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Jackal Member
Joined: 21 Jul 2012 Posts: 102 | TRs | Pics Location: Mazama |
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Jackal
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Mon Jul 15, 2013 8:25 pm
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Wotan's post convinced me to get up Vesper while there was still so much snow on top -- a good hike with a bonus ski. Though I forget every time I go there how relentlessly steep it is and I swear this is the last time I'm doing Vesper! Sunday was pretty light hiker-wise: a group of 4 climbers who were going to do the north face but it was still too snow-covered and otherwise I just saw 3 pairs and 2 solo guys the whole day.
Snow-wise, it was soft enough to kick steps in by 10:00 so although some people had crampons and ice axes, I think if you have stiff toes (for up) and stiff heals (for down) and general comfort with snow, you're good without special gear. Two guys with light hikers turned back though so something to think about if you go. The 30-switchback approach to Headlee Pass is almost snow free but there are a couple places where switchback cuts are being strongly established where people are avoiding the remaining steep snow. If you go be gentle -- erosion is very active in that pitch.
Wirtz basin:
I noticed a number of people coming down via the extended snow patch instead of the trail. Much more fun.
WirtzBasin 7-13-14
Upper mountain:
Vesper 7-14-13
Views from the top:
Vesper-pan NE>SE Baker fr Vesper
July ski slope!
JulySkiSlope
My dog - for once, she ran out of energy before I did.
tired dog theOnlyShade WornoutPup
Solitary goat
GoatWatchesUs2 Goatspeck&SpadaLake
And some trailside veg:
FHellebore-leaf Deerferns DeerfernFiddleheads5 DeerfernFiddlehead7-
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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 Jul 15, 2013 9:22 pm
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Love Vesper. Not sure if I can make myself do that cobblestone approach again.
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wotan Member
Joined: 08 Dec 2009 Posts: 48 | TRs | Pics Location: searching for valhalla |
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wotan
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Tue Jul 16, 2013 6:41 am
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excellent photos, especially the deer ferns. Are deer fern fiddleheads edible? Were they on the slopes of Vegan Tower?
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Foist Sultan of Sweat
Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 3974 | TRs | Pics Location: Back! |
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Foist
Sultan of Sweat
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Tue Jul 16, 2013 7:50 am
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Nice report! I turned back with light hikers last September, thanks to unexpected lingering snow. (and the snow was not a long "ski slope" anymore -- it was a steep patch, that ended in a cliff above the lake...) But I loved the hike and I can't wait to try it again. I wonder if it will melt out this year. I like slabs.
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Jackal Member
Joined: 21 Jul 2012 Posts: 102 | TRs | Pics Location: Mazama |
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Jackal
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Tue Jul 16, 2013 5:18 pm
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Foist, yes, love the granite slabs! Wait a couple months, they're hatching under the snow.
Wotan, the fern pics were on either side of the high point as you enter Wirtz basin. Here's what my botanist friend Phyllis says about eating fiddleheads: In our area lady fern is the only good candidate (Athyrium felix-femina). I would feel okay with shield fern as well (Dryopteris expansa aka austriaca). Evergreen ferns such as deer fern and sword fern are laying down compounds that would be unpalatable in the least.
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rossb Member
Joined: 23 Sep 2002 Posts: 1679 | TRs | Pics
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rossb
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Wed Jul 17, 2013 1:54 pm
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How soon do you guess the area before Headlee pass is snow free? That is the only scary part (as far as I'm concerned). The more snow the better for the rest of the route, but that part requires an ice axe if it is full of snow (in my opinion).
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Jackal Member
Joined: 21 Jul 2012 Posts: 102 | TRs | Pics Location: Mazama |
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Jackal
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Wed Jul 17, 2013 9:37 pm
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The Headlee switchbacks are almost free of snow -- some lingering fingers but can almost be completely avoided.
Headlee switchbacks 7-14-13
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rossb Member
Joined: 23 Sep 2002 Posts: 1679 | TRs | Pics
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rossb
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Wed Jul 17, 2013 9:47 pm
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Excellent. Thanks for the info. The picture is really helpful. Looks like I can be safe and do a little glissading if I feel like it.
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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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Wed Jul 17, 2013 10:24 pm
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Looks hot in the sun. Smart dog.
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KillerCharlie Member
Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 483 | TRs | Pics
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Thanks for the conditions update, I took a less experieneced friend up there yesterday and had a blast.
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SouthernYokel Scree for dinner
Joined: 31 May 2010 Posts: 40 | TRs | Pics Location: Smokey Point, Wa |
Nice TR!
That place is like an oven in the summer with all that rock.
SouthernYokel
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Paddle faster! I hear banjos!
SouthernYokel
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Paddle faster! I hear banjos!
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