John, Reed, Fletcher and I hiked up to Horseshoe Lake via the Stuart Lake trail. Past Stuart Lake, just beyond the marshy area, we found the tree with a horseshoe on it and the steep trail which ascends from there to the lake.
Argonaut
Stuart Lake
Stuart Lake
Stuart Lake
Stuart
Stuart
turn here
horseshoe
Before reaching the upper lake, we hit snow. When we came to the lake it was also covered in snow. Views of Stuart were profound. We traversed from there over towards Axis Peak and had to drop down around several cliff bands.
first view of Axis
Jack Ridge above Horseshoe Lake
Stuart West Ridge
Axis
Axis above Stuart Lake
Sherpa
Dragontail and Colchuck
Enchantment
Ice Cliff Glacier
Once we reached the western ridge crest we followed that for nearly two miles. There were some scramble sections which we avoided for the most part, and small trees as well.
Axis
ridge crest
Nap #1
Argonaut
Eightmile Lake
Axis
ascending
ascending
When we came to the summit we found the register, but by then the clouds were starting to drop down and obscure views. This register revealed about 2 or 3 parties visit per year.
John with the register
register
Fletcher
Reed
Colchuck Lake
Nap #2
Summit
Nap #3
descending loose crap
We dropped down the south face into an open gully which was very loose and unpleasant. Near the bottom it was a bushwhack to get back to the trail.
Wow, that's what I call taking the scenic route!
When dicey and I were there a few years ago, we couldn't open the summit register. That might explain the lack of entries since that summit gets visited far more often than that.
PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
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PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
Fun trip! That is a really cool corner of the Cascades. First time I had been that close to the North side of Stuart. That is an impressive piece of rock and ice! Thanks for letting me get my naps in guys!
We dropped down the south face into an open gully which was very loose and unpleasant. Near the bottom it was a bushwhack to get back to the trail.
Yes, you want to avoid this gully and much of the bushwhack. Lots of loose rock in there. A helmet would have been nice. You all did a lot of work coming in from Horseshoe Lake and along that ridge. No wonder Fletcher was tired.
Fletcher wrote:
(Adam, thanks for those unflattering napping pics of me)
I see those naps as inspiring. Gotta recharge those batteries. ~z
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No wonder Fletcher was tired.
Gotta recharge those batteries. ~