Forum Index > Trip Reports > Breccia Peak, 12/8/07
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot



Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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Location: Shoreline
Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
PostMon Dec 10, 2007 1:42 am 
Party: Dicey, cartman, Justus S, Mike Collins, Martin S, Guiran, 2 friends of Guiran, Matt Breccia, definition 1: A coarse-grained rock composed of angular fragments of pre-existing rocks Breccia, definition 2: Point 6487 northeast of Round Lake, north of Lost Creek Ridge Breccia, definition 3: A fine winter scramble on a beautiful bright (but short) December day
Breccia Trip Map
Breccia Trip Map
We started from the Lost Creek Ridge TH, 1850 feet, at 7:45am. For most of the drive, the road was bare, but there were a few inches of snow on the last mile. In the woods, the trail was completely bare up to about 3000 feet, and had only a thin cover of snow up to Bingley Gap, 4400 feet. Even with so little snow, the avalanche potential of last weekend’s weather showed. Wherever we crossed a narrow avalanche gully in the woods, it was filled with lumps of hard avalanche debris. The valley filled with morning mist, but we climbed above it by the time we reached Bingley Gap. I especially like these days when the fog fills the valley so that the each ridge and peak stands out in distinct profile above the sea of white clouds below.
Frosty Fern
Frosty Fern
Looking up avalanche debris to blue mist
Looking up avalanche debris to blue mist
Misty Forest Slope
Misty Forest Slope
Along the ridge, the forest showed the differing effect of opposite exposure to the weather. On the south side, the trees were bare of snow and warming in the morning light. On the north side, it was all shadows and heavy frost on the boughs.
Frosty Bough
Frosty Bough
Spiky Frost
Spiky Frost
Frost & Forest
Frost & Forest
Fir Frost
Fir Frost
Cedar Frost
Cedar Frost
Further up the ridge, the snow became deeper but still solid, usually a few inches of powder over a firm crust. Circa 5200 feet, we switched to crampons for the rest of the journey. As the views opened up southward, Sloan & Bedal dominated the view.
Sloan & Bedal appear through the trees
Sloan & Bedal appear through the trees
Hikers, Sloan & Bedal
Hikers, Sloan & Bedal
Traveling along the ridge
Traveling along the ridge
Round Lake & Breccia summit
Round Lake & Breccia summit
Glacier Peak Appears
Glacier Peak Appears
Flying Treesicles
Flying Treesicles
The ideal route traverses a little south of the crest to bypass steep high points on the ridge, but we didn’t quite achieve the ideal. At Point 5960, we errantly followed the crest, hit the steep end, and had to backtrack down to traverse past Sunup Lake.
Between Point 5850 and Point 5960
Between Point 5850 and Point 5960
On the way to the summit – Maybe…
On the way to the summit – Maybe…
…Or Maybe Not.  Forgot to go around Point 5960.
…Or Maybe Not. Forgot to go around Point 5960.
Down below after backtracking
Down below after backtracking
Sunup Lake & Glacier Peak
Sunup Lake & Glacier Peak
Then we headed to crest lined with frosty trees…
Looking back to Sunup Lake, Point 5960, & Sloan
Looking back to Sunup Lake, Point 5960, & Sloan
Traversing to the crest
Traversing to the crest
Frosty trees
Frosty trees
I like frosty trees
I like frosty trees
I really like frosty trees
I really like frosty trees
And followed the crest to the wide rounded summit.
Breccia crest to the summit
Breccia crest to the summit
Breccia summit
Breccia summit
Panoramic views showed dozens of Mountain Loop peaks, Glacier Peak, and the long stretch of Ptarmigan Traverse peaks in the distance. Some of the party had arrived long before. I entertained the group by kicking my camera into the snow when I snagged a crampon on the pack that was holding the pole that was holding the camera for a group photo.
Summit group photo
Summit group photo
Summit tea & Glacier
Summit tea & Glacier
Summit tea with Sloan, Bedal, & Monte Cristo Peaks
Summit tea with Sloan, Bedal, & Monte Cristo Peaks
Then we headed back down, the last of us arriving at 5pm, just as it became too dark to see in the woods.
Heading down
Heading down
Crampon tracks in the snow
Crampon tracks in the snow
Heading toward Sunup Lake
Heading toward Sunup Lake
Fog & photos
Fog & photos
Scary flashback photo from Breccia in Spring 2001:
Red coat, purple shorts, black underwear, blue gators.  Also Pugh & Whitechuck.
Red coat, purple shorts, black underwear, blue gators. Also Pugh & Whitechuck.
Stats: 11 miles, 4700 net gain, 5200 cumulative gain, 9:15 hours Gear used: poles, crampons, ice axe. Gear not used: snowshoes.

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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Stefan
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Stefan
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PostMon Dec 10, 2007 10:00 am 
Excellente!

Art is an adventure.
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Tazz
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Tazz
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PostMon Dec 10, 2007 10:01 am 
Thats the one I have been waiting for!!!! SWEEEEET!!!! awesome shots and climb you all!!! up.gif

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GeoTom
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GeoTom
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PostMon Dec 10, 2007 10:08 am 
Nice Matt. up.gif

Knows literally nothing
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wildernessed
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Joined: 31 Oct 2004
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wildernessed
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PostMon Dec 10, 2007 10:52 am 
ditto.gif

Living in the Anthropocene
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Gabigabs
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Joined: 07 Nov 2007
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Location: Seattle
Gabigabs
Trail Breaker
PostMon Dec 10, 2007 11:26 am 
What a trip! All your pics are awesome.

Life is simple... Eat, Sleep, Hike!
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Riverside Laker
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PostMon Dec 10, 2007 12:49 pm 
Hey, is Mike Collins wearing *two* crampons?!!

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Mike Collins
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Mike Collins
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PostMon Dec 10, 2007 12:54 pm 
Everyone in the party showed up with their own pair so I didn't need to share mine which I do when the need arises. It felt good to have both feet firmly anchored onto the styrofoam-like snow.

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Randy
Cube Rat



Joined: 18 Dec 2001
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Randy
Cube Rat
PostMon Dec 10, 2007 1:27 pm 
Dicey is sooo stylish. Is that another new jacket she's wearing? biggrin.gif

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Quark
Niece of Alvy Moore



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Quark
Niece of Alvy Moore
PostMon Dec 10, 2007 1:35 pm 
I wonder how many different ways this word is mispronounced. I've always mumbled it so that whoever I was talking to thought there was something wrong with their hearing. When in doubt, either confuse 'em or mumble. My geological terms book says it's "bret-cha," as an italian word. Lost Creek is such a wonderful ridge. You’re in the dark forest for so long, then once on the ridge, still in the trees. The suddenly you break out of the trees and if you want to, you can stay out of the trees ‘til you get all the way to the Wenatchee River. Lost Creek Ridge makes you feel so good!

"...Other than that, the post was more or less accurate." Bernardo, NW Hikers' Bureau Chief of Reporting
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Mike Collins
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Mike Collins
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PostMon Dec 10, 2007 1:37 pm 
Randy wrote:
Dicey is sooo stylish. Is that another new jacket she's wearing? biggrin.gif
Only the best for Dicey...It is a MontBell.

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dicey
custom title



Joined: 11 May 2004
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Location: giving cornices a wider berth
dicey
custom title
PostMon Dec 10, 2007 1:56 pm 
Mike Collins wrote:
Randy wrote:
Dicey is sooo stylish. Is that another new jacket she's wearing? biggrin.gif
Only the best for Dicey...It is a MontBell.
Xmas shopping is fun, now I need to start buying some gifts for other people I suppose....If I have any $$ left! embarassedlaugh.gif That MontBell is so warm and cozy, btw wub.gif

I'm not always sure I like being older but being less stupid has advantages. http://www.flickr.com/photos/32121172@N00/sets/
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cartman
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cartman
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PostMon Dec 10, 2007 4:19 pm 
Quark wrote:
My geological terms book says it's "bret-cha," as an italian word.
Everyone I've ever heard pronounces it as breck-ee-uh.

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GeoTom
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PostMon Dec 10, 2007 4:56 pm 
I pronounce it bret-cha as they taught me in geology school. It would be easier, of course, if it were called Conglomerate Peak, but alas, it is not.

Knows literally nothing
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Hiker Mama
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Hiker Mama
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PostMon Dec 10, 2007 5:04 pm 
That looks like a really neat trip. I enjoyed looking at all of your bright sunny pictures with glorious blue sky and interesting frost and ice. I don't do much winter travel, so I find it intriguing to see what I'm missing. Thanks for sharing!

My hiking w/ kids site: www.thehikermama.com
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