[wildernessed]

Location : Entiat, Wa. N of Wenatchee Access : SR 97A > Entiat River Rd. > Crum Canyon Rd. > FR 5393 Maps : GTM – Brief, TOPO Stats : 6.25, 2000’, 4 hr r/t

Dick Mesa Loop

I had been wondering what Dick Mesa was like for a few years now, and what the views would be like, so after waiting for the chill to wear off I made it to the my take off point, at the beginning of the Forest Rd. 5393 just off Crum Canyon Rd. where I took off under clear blue skies and a balmy 27 degrees. I walked the snow packed road for a short period before scaling up the side of an initial steep ridge using veggie belays, the ridge eased up, but was a gradual incline on fairly consolidated snow with some undulation between highpoints.

Lower Ridge

Ridge

Gaining the getler undulating terrain.

Deserty section of ridge.

Rounding a highpoint.

Upper ridge approaching Dick Mesa.

The vegetation thinned out, and the views opened up as I gained elevation with a myriad of peaks from Entiat , Chelan, and Sawtooth Ridges. As I crested the ridge and stepped onto Dicks Mesa, I enjoyed a huge “miles wide” slightly undulating plateau consisting of mainly low grasses and scattered evergreens, so large that you couldn’t take it in with a single glance. I arced North over the high point / summit 3304’, then down a ridge opposite of and paralleling my ridge up, back to the road. It was cold so I kept moving. I did get a slight sunburn and was glad my route was predominantly sun exposed. This will be a great open country wildflower trip and is approachable from the East and West. The area is a patchwork of National Forest, Entiat Wildlife Refuge, and private land.

Sugarloaf

Transition zone

Cougar Mountain

Tyee and Signal Peaks

Stormy and Baldy

Swakane Peak from the North.

Dick Mesa

Lower Chelan Ridge from Dick Mesa

Looking towards Stormy Mtn from Dick Mesa.

Return Ridge

Looking into the North Fork Entiat River Valley

Entiat Ridge to Tyee Ridge

Approaching the Upper section of Dicks Mesa

Lower Sawtooth Ridge

Looking off Dick Mesa Plateau

Four Mile Ridge

Lower Chelan Ridge Peaks and Ridges

North Fork Entiat River Valley from Dicks Mesa

Ridge I went up and ridge I'm going down

Stormy - Baldy and company

Tyee Ridge - Four Mile Ridge - North Fork Entiat Peaks

[Get Out and Go]

I bet you ran into elbow-to-elbow hiking hordes up there. Looks like another nice area you explored with crystal views. I resisted the urge to make any lame puns about the name of the place....family website, you know. However, I can't help but notice that as far as Topo Maps go, "Brief" covers this area.

[Jake]

I think it was named for or by Condi Dick who was well known resident of the Entiat area back around the turn of the century.

[wildernessed]

[Scrooge]

Rob, what are the lines on your map that look like roads?

They wander all over the place, including one which crosses the top of Dick Mesa! And one that makes a loop on top of the mesa (part of which, your route followed). ......... Are those lines that you've added, or what? ................................................ Dick Mesa looks to rival Grand Park among mountain top plateaus. Your hike avoided the biggest section of it. Frankly, your photographs mostly seem to have avoided it, too. Your "destination" seems to have been shortchanged in favor of the panoramic views. You've only got one pic that's primarily the mesa.

You may be bored with the snowy meadows, but I like 'em.

[wildernessed]

Scrooge, Any lines are forest roads, Crum Canyon is a county Rd., though it's primitive before I turned off. Some of the roads shown are not there anymore, and there are some not shown that are either very old, or newer. The high point, Dick Mesa is a named summit and is at the highest arc on my trip across Dick Mesa, and that point is just on the other side (by maybe 5-10' of the fence, which had an open gate) and may be private property. My goal was a late start, the high spot, and the ridges as a loop, for a recon, and a burst of exercise. I took nearly 200 pictures, so your seeing a few overall. The thing about the plateau is that it's huge, but it steps off in alll directions, so from the top your seeing line of sight, the upper most section. I kept moving because even though it's sunny and blue, it was probably in the high teens, with a light wind. The area can be accessed from the East, West, South, and North and is a mish mash of State, Federal, and Private land. This will be an awesome wildflower trip. I never expected the diversity of views, so it was in quite the sweet spot.

[Scrooge]

I dunno, Rob, you also managed to leave out the fact that the whole place is right above the Columbia!

Dick Mesa

Dick Mesa and Columbia River

I assume that you couldn't see the river, that your view of it was blocked by the mesa to the east and the bench to the south ...... or something. Otherwise you'd have pictures of it (because you always do include it, when it's visible). Anyway, the whole area looks really neat, so I'd appreciate a couple of favors. This spring, when the roads dry out (mostly), see what condition that Crum Canyon Road is in, and how far it's drivable. ........ Also, see if you can tell if that larger, eastern section of the mesa is occupied by active, private farms. ........ It would be planted in wheat, if it gets enough water, but it may not. ................................................... And then there's Ribbon Mesa, just to the north.

Ribbon Mesa

The views from there should be really spectacular. And once again, there's a road going all the way to the top (maybe). I know you like the exercise of the climb, but my emphysema prefers me to start near the top, when I can. Anyway, if those roads are any good, I'd say that my daughter will have a house guest for several extra days, this Spring. David

[Layback]

Great panos Wildernessed. I'm incredibly jealous of all you folks that got to take advantage of the stellar midweek weather.

[wildernessed]

Scrooge, would you like fries with that order ? Layback, I'm glad I got out for several days, looking at today and the extended forecast, it's overcast, but no precip yet.

[Hx]

[Scrooge]

Wildernessed asked

[wildernessed]

[Z]

[wildernessed]