Previous :: Next Topic |
Author |
Message |
wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
Location : Wenatchee
Access : Miller St. to end of #2 Canyon Rd.
Maps : GTM - Mission Ridge / Wenatchee, Custom TOPO
Stats : 7 miles, 2200', 6.5 hr
Twin Peaks Loop
I wanted a scenic, fair weathered, leisurely, fall hike so this area that I have visited from most every direction, and offers beautiful terrain and views sounded just right and Steve thought so to.
We were on a slow paced, late start (0900) hike meandering here and there with an early temp in the mid fifties under partly cloudy skies. We started on the old forest road lined with colorful brush and trees...
A.M. colors Elderberries Eroding basalt rock formations. Pleasant fall road walk.
It isn't far to the beginning of the lower meadows...
Lower meadow and old homestead site. Leaving the road to explore the meadow.
Where we left the road and walked through the tall grass of the meadow enjoying the changing colors of brush, aspen groves etc...
Meadow Meadow PICT0012-1_edited Aspen Grove in the tall meadow grasses. Mission Ridge / Peak
We walked West until we came to a tree line and regained the flat road which was in excellent shape. We gained our elevation using it all the way to the North summit...
Fall color on the slope. Fall color on a slope. Meadows to the SE. Looking at the SE ridge and the Columbia River. Sweet view across the W. side of Twin Peaks. Twin Peaks South summit 4621' from it's North Summit 4586'
We took in the views which usually stretch from Mt. Rainier to Glacier Peak and beyond, but today were limited due to cloud cover to more local sights, then hiked over to the South summit which is slightly higher.
Miller Peak. Ingalls Creek Basin with Three Brothers to the left and cloud enshrouded McClellan Peak and Little Annapurna. Foothills to the South with Mission Ridge and Lillian Ridge in the background. Early Larch changes. Snow dusted Three Brothers. Steve walking along the S. summit area.
The wind had died down and the sun was out, it was quite pleasant, so we had a unhurried lunch and enjoyed the views. In time we decided to head South via a ridge, which was going our way and seperates the Wenatchee area from the Cashmere area of the foothills. We figured we would drop down to the meadows and wander through them before looping back. To our surprise there is a unmarked, unofficial trail that is in great condition that we came upon and we followed it the entire way. This would be real nice in the Spring or Fall on a bluebird day, the ridge offers frequent views into the Teanaway - Ingalls Creek - Enchantments - Icicle Ridge areas and beyond.
View West across foothills. Lower meadows and Aspen Groves from the S. shoulder of Twin Peaks. New trail we found leading along the ridge towards the lower meadows. A sweet trail we found winding it's way along the ridgeline. Looking W. from Twin Peaks S. ridge. Section of the trail we found running the ridgeline. Foothills S. of Cashmere, Sheep Rock (center) with cloudy views of Teanaway to Icicle Ridge. Following the easy ridge from the Twin Peaks summit S. towards a 3900' highpoint. Mission Ridge / Peak from a ridge seperating Wenatchee from Cashmere.
We dropped down off the ridge at an unmarked trail jct. just North of a 3900' highpoint and descended down into the meadows again.
Tall grass of the meadow. Another Aspen grove in the meadow. Aspen grove Twin Peaks in the distance. Got Elderberries ? Loooking through the colorful meadow at the SE ridge of Twin Peaks. Highpoint along the ridgeline circling the meadows. Aspens near the mouth of the meadow.
After exploring some more in the pleasant falll weather we found a trail that took us back to the forest road we came in on and were back to the TH (forest road gate) shortly after that.
Rocky prominence near TH. Cliff and fall color near the TH.
Living in the Anthropocene
Living in the Anthropocene
|
Back to top |
|
|
Scrooge Famous Grouse
Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 6966 | TRs | Pics Location: wishful thinking |
|
Scrooge
Famous Grouse
|
Sun Oct 07, 2007 7:36 pm
|
|
|
Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you....... Go and find it. Go!
|
Back to top |
|
|
wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
Sweet Scrooge, Now we came down into the meadow, but could see the trail went up to the 3900' point. Does that trail follow the ridgeline around the meadow and drop down as you have in your map ? We did a monster dayhike from the NE ridge starting at Sage Hills TH, you could connect both and have quite the hike. Without the clouds the unobscured views are just fantastic along with the diverse terrain all around you.
Living in the Anthropocene
Living in the Anthropocene
|
Back to top |
|
|
wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
Earl Peak View to the South of Twin Peaks tView to West of Twin Peaks
Living in the Anthropocene
Living in the Anthropocene
|
Back to top |
|
|
Scrooge Famous Grouse
Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 6966 | TRs | Pics Location: wishful thinking |
|
Scrooge
Famous Grouse
|
Sun Oct 07, 2007 10:47 pm
|
|
|
Wilderness asked Quote: | Does that trail follow the ridgeline around the meadow and drop down as you have in your map ? |
There's a very short stretch over the last knob (it would be about Point 3780) where there's no real trail (but there's always deer tracks). The route from the knob is down this slope ......
route down
....... and while you're coming down you can see the spur that will take you to the saddle where the No 2 Canyon Road crosses the ridge (which is what I followed to close the loop).
You can also continue across the saddle following another spur, which turns into a trail .......
Spur at top of No 2 Cyn Ridge line track
....... but parts of it you've just got to follow the ridge; other places you pick up spurs that provide access to continuations of the ridge. Eventually you go past the Pitcher above the Herd farm, and then on around to Saddle Rock.
Herd farm from near the Pitcher Saddle Rock
That loop I did the TR on was pretty much the reverse of your Sage Hills hike. I prefer to get a lift up to the gate on No 2 Canyon, so I only have to do that half of the 4000 feet going downhill.
I do envy you the fall hike. When ever I get over there at this time of year, the grandkids have always got sports or a show or something that takes precedence over Grandpa's hiking.
Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you....... Go and find it. Go!
Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you....... Go and find it. Go!
|
Back to top |
|
|
Get Out and Go Member
Joined: 13 Nov 2004 Posts: 2127 | TRs | Pics Location: Leavenworth |
"These are the places you will find me hiding'...These are the places I will always go."
(Down in the Valley by The Head and The Heart)
"Sometimes you're happy. Sometimes you cry.
Half of me is ocean. Half of me is sky."
(Thanks, Tom Petty)
|
Back to top |
|
|
wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
I do envy you the fall hike. When ever I get over there at this time of year, the grandkids have always got sports or a show or something that takes precedence over Grandpa's hiking. _ Scrooge
We will have to try and remedy that next Spring, when the wildflowers are out, then the views over the foothills into the mountains to the West. GOG that would be a good early season trip. Me and three old guys, I'll bring the portable defibrillator just in case.
Living in the Anthropocene
Living in the Anthropocene
|
Back to top |
|
|
Scrooge Famous Grouse
Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 6966 | TRs | Pics Location: wishful thinking |
|
Scrooge
Famous Grouse
|
Mon Oct 08, 2007 2:24 pm
|
|
|
Get Out and Go wrote: | Rob, I like the picture "Pleasant Fall Road Walk". |
To which Wildernessed replied Quote: | GOG that would be a good early season trip. |
And Scrooge added, "See".
Spring Fall
edit - No defibrilator for me, but I may have to get a cart to push my oxygen bottle. ...... It should be quite a trip.
Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you....... Go and find it. Go!
Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you....... Go and find it. Go!
|
Back to top |
|
|
|