Previous :: Next Topic |
Author |
Message |
Randy Cube Rat
Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 2910 | TRs | Pics Location: Near the Siamangs |
|
Randy
Cube Rat
|
Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:33 pm
|
|
|
Not wanting to break with tradition, I thought I'd contribute to the annual NWHikers Eldorado photo onslaught. Justus and I tucked this one in on Saturday in nice, but HOT weather.
We started by crossing a log (photo taken on descent):
Big Cedar
We then humped up a couple thousand feet and into everyone's favorite boulder field (photo taken on descent):
Middle Boulder Field
After about 400' we finally hit consistent snow and travelled easily into the broad basin at the head of Eldorado Creek.
Snow....finally! A Marmot Poses Beneath J-Burg Upper Basin
Around 5800' we bled to the left and crested a spur ridge containing the Eldorado Glacier and its lateral moraines. Once on the ridge the views started to open up.
First Views of Eldorado Looking back on the ridge we crossed over
We walked the ridge a bit then dropped down into the basin at the head of Roush Creek. Before long, we were booting up the Eldorado Glacier. With all the heat, big chunks of snow were breaking off the cliffs to our right, cool stuff.
A chunk of cornice makes for a nice bench Justus working toward the glacier
Few if any crevasses, so we kept it simple and left the rope in the pack. We kept a steady pace and were soon sitting on the Inspiration Glacier at 7450'.
Justus works to the flats Enjoying the scene
Two guys had camped in the basin below at 5600' and were maybe 90 minutes ahead of us. We could see them high on the East Ridge of Eldorado when we reached the Inspiration....we waited a bit here so they could get the steps nice and ready for us.
Justus boots the flat
We booted across the Inspiration and crested the East Ridge at about 7800'. Here we dropped needless gear then kept booting up. The snow was a bit ridiculous with knee deep slush. We soon encountered the two other guys coming down. They mentioned they had to stop short of the summit due to the slush and a large cornice - we had seen the cornice from down on the Inspiration, some of which had already broken off.
We gained the last bit of ridge maybe 150' below the summit, turned the corner, then started up the narrow section commonly referred to as a knife edge. The other guys carved some real buckets into the ridge which made it more awkward than anything. Eventually, I got to where they stopped, right at the cornice and the most exposed section. Didn't look too bad though, so we just tooled around it and in 15' we were on top.
Booting the east ridge Swimming Buckets on the ridge Justus topping out
Eldorado makes for a nice perch with views forever. No doubt a place we'll both return to. But whatever, it was HOT as hell on the summit and there was no wind, so after 30 minutes I had to descend. I went down about 50' then just stood on the narrow ridge for a couple minutes enjoying a nice cross wind. Eventually, Justus joined me down below and we made our way back to our gear where we took a 15 minute break before bailing out of there.
Moraine Lake, etc. Dorado Needle, etc. Exploring the Summit area Justus Descending Looking down from the summit
Nothing remarkable about the descent. We saw a couple parties on their way up, maybe 9 people total. Far fewer than we expected given the full parking lot below. The river had risen a foot or two since we crossed it in the morning. The final crossing was a bit trickier, but we managed. I got a little wet, but Justus modified the crossing and stayed dry. Great day in the hillz.
Glacier Peak pops above the Inspiration Glacier Justus and the Last Views of Eldoroado OMG, it's like the Mt Si trail! Whatever Works
|
Back to top |
|
|
Tom_Sjolseth Born Yesterday
Joined: 30 May 2007 Posts: 2652 | TRs | Pics Location: Right here. |
Whoa, nice dudes! Great photos, Randy.
I've never seen the arete that flat! Where oh where did it go?
|
Back to top |
|
|
trailjunky Backcountry Bumpkin'
Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Posts: 1124 | TRs | Pics Location: timberline |
|
trailjunky
Backcountry Bumpkin'
|
Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:45 pm
|
|
|
Sweetness.
|
Back to top |
|
|
Andy D. Member
Joined: 19 Apr 2004 Posts: 209 | TRs | Pics Location: Bow, WA |
|
Andy D.
Member
|
Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:01 pm
|
|
|
Nice work guys, great shots!
|
Back to top |
|
|
gone Member
Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 1051 | TRs | Pics
|
|
gone
Member
|
Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:09 pm
|
|
|
Wow, that's a lot of snow! That last crossing pic makes me more nervous than all the others! Nice work!
|
Back to top |
|
|
Josh Journey a.k.a Josh Lewis
Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 4836 | TRs | Pics
|
|
Josh Journey
a.k.a Josh Lewis
|
Mon Jun 30, 2008 12:56 am
Wow!
|
|
|
Now that makes me want to go to that area! I hope to within the next week! Infact, I better be able to go to Cascade Pass or Bosten Basin before the snow melts off, I am a lover of snow after all.
|
Back to top |
|
|
peltoms Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 1760 | TRs | Pics Location: Worcester MA |
|
peltoms
Member
|
Mon Jun 30, 2008 3:46 am
|
|
|
stream crossing looks like the most dangerous move of the journey
|
Back to top |
|
|
Tazz Member
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 7902 | TRs | Pics
|
|
Tazz
Member
|
Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:30 am
|
|
|
comon! you go up there and run the whole damn thing with no overnight to soak in the beauty!?! what a waist!
good stuff!
|
Back to top |
|
|
wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
Awesome guys, looks like you didn't have to deal with holes in the boulder field. Eldorado trips are always nice to look at. The heat and reflected sun had to be a cooker.
Living in the Anthropocene
Living in the Anthropocene
|
Back to top |
|
|
Don Member
Joined: 25 Apr 2005 Posts: 2013 | TRs | Pics Location: Fairwood, WA |
|
Don
Member
|
Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:47 am
|
|
|
Thanks for the pics Randy! I've got a similar pic of "Buckets on the Ridge" from several years ago in similar snow conditions. We were camped at the base though, so we were able get up it early in the morning. That couldn't have been much fun mid-day!
|
Back to top |
|
|
Don Member
Joined: 25 Apr 2005 Posts: 2013 | TRs | Pics Location: Fairwood, WA |
|
Don
Member
|
Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:48 am
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Randy Cube Rat
Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 2910 | TRs | Pics Location: Near the Siamangs |
|
Randy
Cube Rat
|
Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:55 am
|
|
|
Tazz, you crack me up. You said the exact thing to other people in their Eldorado TRs.
Anyhow, I was just happy to get out. The only waste would have been not getting into the mountains on such a nice day.
|
Back to top |
|
|
Tazz Member
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 7902 | TRs | Pics
|
|
Tazz
Member
|
Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:20 am
|
|
|
Ha! that area is so sweet that it will never be a day time for me.
Sure rub it in as I am forced to stay here in the heat with a four yr old and in the friggen car! My turn next weekend!
|
Back to top |
|
|
wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
Randy wrote: | Tazz, you crack me up. You said the exact thing to other people in their Eldorado TRs.
Anyhow, I was just happy to get out. The only waste would have been not getting into the mountains on such a nice day. |
For Tazz Eldorado 2007 overnighter. I must admit though that it is a common misperception that because you dayhiked something, that somehow you missed everything. On those dayhikes that are what I call "fast packing" I feel totally immersed and aware of my surroundings, it's euphoric, or maybe it's just hypoxia .
Living in the Anthropocene
Living in the Anthropocene
|
Back to top |
|
|
cartman Member
Joined: 20 Feb 2007 Posts: 2800 | TRs | Pics Location: Fremont |
|
cartman
Member
|
Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:48 am
|
|
|
That marmot is on the same rock he was on two years ago when we were there.
Love Eldorado, especially as a day trip. Great not to lug a full pack up that.
|
Back to top |
|
|
|