Forum Index > Trip Reports > Dalles Ridge to Noble Knob 7/12/08
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More Cowbell
Warrior Princess



Joined: 01 Jul 2006
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Location: Alive on Earth
More Cowbell
Warrior Princess
PostSun Jul 13, 2008 9:24 am 
After much researching for road and trail conditions for the "back door" to Noble Knob route I decided we should just go for it. I've been on this trail once before and was very pleased with the route and have always wanted to come back. Directions can be found on the F.S. website and Karen Sykes book. We had a cast of characters: Ree, Kleet, Putz-n-boots, Jimk and the royal Quark. I haven't laughed so much in a long time. Talk about therapy. Jimk and Kleet were the intrepid drivers into the unknown F.S. road conditions and everyone arrived at the T.H. alive and intact. It looks like the road just opened up and all the rocks and logs have been moved enough to let most vehicles through. No snow on the road at all. Before the trail head we had to stop and take in the morning view:
Tourons in the road
Tourons in the road
There was one truck parked at the end and conditions were looking promising as the bugs weren't biting and there was a nice breeze. We loaded up our bubbles, cameras and packs and set off.
Snow free to here
Snow free to here
This is a very nice trail for gimps or photohounds hauling the heavy cameras. Total gain is only about 700 feet with some extra ups and downs and mileage is pretty minimal too. But that doesn't mean it's not a gorgeous trail. You get some of everything here (except a nice creek). This is huckleberry country along with gooseberries and strawberries. I want to come back in berry season.
Lush jungle trail
Lush jungle trail
My new avatar
My new avatar
You traverse the ridge facing McRainier with lots of views that way through flower gardens and rockery. We ran into 2 mountain bikers and 3 trail runners on the Dalles Ridge trail but no one else until the "knob". The snow on the trail starts in the usual basin area and is easily navigated. It looks to be melting quickly. Then you head up some mountain bike rutted switchbacks to meet up with the corral pass trail (which must be open now) heading to Noble Knob. The scenery really starts to get going in here. Hummingbirds, magenta paintbrush and views all over the place. It's a short way till you meet up with 3 other trails (2 to lakes and one boot path to somewhere south, ask JimK).
Strawberry meadows up to the knob
Strawberry meadows up to the knob
The meadows here are full of early flowers and it's going to be spectacular all month I'm sure. After a few switch backs and a climb up the back of Noble Knob (all snow free on the trail now) you are there. We had lunch and a lot of serious conversation (except for Quark).
Quark and a vanilla cone
Quark and a vanilla cone
knob talk with a view
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knob talk with a view
I want to go here sometime
I want to go here sometime
The unofficial benchmark
The unofficial benchmark
The sun was beating down but it was so nice up there that we stayed for a while. Make sure you explore both areas of the "Knob". I like the "birdy rock" part (it looks like it's flipping you off as you hike the trail below it on the Dalles Ridge side)
Quark shoots penstemon
Quark shoots penstemon
Flattering butt shot
Flattering butt shot
This one's for you Lookout Bob
This one's for you Lookout Bob
Cinquefoil?  Buttercup?
Cinquefoil? Buttercup?
"Birdy" Rock
"Birdy" Rock
Eventually we started back down and I attempted some more photos of the alpine scenery.
Heading back down
Heading back down
Zoomed lost lake
Zoomed lost lake
3D bumps
3D bumps
idiots in the sun on a knob
3 labels
idiots in the sun on a knob
The gang coming down
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The gang coming down
One odd flower on the way out:
Oh Marta...
Oh Marta...
name me
name me
and back through the Dalles Glacier
Dalles Glacier Traversers
Dalles Glacier Traversers
and we headed on back via the ridge. Temps were rising so we had a McRainer stop in Ree's favorite city - Enumclaw.
I don't know what they were doing
I don't know what they were doing
McRainier IceCream
McRainier IceCream
Then to top it all off, Ree and Quark made us all a deluxe party feast (early birthday pour moi) that was DELICIOUS and most appreciated. That was my kind of day. Thank you everyone!

“If you want to forget all your other troubles, wear too tight shoes.” - Unknown
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Schmidt Alti-Dude
4th class poster



Joined: 06 Jul 2007
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Schmidt Alti-Dude
4th class poster
PostSun Jul 13, 2008 10:24 am 
Totally extreme, spectacular, and epic up.gif Looks like you had a ton of fun!

Anything stated by me in no way reflects the attitudes or opinions of my wife
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Yet
Member
Member


Joined: 23 Apr 2005
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Location: Happily Ever After
Yet
Member
PostSun Jul 13, 2008 10:32 am 
Sounds like a nice pre-birthday. smile.gif But did you have to post that photo of kleet and ree licking their cones? I am now scarred for life. huh.gif

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Flora
Enjoying the Sun!



Joined: 25 Mar 2007
Posts: 1035 | TRs | Pics
Location: Land of many waters
Flora
Enjoying the Sun!
PostSun Jul 13, 2008 11:55 am 
The yellow flower (nice photo!) is a cinquefoil and member of the Rose Family. Not sure which one (there are several). I would have to see its leaves and growing area. Looks like a good time was enjoyed by all!

Flora
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome



Joined: 26 Jul 2006
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
PostSun Jul 13, 2008 3:32 pm 
Nothing like a day out with a group of great friends. Thanks for the TR! up.gif

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Quark
Niece of Alvy Moore



Joined: 15 May 2003
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Quark
Niece of Alvy Moore
PostSun Jul 13, 2008 6:00 pm 
A most excellent choice for a birthday hike. A sorry photography day, but an excellent choice for a birthday hike. My flower mojo is off; I can't identify the purple flower I posted; they also come in white, & purple, and are abundant in the forest; leaves look like a cross between coltsfoot and lupine. I know that's difficult to visualize, but no more than JimK's description of the weather, "hot but cool." A few photos to share:
Blue flower
Blue flower
Hikers descend Noble Knob, Mt Rainier in the distance
Hikers descend Noble Knob, Mt Rainier in the distance
Either a crime took place shortly after the previous photo was taken, or one hiker left the scene
Either a crime took place shortly after the previous photo was taken, or one hiker left the scene
Funny how when you tell someone to act like they're licking Mt Rainier, they do
Funny how when you tell someone to act like they're licking Mt Rainier, they do
Even funnier when you tell them to do it again and they do
1 label
Even funnier when you tell them to do it again and they do
Hikers look toward Snoqualmie Pass from Noble Knob
Hikers look toward Snoqualmie Pass from Noble Knob
JimK pointing at the view of Mt Rainier just in case the Hikers missed it
JimK pointing at the view of Mt Rainier just in case the Hikers missed it
Noble Knob Glacier kicks butt and takes names
Noble Knob Glacier kicks butt and takes names
Noble Knob Glacier claims another victim
Noble Knob Glacier claims another victim
Penstemmon and Mt Rainier
Penstemmon and Mt Rainier
Rock view
Rock view

"...Other than that, the post was more or less accurate." Bernardo, NW Hikers' Bureau Chief of Reporting
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More Cowbell
Warrior Princess



Joined: 01 Jul 2006
Posts: 5657 | TRs | Pics
Location: Alive on Earth
More Cowbell
Warrior Princess
PostSun Jul 13, 2008 6:14 pm 
rotf.gif Love the tongue! I couldn't identify my flowers either.

“If you want to forget all your other troubles, wear too tight shoes.” - Unknown
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kleet
meat tornado



Joined: 06 Feb 2002
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kleet
meat tornado
PostSun Jul 13, 2008 6:57 pm 
Lessons learned on this outing: Never do what Quark says. She's always got a camera at the ready, and will surely post incriminating photos. Keep your eye on Ree. She'll sit down and start sketching at any rest stop, even when she's facing away from Mt. Rainier. PiB and More Cowbell may claim they've got creaky knees or bum feet, but they'll kick your butt up a hill. JimK is a hoot. A few pics. Hopefully no repeats from the already published great shots.
Go ahead. Name it.
Go ahead. Name it.
PiB and JimK let me get ahead for a photo
PiB and JimK let me get ahead for a photo
NSFW. Live pollination.
NSFW. Live pollination.
Decent backdrop for a flower shot
Decent backdrop for a flower shot
Flowers enough to calm even The Angry Hiker
Flowers enough to calm even The Angry Hiker
geez, kleet, enough of the flowers with Rainier backdrop crap!
geez, kleet, enough of the flowers with Rainier backdrop crap!
NWLosers dominate the summit of Noble Knob
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NWLosers dominate the summit of Noble Knob
ree and More Cowbell ponder the wonder of clearcuts
ree and More Cowbell ponder the wonder of clearcuts
Tahoma closeup
Tahoma closeup
Bought this at the Starbucks at the last switchback
Bought this at the Starbucks at the last switchback
NWLosers gather before assault on Noble Knob Glacier
NWLosers gather before assault on Noble Knob Glacier

A fuxk, why do I not give one?
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captain jack
Serving suggestion



Joined: 25 May 2004
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captain jack
Serving suggestion
PostSun Jul 13, 2008 7:50 pm 
Rainier is nice, but I am much more entertained by the peaks in this view to the north.
Plus the rocks are kinda flat on the south side facing Tahoma, but there are some nice little chair rocks on the north side of the Knob which are more comfy for prolongued butt planting.
Kleet wrote:
Bought this at the Starbucks at the last switchback
That one is so totally better than the one at the Corral Pass parking area. agree.gif

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ree
Member
Member


Joined: 29 Jun 2004
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ree
Member
PostSun Jul 13, 2008 8:25 pm 
The camera dying is an excuse to draw nowadays...
I bought some watercolor pencils at Aaron Bros last week... I thought the lake on the backside of Noble Knob looked like a more colorful subject matter than Mt. Rainier to take the pencils on a test drive. I splurged on the Prismacolors colored pencils. REALLY great color saturation. The performance of the water bleeding the color pigment of the pencil was terrific. I loved it. I didn't have watercolor paper tho... Would have made a difference in how many more water applications I could have made. Unfortunately, color adds another dimension to drawing that requires MORE SKILL for accomplished pleinaire art. I feel a little humbled at my first attempt here... looks cheesy, like a 15 year-old drew it (no offense to 15 year-olds here!) Thanks to kleet for carrying lunch so I can bring my art supplies. embarassedlaugh.gif It was a real fun outing with everybody. up.gif up.gif up.gif Bugs were minimal, but natch, whatever few were out there, found me no prob. Great hike choice for all of us, MC. This lady knows more sekrit hikes than she is letting on. paranoid.gif lol.gif

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Sadie's Driver
Sadie's Driver



Joined: 24 Apr 2006
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Sadie's Driver
Sadie's Driver
PostSun Jul 13, 2008 8:53 pm 
A Noble Effort!
Quark wrote:
JimK pointing at the view of Mt Rainier just in case the Hikers missed it
JimK pointing at the view of Mt Rainier just in case the Hikers missed it
So glad Jim K's "pointy thing" is still working!!! lol.gif But what's this? Is that Jim K "Doing the Clover?" TP/Bob would be envirous! winksmile.gif
Noble Knob Glacier kicks butt and takes names
Noble Knob Glacier kicks butt and takes names
Perfect day for a pre-birthday celebration! balloons.gif birthday.gif s.d.

Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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kleet
meat tornado



Joined: 06 Feb 2002
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Location: O no they dih ent
kleet
meat tornado
PostSun Jul 13, 2008 9:50 pm 
captain jack wrote:
That one is so totally better than the one at the Corral Pass parking area. agree.gif
Oh, I completely agree. No wi-fi at that one.

A fuxk, why do I not give one?
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More Cowbell
Warrior Princess



Joined: 01 Jul 2006
Posts: 5657 | TRs | Pics
Location: Alive on Earth
More Cowbell
Warrior Princess
PostMon Jul 14, 2008 9:22 am 
ree wrote:
It was a real fun outing with everybody. up.gif up.gif up.gif Bugs were minimal, but natch, whatever few were out there, found me no prob.
Funny how those bug bites start appearing days later. I've got some real welts this morning not to mention a severe scalp burn thanks to my hat phobia.

“If you want to forget all your other troubles, wear too tight shoes.” - Unknown
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ActionBetty
Im a dirty hippie!



Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 4807 | TRs | Pics
Location: kennewick, wa
ActionBetty
Im a dirty hippie!
PostTue Jul 15, 2008 11:32 am 
Im so sorry I had to miss this one (an all the damn others the rest of the season..haha) Noble Knob is so lovely...great pics up.gif biggrin.gif

"If you're not living good, you gotta travel wide"...Bob Marley
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Yana
Hater



Joined: 04 Jun 2004
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Yana
Hater
PostTue Jul 15, 2008 11:45 am 
More Cowbell wrote:
We loaded up our bubbles
confused.gif Thank you for the report, MC. I don't think I will be venturing into this area as that glacier looks entirely too treacherous and I do not wish to be eaten alive by it.

PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
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