Forum Index > Trip Reports > We Blewett - Serpentine & Iron - 11-24-13
 Reply to topic
Previous :: Next Topic
Author Message
Sadie's Driver
Sadie's Driver



Joined: 24 Apr 2006
Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics
Location: Welcome Pass
Sadie's Driver
Sadie's Driver
PostSun Nov 24, 2013 10:06 pm 
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. paranoid.gif 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
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? lol.gif
Up the DIRT road with training weight
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! hmmm.gif dizzy.gif 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
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??? wink.gif
Hmmm - Barry checking out a snow-less Serpentine - doubt that he will need those things on his pack!
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
Miller and friends
Janet on the road with Miller behind
Janet on the road with Miller behind
Serpentine (false summit) from the road
Serpentine (false summit) from the road
Iron Mountain above us
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
Gus taking a break on the way up to Iron
Janet coming up Iron
Janet coming up Iron
Looking east off of Iron
Looking east off of Iron
Miller and ridge west off of Iron - what a beautiful (and warm) day!
Miller and ridge west off of Iron - what a beautiful (and warm) day!
Janet coming up the last stretch of Iron
Janet coming up the last stretch of Iron
Barry and Gus on Iron
Barry and Gus on Iron
Group shot on Iron Mtn (Blewett Pass) - Nov. 13, 2013
Group shot on Iron Mtn (Blewett Pass) - Nov. 13, 2013
Janet on the summit of Iron
Janet on the summit of Iron
Barry and Janet on Iron Mtn. with Miller in the distance between them
Barry and Janet on Iron Mtn. with Miller in the distance between them
Looking to the north from Iron
Looking to the north from Iron
Same view - only vertical
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
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
Unnamed peak to the north of Serpentine's saddle - kind of cool looking
From Serptentine's saddle - looking east/northeast
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. agree.gif winksmile.gif up.gif

Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Middle E
no more moustache



Joined: 10 Feb 2008
Posts: 432 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle, WA
Middle E
no more moustache
PostMon Nov 25, 2013 9:17 am 
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)
Road to Iron (Miller Pk. to left)
Ridge view from Iron
Ridge view from Iron
Miller Pk.
Miller Pk.
Serpentine ahead
Serpentine ahead
Serpentine summit shot
Serpentine summit shot
Facebook race
Facebook race
Natural flocking
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. dizzy.gif
Suzanne picks up a souvenir for Barb
Suzanne picks up a souvenir for Barb

pithy yet insightful signature
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
wildernessed
viewbagger



Joined: 31 Oct 2004
Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics
Location: Wenatchee
wildernessed
viewbagger
PostTue Nov 26, 2013 8:58 am 
up.gif Nice close destination. I have been up Iron via Shaser Creek, but not to Serpentine.

Living in the Anthropocene
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
dicey
custom title



Joined: 11 May 2004
Posts: 2870 | TRs | Pics
Location: giving cornices a wider berth
dicey
custom title
PostTue Nov 26, 2013 1:18 pm 
Middle E wrote:
Facebook race
Facebook race
Hahahaha! Wait, where is all the snow????

I'm not always sure I like being older but being less stupid has advantages. http://www.flickr.com/photos/32121172@N00/sets/
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
BarbE
Member
Member


Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 1153 | TRs | Pics
BarbE
Member
PostTue Nov 26, 2013 6:33 pm 
Middle E wrote:
Suzanne picks up a souvenir for Barb
Suzanne picks up a souvenir for Barb
A lovely souvenir! Thanks for carrying that all the way back to the car. up.gif After leaving the snowshoes behind, somebody needed a little extra training weight! hockeygrin.gif

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
TrailPair
Member
Member


Joined: 17 Apr 2005
Posts: 1699 | TRs | Pics
TrailPair
Member
PostWed Nov 27, 2013 12:17 pm 
Looks different without the snow cover. hockeygrin.gif

This thing called work is interfering with my play
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
   All times are GMT - 8 Hours
 Reply to topic
Forum Index > Trip Reports > We Blewett - Serpentine & Iron - 11-24-13
  Happy Birthday speyguy, Bandanabraids!
Jump to:   
Search this topic:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum