Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:12 am Red Mountain (Salmon La Sac) 3-25 (Adventure & Map added!)
Red Mountain Part 1: The Ascent
Looking for a dry hole in the cloudy weather, twelve of us went to Red Mountain near Salmon La Sac: myself, cartman, ErinB, Aussie, Mesahchie Mark, EF, silly_traveler, GeoTom, JimK, TrailPair (2), and Jasper the dog.
We parked at the junction with Forest Service Road 46, half a mile before the Salmon La Sac campground (2350 feet). Crossing the Cle Elum River, we were encouraged to see large patches of blue sky overhead and the summit in the distance shining with fresh white snow in the sunlight. We hiked the road about 1.5 miles to the Red Mountain trailhead (2600 ft), then put on snowshoes and headed uphill on the snow.
The warm snow under the trees packed firmly underfoot and made for steady progress. Circa 3200 we gradually veered rightward up onto the long ridge that extends westward from the summit, and followed the ridge to the top. ErinB led all the way and we made a fast pace uphill.
On the highest part of the ridge, we were on more open terrain, with sun breaks lighting up the snowy trees and high snowy basins.
Payoff! My favorite kind of winter trip scene is scattered trees upon high meadows, when the clouds first open up after a snowstorm, with fresh snow flocking all the trees, white silhouettes against a blue sky.
The final hundred feet to the summit was scalloped with cornices, which were the first of many cornices that we would find on the crest of Red Mountain.
The group sat on the northern summit for a food break. Intermittent sunshine lit up the ridges, and gaps in the clouds gave occasional glimpses of peaks on the Snoqualmie crest further north. Trip to the summit was 4 miles, 3.5 hours, 3500 gain.
The summit has two approximately equal bumps a few hundred yards apart, with another prettily corniced ridge in between. After the break, we traversed across to the southern summit.
From the rocky edge of the southern summit, we could survey the many-corniced crest of the mountain extending further south.
I wandered around taking more pictures of the snowy trees.
Then we stood on the summit, considering which way to go down. Looking further southward, corniced ridges connected to Point 5722 and 5703 beyond that. But the ridge had some steep bumps, including a rock step immediately in front of us. With plenty of time left, periodic sunshine, and beautiful terrain ahead, I proposed making a loop trip by following the ridge to Point 5722 or further.
For the record, I did make a disclaimer stating that I didn’t know if the ridge would run or whether it would have difficult terrain. Some people decided it would be wiser to return by our ascent route. ErinB, Aussie, Mesahchie Mark, and cartman decided to try the loop with me.
(I don’t have time to finish the report today, but the pictures below can be a foretaste. Adventure segment will probably be finished very late on Tuesday. Didn’t someone suggest that different forms of trip report could be entertaining? Consider this to be a serial.)
Some chose wisdom; some chose adventure…..
"Red Mountain Part 2: The Adventure" is on page 2 of this thread.
-------------- "Matt, you are truly full of it. But you take great --- pics, in spite of that." Scrooge
Thanks to Matt for organizing the trip! Lots of fun and a great workout!
Didn't take that many pictures for some reason Here are a few to share
-------------- ♫ You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. And you're the one who will decide where you'll go. Oh the places you'll go. - Dr. Seuss
I edited the pictures into my original post.
Time runs out, and I still haven't finished the adventure section.
Tune in again tomorrow (very late on Tuesday).
Think of it as a serial trip report.
-------------- "Matt, you are truly full of it. But you take great --- pics, in spite of that." Scrooge
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Here are a few to share 
