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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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Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:12 am
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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.
Red Mountain Route
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.
Cle Elum River Bridge & Red Mountain, summit is whitest high point on right Hiking the road Creek coming down to the road
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.
Ascending the forested ridge Up Up Up Up Up Up
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.
Snowy Twigs Terrain Opening Up Erin Jogging Upward (the only time I could get in front of her long enough for a picture)
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.
Sun & Shadow, Trees & Meadow, Snow & Sky Snowy Trees 1 Snowy Trees 2 Snowy Trees 3
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.
Nearing the top Corniced approach to north summit Reaching the summit
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.
Group on the north summit Dramatic Land & Sky
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.
Looking ahead from north summit to south summit Crossing from north summit to south Looking back from south summit to north summit Summit Tea, looking from south summit to north summit
From the rocky edge of the southern summit, we could survey the many-corniced crest of the mountain extending further south.
Group on south summit Group on south summit Matt near south summit, with north summit behind
I wandered around taking more pictures of the snowy trees.
Windblown snow & rimed little tree Snowy Pine Snowy Firs
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.
Considering Which Way to Go Down Looking south to Point 5722 The Ridge of Adventure, with the Icy Rock of Foreshadowing
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.)
Start of Adventure Crux of Adventure Looking Back at Route of Adventure
Some chose wisdom; some chose adventure…..
"Red Mountain Part 2: The Adventure" is on page 2 of this thread.
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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ActionBetty Im a dirty hippie!
Joined: 06 Jul 2003 Posts: 4807 | TRs | Pics Location: kennewick, wa |
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ActionBetty
Im a dirty hippie!
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Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:33 am
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Did you run into Dicey and Putz, they were headed to Red yesterday?
"If you're not living good, you gotta travel wide"...Bob Marley
"If you're not living good, you gotta travel wide"...Bob Marley
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GeoTom Member
Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 3215 | TRs | Pics Location: Earth |
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GeoTom
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Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:20 pm
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Thanks Matt for organizing this little trip, and thanks to ErinB for leading the way. Any faster and the snow would have melted under her feet.
Get my pictures out of the way first. I am sure better ones will follow:
Sunny and snowing Single file silly traveller ascends South summit Summit party on Red Heading to the south summit Rime near Red Mountain summit The ridge of adventure Cathedral Rock
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silly_traveler ~ roaming ~
Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Posts: 1525 | TRs | Pics Location: Bellevue |
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
trail sign heading up Matt TP Miss Emma on summit
♫ 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
♫ 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
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Sadie's Driver Sadie's Driver
Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics Location: Welcome Pass |
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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Randy Cube Rat
Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 2910 | TRs | Pics Location: Near the Siamangs |
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Randy
Cube Rat
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Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:39 pm
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Whoa! Look at that blue sky!!
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Tazz Member
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 7902 | TRs | Pics
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Tazz
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Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:08 pm
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Yahoo!! Nice, folks!! thanks
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trailjunky Backcountry Bumpkin'
Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Posts: 1124 | TRs | Pics Location: timberline |
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trailjunky
Backcountry Bumpkin'
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Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:03 pm
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Great shots, way to go!
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Yana Hater
Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 4212 | TRs | Pics Location: Out Hating |
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Yana
Hater
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Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:16 pm
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Matt wrote: | Some chose wisdom; some chose adventure…..
Tune in tomorrow for lots of pictures (mostly of snowy trees and corniced ridges) and the rest of the story. |
You are an evil, evil man.
Still, looking forward to the rest of the story!
PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
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Magellan Brutally Handsome
Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 13116 | TRs | Pics Location: Inexorable descent |
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
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Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:22 pm
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Quote: | ridge of adventure |
Tell me more, tell me more...
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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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Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:53 am
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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.
The Ridge of Adventure, with the Icy Rock of Foreshadowing Some Chose Adventure
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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Tazz Member
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 7902 | TRs | Pics
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Tazz
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Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:02 am
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great action shot of Mark!! good stuff ! thanks Matt.
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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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Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:09 am
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Then there's the upcoming shot of Erin crossing a steep icy slope with crampons strapped onto her stuff-sack covered tennis shoes.
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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Aussie Member
Joined: 02 Sep 2003 Posts: 350 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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Aussie
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Tue Mar 27, 2007 6:41 am
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Even though I was on the trip, reading this TR has me in suspense !!
Great trip, Matt - thanks for organising.
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Yet Member
Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 2634 | TRs | Pics Location: Happily Ever After |
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Yet
Member
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Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:06 am
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I'm glued to the screen, and I have popcorn!
Matt, nice going keeping everyone in suspense. It's almost better than BSG.
Hopefully, we won't have to wait until 2008 for the rest.
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