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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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Fri May 09, 2014 12:33 am
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Date: 5/3/2014
Destination: Freedom 6442 & Navaho 7223 (USGS Enchantment Lakes)
Hikers from Seattle Area: Matt, Snowdog, CMurph
Hiker from Wenatchee: Sadie's Driver
Skiers: Dicey, Susan
Other hiker discovered at trailhead: Opus
Hiker we never met who was somewhere ahead of us: r3h
Dogs: Isabel, Gusto, Mazzie
Highlights:
No rain.
Scary damage from earlier avalanche below Freedom.
Impressive view of the Stuart Range from Navaho, even when partially obscured by clouds.
The road was open to Stafford Creek trailhead. Some cars stopped 0.4 miles earlier to avoid a giant mudhole.
Most of us came from the Seattle area. Sadie's Driver met us from Wenatchee. And Opus happened to show up at the same trailhead. My theory is that he has multiple clones; thus the high frequency of encountering him at various trailheads.
We hiked up the Stafford Creek trail to about 4200 feet, where we went up the basin toward the col south of Freedom. However, we veered off course and ended up going more directly to the summit. The trail at the bottom had been swept by a strong avalanche earlier in the season that snapped off a lot of trees.
GPS Track At Stafford Creek trailhead In the avalanche debris field Freedom summit group Elle enjoying brief sunshine on Freedom summit Dogs with their attention riveted on food
We followed the Freedom's easy north ridge down to the Freedom-Navaho col. SD & Opus returned from there. The rest continued up the easy ridge to Navaho.
Descening from Freedom Skier way out ahead at the col. Marker on Navaho south ridge (there was also a pile of "4" markers at the col) Little flowers amid the rocks McMillan looms Cold Mazzie
Some views from Navaho:
Stuart range wreathed in clouds Fortune & Ingalls Earl Brief flurry of graupel on my gloves
The skiers made fast time down from Navaho. Hikers angled down the snow with some glissades.
Debating whether to posthole or ski Trees snapped off by avalanche Check out the height of scars on trees in the background where the avalanche bottomed out! Looking up the stream gully and bowl where the avalanche originated Glacier lilies along the trail
Stats: 10.5 miles, 4700 gain, 8:15 hours
Brought snowshoes but didn't need them.
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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raising3hikers Member
Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 2343 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, Wa |
nice choice guys, i did the exact same trip the same day. i used snowshoes a little bit but not needed much. wished i would have seen you guys
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Snowdog Member
Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 1027 | TRs | Pics Location: on (& off) the beaten path |
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Snowdog
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Fri May 09, 2014 8:25 am
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We sensed your presence! ( oh, and thought we recognized your truck at TH)
We made use of the steps you kicked too! Thanks!
'we don't have time for a shortcut'
'we don't have time for a shortcut'
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n16ht5 Member
Joined: 21 Jun 2010 Posts: 592 | TRs | Pics
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n16ht5
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Fri May 09, 2014 12:41 pm
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wow that is really melting out fast. Nice pics
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Sadie's Driver Sadie's Driver
Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics Location: Welcome Pass |
This was not one of my more favorite trips in the Navajo vicinity. I have been up there many times, in every season (and in even worse weather) - but for some reason, it seemed really cold to me. Opus and I decided we had had enough fun just doing Freedom, so down we headed.
Thanks, R3H for the steps. Thought we might catch you on our way out, but I should know better!
Not sure what time Matt, Snowdog and Cmurph go out, but fortunately, Susan and Carla were relatively quick coming off Navajo on skis, since I was their ride back to their car. Likely the road is in much better shape now than it was when we ventured to the trailhead.
Only a few pics.
Photobomb queen OCD skiers Leap-frogging the blowdown Your typical hiking boot! Nice, Carla Avalanche debris below Freedom David (Opus) and Gus in the filed of avalanche debris Bridlewood Cabana boy and the girls
Oh, wait a minute, that last one sneaked in there . . . cabana boy in Santa Barbara . . . sweet!
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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wolffie Member
Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 2693 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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wolffie
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Fri May 16, 2014 10:29 am
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Keep an eye out for vandalism to the whitebark pines around Navaho and similar summits. I photographed several sawn trees Navaho summit 6/2013, some done that winter, another a previous year. Ugly people.
Navaho tree vandalism spring 2013
Some people have better things to do with their lives than walking the dog. Some don't.
Some people have better things to do with their lives than walking the dog. Some don't.
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