Forum Index > Trip Reports > Treen Peak & East Garfield - July 14-15, 2008
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks



Joined: 13 Feb 2007
Posts: 7216 | TRs | Pics
Location: Stuck in the middle
puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
PostFri Jul 18, 2008 3:40 am 
This trip happened because I grumbled in a post when I saw a Treen trip I wished I was in on. Don spotted that comment and also wanted to do Treen, so after a few PMs we were set for that and an attempt on East Garfield to boot. Mon, July 14: Treen Peak Don and I headed up the Green Ridge trail about 8am and arrived at the 4662' tarn 2 1/2 hours later. The trail is good, but fades away in one section where the ridge broadens, but it's not really possible to go the wrong way - just keep going up. We'd be staying near the tarn so we dropped our overnight gear and continued on to Treen. Unfortunately, that meant an 800' drop to Upper Garfield Lake, which we made up for right away by climbing to Charlie Brown Lake and then to the snow bench at the base of a snow field that crawls up the W side of Treen. I made a small mistake by turning right too soon after Upper Garfield Lake and came out 200' above Charlie Brown and we had to lose some of that too.
4662' tarn on Green Ridge. Treen Peak in background.
4662' tarn on Green Ridge. Treen Peak in background.
Close up of the upper portion of Treen Peak. Route exited large snow field midway up and angled up and right to the skyline.
Close up of the upper portion of Treen Peak. Route exited large snow field midway up and angled up and right to the skyline.
Upper Garfield Mtn Lake from slope leading up to Treen. East Garfield in background.
Upper Garfield Mtn Lake from slope leading up to Treen. East Garfield in background.
Scouting from afar we could see that cliffs surrounded the snow tongue leading up Treen but couldn't tell where the best exit was - there seemed to be big blocky cliffs right at the top. But once there, it was easy to spot several places allowing an exit to the right onto heather slopes leading to the easy skyline ridge and then the summit. I had expected a little more challenge, but was very psyched to be on Treen because it's been on my list for years -- ever since I craned my neck up at it during a hike to Nordrum Lake. The biggest problem with this route is the huge amount of counter elevation, and in the heat of the afternoon it was a slow slog back up to the tarn-camp. Don had it even worse because he took a detour to Lower Garfield Lake (lakebagger! "gotta touch the water") and had even more uphill back to camp.
Top of snow tongue. Because of blocky rocks above we exited to the right (not visible)
Top of snow tongue. Because of blocky rocks above we exited to the right (not visible)
Looking down snow tongue from our exit point. Charlie Brown lake is below.
Looking down snow tongue from our exit point. Charlie Brown lake is below.
Thick krumholtz on Treen's summit ridge
Thick krumholtz on Treen's summit ridge
Don Identifying peaks on Treen summit
Don Identifying peaks on Treen summit
Most of the area around the 4662' tarn was still under snow, but we found a comfortable spot for two bags near a dramatic rock tower. It looked hard to climb, but we went over to take a look and with a few quick moves (and some loose rock) we were on top. Don built a cairn on top to prove it, which is the opposite fate of the superfluous cairns we came across on the Green Ridge trail.
camp tower
camp tower
cairn
cairn
Camp on Green Ridge near 4662' tarn
Camp on Green Ridge near 4662' tarn
2 1/2 hours from MFK to 4662' tarn, 3400' gain 3 hours from tarn to Treen summit including break, 800' down + 1700' gain Tue, July 15: East Garfield Mountain After a warm night we set out for East Garfield taking hints from Mike Collin's and Randy's WTA TRs. We dropped down 400' on snow to skip the first three ridge bumps and got on the East Garfield ridge at what Carl Dreisbach calls "East Pass". The name is odd, since it's not a "pass" to anything but a steep dropoff down to the MFK river.
East Garfield from camp, 6:30 am
East Garfield from camp, 6:30 am
East Pass, where we gained the ridge
East Pass, where we gained the ridge
The ridge from there was 80 minutes of scrabbling up steep mats of hemlock needles, fighting through stiff krumholz, some 'interesting' rock scrambling, and even a little bit of easy ridge walking!
Fighting thick vegetation on East Garfield's ridge.
Fighting thick vegetation on East Garfield's ridge.
Nearing the final ridge. From here we unexpectedly had to drop down 100'.
Nearing the final ridge. From here we unexpectedly had to drop down 100'.
Scrambling up blocks on E Garfield ridge
Scrambling up blocks on E Garfield ridge
The final rocks before the summit are dramatic, with an airy 20' traverse and some exposed moves over/around big blocks.
Near E Garfield summit
Near E Garfield summit
Narrow ridge walk. Don thinks he's at the top, but nooooo!.
Narrow ridge walk. Don thinks he's at the top, but nooooo!.
Finally, the true East Garfield summit
Finally, the true East Garfield summit
It's an exciting summit with chasms on every side. Just try to find the East Garfield summit on this contour map!
Where's the summit?
1 label
Where's the summit?
The peak itself is split in two so the other half of East Garfield hovers to the E across a 300' foot notch. To the SW is a sheer 3500' drop to the Middle Fork River.
Panorama W from East Garfield
Panorama W from East Garfield
The main Garfield spire juts into the sky seemingly close by, but a long ways away as the climber moves (hint: not how a crow flies).
Garfield Mtn from East Garfield
Garfield Mtn from East Garfield
We were impressed yet again with the presence of Fay Pullen's name in the register, a solo climb in May, 2007. The few other names are all familiar to nwhiker regulars.
Summit register with rare entries, mostly familiar nwhikers.net names
Summit register with rare entries, mostly familiar nwhikers.net names
It took nearly as long to retrace the ridge as it did coming up. It was too late to do Floating Rock given how tired I was -- Don wanted to leave the nwhikers TSR there, and was certain he'd get chewed out if he left it on either Treen or E Garfield. But it looks like he went back and did it Thursday -- Nice work Don! The Green Ridge trail is great coming up -- it gets into the heart of this country quickly. But going out is another story. You thought going down Mailbox was long? Oy Vey!
Looking down to Upper Garfield Lake (barely visibe) during our traverse to avoid two high spots on E Garfield's ridge.
Looking down to Upper Garfield Lake (barely visibe) during our traverse to avoid two high spots on E Garfield's ridge.
The endless Green Ridge trail
The endless Green Ridge trail
More Green Ridge trail
More Green Ridge trail
Back at the car, 7 hours after leaving camp.
Back at the car, 7 hours after leaving camp.

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mntsun
Wunderer



Joined: 08 Jul 2007
Posts: 206 | TRs | Pics
Location: Squaresville
mntsun
Wunderer
PostFri Jul 18, 2008 7:07 am 
Great work! up.gif Does this mean all the Treen trips for the year are over? frown.gif

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wildernessed
viewbagger



Joined: 31 Oct 2004
Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics
Location: Wenatchee
wildernessed
viewbagger
PostFri Jul 18, 2008 8:55 am 
up.gif Nice TR - Pics !

Living in the Anthropocene
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yukon222
Member
Member


Joined: 12 Mar 2007
Posts: 1893 | TRs | Pics
yukon222
Member
PostFri Jul 18, 2008 9:02 am 
Very fun looking trip! And the East Peak of Garfield too! We had looked over at that briefly during our dayhike. Definitely airy. Thanks for the pictures of Don on the rock. Gives a great perspective.

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Schmidt Alti-Dude
4th class poster



Joined: 06 Jul 2007
Posts: 1361 | TRs | Pics
Location: Looking for Adventure 201!
Schmidt Alti-Dude
4th class poster
PostFri Jul 18, 2008 11:08 am 
Nice trip report, I'm glad to see you made it.
puzzlr wrote:
The name is odd, since it's not a "pass" to anything but a steep dropoff down to the MFK river.
No kidding! Back when we didn't know any better, Babe and I once tried to climb to the pass from the Middle Fork side trying to find a route to the lakes. We had no equipment and had to give up about 2/3 of the way there.

Anything stated by me in no way reflects the attitudes or opinions of my wife
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Randy
Cube Rat



Joined: 18 Dec 2001
Posts: 2910 | TRs | Pics
Location: Near the Siamangs
Randy
Cube Rat
PostFri Jul 18, 2008 4:00 pm 
Puzzlr, those are some nice pictures. They bring back some good memories of the area, thanks for the register shot.

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Forum Index > Trip Reports > Treen Peak & East Garfield - July 14-15, 2008
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