to the bare slabs below) Going over a nose
A Digression on Hope & Grace
Even though we were in bright daylight, it felt like a blind descent, feeling our way down one piece at a time, praying that each next piece would appear when we needed it.
And our prayers were answered, as true prayers are, at the junction between our hearts’ desires and the world’s potential, by attending to what's offered and investing ourselves to find a way through.
There we create the openings for grace and joy to enter our lives.
Paying attention to what’s around us, choosing what seems good, and committing ourselves to follow through. It’s a commitment of mind and body, but just as much of heart and soul, to find what’s best and do our best.
Thus inspiration becomes action, and hope becomes reality.
The First Broken Snow Slab
At the corner between the pass and the cirque wall stood our first obstacle. A snow slab had collapsed into a pile of blocks. We bypassed them by walking up and around on the slanting rock slabs above the collapse.
The First Broken Snow Slab 1 label Midway around the slab, with Ottohorn-Himmelhorn col above Near the far side of the slab 5 labels Looking back up to Picket Pass from the far side of the collapsed slab
The Key Ledge
Now we needed to find a key ledge. Somewhere ahead was a steep vertical-walled gully slicing down through the slabs. Nearby was supposed to be a ledge that would get us through the wall of the gully. Amid the snow, it was hard to see, but Billie spotted a couple flat spots where it crossed some vertical ribs. We followed the line, and there it was.
At the far end of the ledge
The Magic Garden
Where the ledge entered the gully, something magical happened. At the junction of sheltering walls, falling water, and flat surfaces, life flourished! Everything all around was bare rock and ice, but where the ledge cornered into the gully, suddenly we were walking through a verdant flower garden.
Brilliant green flower garden as the ledge bends into the gully Flowers amid the rock and ice Flowers on the garden ledge Garden ledge with the far wall of the gully behind Hugging the wall of the ledge into the gully
The Enchanted Gully
The garden ledge was a fitting entry to the gully, because the whole thing was like an enchanted passageway, designed to charm and awe the senses, while ushering one down to the bottom of the cirque.
The gully itself was...
...A vertical slot cutting the cirque from top to bottom.
...Pointy spires rising above its apex.
...A crystal blue lake floating atop wide snow at the bottom.
...Steep cliffs guarding each edge.
...A garden clinging to the west side.
...Sheer waterfalls streaming off the east side.
...And a white pathway of snow descending all the way down the center.
Altogether, an invitation to revel in its beauty and travel its pathway down the depths of the cirque.
Entering the gully Waterfall near the exit of the gully Looking back up at the enchanted gully
Degenhardt Glacier Lake
Below the gully was a wide snow basin with a sapphire blue lake at its center. The deep snow had collapsed downward into the lake but not yet melted, so that the whole blue lake lay nestled atop a white bowl of snow. I so wanted to run over and swim in it, but we still had to get back up the other side of the cirque, so we passed on by.
1 label Hiking toward Degenhardt Glacier Lake The lake in its context
Around the Base of the Barricade
At the far side of the basin was a moraine marking where the glaciers had once stretched all the way down to the creek. Above the moraine was the cliffy wall of The Barricade. To get around, we descended the headwaters of McMillan Creek down to about 3900 feet, and then worked our way up boulder fields and brush bands on the far side, staying near the edge of the Barrier to avoid wider brush.
Looking back at the brushy headwaters of McMillan Creek as we work up around the base of the barrier
Up the Stream through the Brush
We hiked up snow a couple hundred feet. Beyond was a wide band of brush separating us from the open rock. Earlier Mike had spotted a stream cutting a vertical path through the brush, so we got through by hiking directly up the stream bed.
Up the stream Water, brush, glaciers & peaks looming above us
The Leaping Waterfall Gully
The next obstacle was another cliffy gully, bordered by steep orange slabs. We could see a few ledges on the far side of the gully, and debated which one to aim for. The slabs looked too steep on this side, but Mike picked a route and led the way through, with some damp 4th class scrambling to get down into the gully.
This gully had a waterfall leaping upward in its center, and we had to leap over the waterfall, so either way I’ll call it the “leaping waterfall gully.”
Heading toward the gully Climbing down to the leaping waterfall Climbing back up the far side Hiking along the ledge on the far side
Traversing Below the McMillan Glaciers
Crossing below the McMillan Glacier was a straightforward walk across slabby ledges that had been polished by the retreating glacier. Just don't look up at what's hanging above those slabs. But the blue glow of the broken ice faces above us was just too pretty to ignore, at least for quick glances while hurrying below their perilous beauty.
Traversing below the McMillan Glacier The Blue Edge behind The Blue Edge Closer
The Second Broken Snow Slab
Beyond the glaciers, another snow slab had collapsed in to a pile of giant blocks. This one had no easy bypass above, so we crossed below it, skirting right next to the blocks on the rough rock.
At one point, the snow groaned as I walked past, and I quickly reached out to steady it, as though I would someone hold up the enormous block with my hand if it decided to move.
The Second Broken Snow Slab Traversing below the broken blocks Snow blocks
McMillan-Elephant Col
Then it was another couple hours of kicking steps up snowfields to reach the 6350-foot col east of East McMillan, just west of Point 6752. The col itself was corniced, so we had to go up a little higher onto the ridge and walk down into the col. Behind us, puffy clouds gathered and spread across the crest.
Clouds gathering behind us Approaching McMillan Col
We stood on last major divide of our trip, with McMillan Cirque behind, and the deep forested valley of Stetattle Creek ahead.
Now we could see a new view that had been hidden behind the wall of the southern Pickets throughout our trip. The cliff-walled cirque of Azure Lake dropped below us. West of the creek, gray clouds pushed over the top of Glee Peak. East of the creek, shadows climbed the green forested slopes of Stetattle Ridge
Glee & Azure lake Hiking up to camp, with Jack Mtn and Stetattle Ridge ahead.
Sunset at McMillan Camp
We placed our camp a short distance farther up the ridge, on a flat area just east of Point 6455. The rock benches weren't flat enough for a tent, so Mike dragged flat stones onto the snow to pave an insulated floor for our tent.
At sunset, hot orange light lit a burning glow on the edges of the gray clouds and dark peaks.
Burning southern Pickets Fiery Fury Pickets Sunset Panorama from Camp
After dark, I was looking south down the dark valley, and realized that I could see a faint light far in the distance below. Somewhere past the dark jungle of the creek valley, the lights of Diablo were shining. Yes, lights and home were out there somewhere, but still a long two days of cross-country travel away.
Day 7 Stats: 4 miles, 2750 loss, 2650 gain,11 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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Backpacker Joe Blind Hiker
Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 23956 | TRs | Pics Location: Cle Elum |
Awesome as usual Matt.
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
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iron Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 6391 | TRs | Pics Location: southeast kootenays |
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iron
Member
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Sun Apr 21, 2013 3:27 pm
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great perseverance matt, both in the trip and finally writing the TR. we are all grateful for the splash of water in your tarn swim photo those snowblocks are huge! scary, it must have been, to walk beneath them. that whole area looks scary! picket pass campsite = !
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raising3hikers Member
Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 2343 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, Wa |
never too late for a good report
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Dane Other
Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 2466 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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Dane
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Sun Apr 21, 2013 6:27 pm
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Thanks for continuing the story I've gone back and drooled over the previous entries many times.
Your description of the descent from Picket Pass is just what I've feared...made worse by the fact that you can't see what you're getting yourself into.
Beautiful writing. And I love the shots of McMillan Spires from below.
Glee & Azure lake
This traverse looks so gnarly! I wonder how often it's done...
Without judgement what would we do? We would be forced to look at ourselves...
-Death
Without judgement what would we do? We would be forced to look at ourselves...
-Death
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Rainie Too! Member
Joined: 12 Dec 2008 Posts: 377 | TRs | Pics
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Thank you so much Matt. An inspirational TR with such great route description and art!
I hope this means we will see a TR on Triumph someday...
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olderthanIusedtobe Member
Joined: 05 Sep 2011 Posts: 7687 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
Matt wrote: | Southern Pickets Sunrise |
All the pics are nice, but this one in particular is stunning. The Pickets to me are almost mythical, I doubt I'll ever traverse them, but it's great seeing a shot like this. Thanks for sharing.
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Jim Dockery Member
Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 3092 | TRs | Pics Location: Lake Stevens |
You are the master of detailed TRs Matt! Better late than never. Thanks for the large pictures to show details and the lines & labels. More power to ya on the pond swimming - great shot
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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 Apr 22, 2013 5:48 pm
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This will help me immensely on my pickets traverse this july...thank you so much Matt!
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cascadetraverser Member
Joined: 16 Sep 2007 Posts: 1407 | TRs | Pics
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Wow, what a treat; I wondered if I would ever see this! You are a master of trail reports Matt! The narration and photos are wonderful. Two points I might add for interested parties. We did the same exact route as outlined here except did it in much drier conditions (a low snow year) and my recollection and comparison to Matt`s great TR was, it was likely easier. I also did a variation of the PT last summer in snowier conditions and found it conversely more challenging. I usually find traverse travel with high snow levels an aid, but think the Picket traverse might be the exception. One point to consider in a low snow year would be the crossing of the crux gully between Pickel and Picket pass which would be more difficult. We had to make a somewhat difficult brief climb up the Picket pass side that could be worse in a lower snow year than the one we had. I should add, we started the traverse from Big Beaver up to Eiley/Wiley and avoided the low snow difficulties of the Watcom glacier as well as the Perfect impass problems.
In addition, I have to say, my recollection of dropping off PPass was not so bad. Maybe my memory is poor or I was younger and stupidier; but another possibility is we found an easier line down to the waterfall gully, but I don`t have such detailed pictures to suggest to others an easier route for those interested. I found the notes from Routes and Rocks very instructive for those interested (Becky, I believe uses Tabor and Crowder as his source).
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almosthere Member
Joined: 06 Nov 2011 Posts: 54 | TRs | Pics Location: the land of many uses |
wow.. great trip and write up.. well done
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Bedivere Why Do Witches Burn?
Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 7464 | TRs | Pics Location: The Hermitage |
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Bedivere
Why Do Witches Burn?
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Wed Apr 24, 2013 1:07 pm
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Matt wrote: | “Days 8-9, Out of the Pickets” will be posted later. |
Another 5 years later? I hope not, for that was an excellent read. Thanks!
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Stefan-K Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2009 Posts: 522 | TRs | Pics Location: seattle |
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Stefan-K
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Sat Apr 27, 2013 11:32 am
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Fantastic! excellent pics Matt, thanks for putting this together. Never seen the enchanted gully and now I want to, want to ski right through it, but in slow motion so that I don't miss a thing!
Snow coverage looks more like August than July, did it melt out faster in 08?
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Jetlag Member
Joined: 17 Aug 2010 Posts: 1410 | TRs | Pics
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Jetlag
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Thu Jun 20, 2013 6:08 pm
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Fantastic. I expect these details to get me down Picket Pass in July.
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Don Member
Joined: 25 Apr 2005 Posts: 2013 | TRs | Pics Location: Fairwood, WA |
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Don
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Mon Jun 24, 2013 7:01 am
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Another incredibly detailed report with excellent pics, Matt. I actually viewed the slide show first before reading your report, just for the love of the area and the emotion it invokes. The Enchanted Garden absolutely blew me away! I would never have expected such a place existed in the hostile environment of the Pickets.
Thanks for taking the time to post this, and congratulations on a fantastic trip.
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