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Sadie's Driver Sadie's Driver
Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics Location: Welcome Pass |
WOW! What a day . . . a bit nippy to start, but that soon faded as we increased elevation. We took the "Scotty Creek" road exit off of Blewett Pass and were able to make it all the way to the gated trailhead (probably could have scooted past the gate - but that would have been - well - probably illegal!). However we did see two guys in camo and on an ATV coming down not long after we were headed up. Guess they weren't successful in their hunt. The only other folks we would see all day.
We got started a little after 9:30 a.m. - temperature was about 28 degrees.
Trailhead at Shaser Creek - our route to Iron and Serpentine
Janet and I opted to leave the snowshoes behind in the car - no training weight today for us. However, "someone" felt the need to keep the 'shoes on the pack . . . you decide . . . out of place?
Up the DIRT road with training weight
Our plan was to get Iron Mountain and Serpentine today. Now, this is very inter4esting - Iron Mountain is named, but it's not a noteworthy peak, because it doesn't have any prominence - too close to Miller. Yet Serpentine, a lesser peak by about 800' - IS a backcourt peak, because it DOES have prominence! Go figure!
This is NOT Iron - but it's on the same ridge.
Not Iron Mtn. - but a bump on the westerly ridge from Iron Mtn. to Miller
This is Serpentine - but only a false summit in view.
Notice anything about this photo? That is, there's no snow on the peak and someone has one snowshoes???
Hmmm - Barry checking out a snow-less Serpentine - doubt that he will need those things on his pack!
By and large, this is a soul-sucking road walk - but one I have never done, so it wasn't so painful. Middle E (Barry) was the only one of the three of us who had done these summits before - so he knew what to expect. Here are some views from the road.
Miller and friends Janet on the road with Miller behind Serpentine (false summit) from the road Iron Mountain above us
We headed up from the road (rather than going to the saddle) and very quickly - with a little scramble - were on the summit of Iron.
Gus taking a break on the way up to Iron Janet coming up Iron Looking east off of Iron Miller and ridge west off of Iron - what a beautiful (and warm) day! Janet coming up the last stretch of Iron Barry and Gus on Iron Group shot on Iron Mtn (Blewett Pass) - Nov. 13, 2013 Janet on the summit of Iron Barry and Janet on Iron Mtn. with Miller in the distance between them Looking to the north from Iron Same view - only vertical
It was downright balmy on the summit without a hint of wind . . close to 50 degrees! Fabulous. We had a leisurely lunch on top - took some pics - then headed down.
Heading down off of Iron - steep little puppy
We made our way back towards Serpentine . . .
Unnamed peak to the north of Serpentine's saddle - kind of cool looking From Serptentine's saddle - looking east/northeast
It was here that my camera crapped out. So, I'll let Janet and Barry take over on the pics.
We got back to the car about 4:00 p.m. - the temperature dropped 20 degrees from our perch up on Iron and Serpentine and down to the car, so the inversion definitely had an effect. Here are our stats:
Distance: about 13 or so miles
Elevation: 4000'
Didn't need no stinkin' snowshoes!
Lovely day. Great company.
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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Middle E no more moustache
Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 432 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle, WA |
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Middle E
no more moustache
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Mon Nov 25, 2013 9:17 am
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No, it wasn't bad for a soul-sucking road walk, and it wasn't any worse than the cross-country route I took with Opus and Trail Pair back in 2009: April '09 trip trip to Serpentine/Iron We couldn't have asked for better weather - dry and crisp in the near-winter sunshine.
Road to Iron (Miller Pk. to left) Ridge view from Iron Miller Pk. Serpentine ahead Serpentine summit shot Facebook race Natural flocking
On the way back, Suzanne picked up a nice specimen of serpentine for Barb's rock garden. She carried it all the way back to the car, but it was too big to fit in the back with Gus! We'll go back in the spring and pick it up.
Suzanne picks up a souvenir for Barb
pithy yet insightful signature
pithy yet insightful signature
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wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
Nice close destination. I have been up Iron via Shaser Creek, but not to Serpentine.
Living in the Anthropocene
Living in the Anthropocene
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dicey custom title
Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 2870 | TRs | Pics Location: giving cornices a wider berth |
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dicey
custom title
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Tue Nov 26, 2013 1:18 pm
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Middle E wrote: | Facebook race |
Hahahaha!
Wait, where is all the snow????
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BarbE Member
Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 1153 | TRs | Pics
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BarbE
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Tue Nov 26, 2013 6:33 pm
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Middle E wrote: | Suzanne picks up a souvenir for Barb |
A lovely souvenir! Thanks for carrying that all the way back to the car.
After leaving the snowshoes behind, somebody needed a little extra training weight!
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TrailPair Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1699 | TRs | Pics
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Looks different without the snow cover.
This thing called work is interfering with my play
This thing called work is interfering with my play
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