GeoTom Member
Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 3215 | TRs | Pics Location: Earth |
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GeoTom
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Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:52 pm
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Scott, Jasper and I recovered enough from the antics of the previous night to go on a nearby hike. Scott and I had been up Bandera before, but not Defiance. Scott's friends Mark and Warren met us at the Eastgate Park and Ride, and we were off.
A brief summary:
It was hot. The trailhead was packed and we saw lot's of people on the trail, mostly headed to Bandera or stopping at Mason Lake. It was hot. There were small snow patches along the trail just before Mason Lake (~4,200) and the trail was partially obscured by snow above Mason Lake until it gained the ridgeline (~4,400 to ~4,800). It was hot. Lots of flowers on the slopes below Mt. Defiance, including, but not limited to Beargrass, Phlox, Lupine, Paintbrush and Tiger Lily. There were others too, but I am not a flower identifying expert. I may not have mentioned this earlier, but it was hot.
More than once on the hike, Warren turned to me and asked, "What's this called again, Delirium Peak?" Warren is from Whistler, and is not very familiar with the I-90 corridor hikes and peak names. Or, he could have really been in a state of delirium. After all, it was hot.
We had the summit to ourselves for the entire 45 minutes we were there We were able to see the big volcanoes (Baker, Glacier, Rainier and Adams, but not St. Helens); the ever present Stuart; the nearby peaks like Putrid Pete's, McLellan's Butte, Kent, Gardner, Bandera, Granite, Kaleetan, etc.; Red Mountain from the previous TNAB; Big Snow and even the Olympics. The nearby lakes looked inviting. Especially since it was hot.
Not an epic trip (except for the heat), but it was good to get out with good people and a (sometimes) good dog. It was also Jasper's 87th different summit, not that I am keeping track or anything
Some photos:
Gardner, Kent and the Butt(e) On the trail Putrid Pete's Tahoma wearing a cap The boys Beargrass and Defiance Warren and Jasper on the trail Beargrass Bandera above Mason Lake Warren and Jasper summit Kulla Kulla, Mason and Little Mason Summit shade A Defiant and Delirious Soapy Tiger Lily Kaleetan
Oh, yeah. It was hot.
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