[Randy]

These two peaks are located just SE of Paddy-Go-Easy Pass (PGEP) and are mapped as Points 6566' and 6821' respectively. Mike Collins and I knew the weather was going to be complete crap, but with 4 Backcourt peaks all located within close proximity to PGEP we figured our chances were good that we would at least get one or two, if not all four. Things were calmer than expected in the early morning hours driving over Snoqualmie Pass. No rain, no wind and there was even a sighting of blue sky. We passed through Roslyn and Ronald around sunrise and made our way up valley with just a couple hunters out and about. Not a hiker to be seen. I think we were both surprised to find 6-8" of snow covering Road 4330. We followed some existing tracks for several miles, but I was still glad I decided to toss 120 lbs worth of sand bags in the back of the Tacoma. Eventually, everyone else before us decided to turn around and we ended up breaking trail (dare I say freshiez!) for the final 5 or 6 miles to the TH...good fun! Scatter Creek was nice and high although not a problem. Might be a bit beyond a Subaru though. After the long and slow drive up the valley, we didn't waste time starting the slog to PGEP. Even with 6-8" of snow on it, the trail was still easy to follow all the way to the pass. The snow was wet and heavy all day and my feet were nice and wet even before PGEP. Snow higher up along the ridge and on the peaks was between 18" and 24" deep and typical Cascade concrete. At the pass, the weather changed in a hurry. Visibility was garbage, the snow was flying, and the wind was probably in the 30-50 mph range constantly on the west facing slopes. We left the trail just a few feet shy of the formal low spot on the ridge and started the slog southward. Since we couldn't see crap, I'm not sure if we ever knew exactly where we were, but we weren't lost. We gained a small bump NW of the south peak then dropped a bunch of elevation so we could traverse the west side of the NW ridge of the south peak. This worked well enough and eventually we came to the summit "block" which we climbed from the NW. Some snowy and icy class 3 got us to the summit where it was VERY miserable! We signed the register then dropped off the summit the way we had come. I was pretty wet at this point...and damn that wind! We never did see Tucquala Peak and just felt our way over to it. We dropped down and around to the south of the south peak and worked down through a lot of snowy talus to the broad saddle just east of the south peak. From here we had a tiring slog up to the next two high points along the ridge. The angles were moderate and the only nice thing about the heavy snow was that it held steps nicely. From these high points, we dropped a bit further than we had planned into the broad basin just to the WSW of Tucquala. The wind and snow were intense at this point, but with the wind at our back pushing us uphill, the final 400' to the summit wasn't as bad as some of the other death slogs of the day. We generally approached Tucquala from the SW without much issue. We didn't find a register, but we didn't really look and there was 2 feet of snow on the top, so who knows. The summit was just a colder, windier, wetter, and more miserable version of the terrain lower down, so we bailed in a hurry. As long as we kept moving we stayed warm. So, we just followed our steps out instead of potentially navigating a more efficient route out which meant stopping and looking at maps and instruments and whatever. Keep moving! Once back at the broad saddle east of the south peak, we initiated a descending traverse to the NW. This eliminated any further elevation gain for the day and connected us nicely with the trail we had used in the morning. Below about 5900' the snow changed to rain and it was a slush-fest all the way back to the truck. With the heavy rain of the day, the road out was a lot faster going. Scatter Creek was raging, but still not a problem for high clearance vehicles. Another good trip and it was good to get out and do a good November suffer-fest again. Too many of these sunny, running shoes only type trips lately. Paddy-Go-Easy, South Peak and Tucquala: ~8 miles, ~5000', ~7 hours It was hardly the day for picture taking, but I did manage to get off a few before my hands froze:

TH Parking

The Road

Views From Tacquala

Views From South Peak

Mike Near Tucquala Summit

Nearing Paddy-Go-Easy pass

Guard Station

Browsing the Paddy-Go-Easy, South Peak Register

[Quark]

Dude. Damn. I'm a complete, total weather wuss. Either that, or you guys are nuts. So which is it?

[ActionBetty]

Im loving these snow pictures..whoo hoo!

[Allison]

I'm neck deep in library books. Watch me read until the weather gets cold enough so's I can go skiing. Until then, peakbaggers go gettum. Thanks for the TR, gets me excited about winter a bit.

[Oren]

Hows that saying go? Come rain, sleet or snow the peak must be bagged. Strong commitment guys

[Karen]

I'm impressed .... but not envious. Karen

[JimK]

You guys are nuts. 5000' of gain in those conditions?

[Mike Collins]

I was glad to have brought a balaclava and goggles. The wind buffeted us with sideways driven snow. Randy's face was being blasted with the crystals.

[Scrooge]

Great pics, Randy. They show just exactly what a nice day you had. David

[Type E]

As usual the two of you inspire me to raise the bar for myself a bit higher.

[TrailPair]

Good job! We have enjoyed such views from summits ourselves(the Trail Pair summit curse!).

[Randy]

Glad folks liked the report and even the pictures. My face was burning for several hours after the trip from being peppered by the wind and snow. Quark, you hang too much along the MLH, in all weather conditions, to be called a weather wuss. Not sure about Mike, but I'm nuts. My wife says the same, so I believe it.

[Stefan]

Nice! Too bad a picture cannot capture wind.

[Beave]

No kidding; Stefan, what was the name of those peaks we did out by the Chiwuakum area?? Peak 7123' or something like that. Those were the worst winds I have ever been involved with. Even when hunkered down for the big gusts, it felt like I was about to be pulled off the mountain!! If there was ever a day for goggles, that was it.

[Plinko]

What a difference a few days makes. I was up there the previous week in shorts and a t-shirt working on my tan. Here's a pic: