[Tom_Sjolseth]

Randy, Mike Collins, Justus_S, and myself converged at the Bothell P&R on Saturday morning for a quick jaunt up Eightmile Mountain. Randy was to be climbing Jack Ridge (a Backcourt List peak), while Mike, Justus and I were to be climbing Eightmile Mountain (a Top 200 peak which Randy had already climbed). These two hikes share the same approach up until the point where you cut uphill to Eightmile. Arriving at the TH, the weather was cool and overcast, but the skies weren't threatening. We left the cars at 8:00 and made quick work of the 3.6 mile trail, arriving at the E end of Eightmile Lake at 8:50. Here we took a short beak to refuel. After a little food and water, we traversed around the N side of Eightmile Lake on good, but undulating trail, passing a few tents on the way to the lake's inlet. At the inlet, we all said our goodbyes, and Randy was on his way over to Jack Ridge, 1.25 miles to the W of Eightmile Mountain. Mike gave Randy a walkie talkie so we could be in contact on the summit. Mike, Justus and I cut uphill about 1/3 mile beyond the lake, at the W edge of the avalanche swath, aiming for the path of least resistance. Thankfully we didn't see much brush, the worst of which was the windfall encountered low on the route, on our way up from the forest floor. The brush can get thick in there, but 90% of it can be avoided by walking up moderately steep slabs or sandy ledges/gullies between slabs. We topped out at 11:40, at which point we could see Randy also just getting to the summit of Jack Ridge. We yelled back and forth at each other, and Mike contacted him via radio. We told him we'd meet him back at the inlet. It started to get windy on the summmit, and soon we were layering up. After 30 minutes of relaxing on the huge Eightmile summit (no register found), we began our descent. We descended the ascent route, and it worked nicely, delivering us to the valley floor one hour and 3000' later. Upon reaching the inlet, we got some water from the creek, at which time we heard some thrashing in the woods behind us. It was Randy. Now a group again, we began the march out to the TH. On the hike out it started to sprinkle on us, but never got too crazy. We did not get wet all day. We returned to the TH at 3:15, 7 hours and 15 minutes after we started. We all drove down to Gustav's and had some good food and beverages before we made our way back home. Eightmile Mountain isn't very interesting this time of year, but would be a great ski destination as Randy pointed out. Still it was another great trip out in the mountains with friends. Justus and Randy took photos. Trip stats: -13 miles -4900' gain -7.25 hours RT -30 minutes summit time

[John Morrow]

[Yana]

[Randy]

Thanks for writing up the TR, Tom. Getting out with Sjolseth, Smitchger, and Collins is always a good time! All laughs and fun. My favorite line of the day was Mike's version of the 10 essentials. Hilarious. A couple notes on Jack Ridge: After parting ways with the others, I walked another 15-20 minutes along the valley floor without gaining much elevation. Having only a map, I wasn't able to navigate with absolute precision while in the trees, but no matter. After I turned straight up hill, I used Point 7993' (up and to the right) and the ridge line on the opposite side of the valley to deduce my elevation and general position. Somewhere around 7000' things opened up and I could see my summit. I never encountered anything more than easy class 2 to this point. Some brush and talus, but no big deal. The next 700' were up sand and big granite blocks. The last 100' I went up fun class 3/4 granite, but this was avoidable further to the left. It took 3.75 hours to reach the summit from the car. I had all but forgotten about the Jack Ridge fire, but was rudely reminded that it was still smoking strong with the taste of smoke on my tongue. The summit was a rather disgusting place to hang out with billowing smoke coming up from the valley directly below me. I stayed maybe 15-20 minutes, just long enough to browse the register and confirm descent plans with the dudes on 8-Mile. As Tom stated, sometimes the best thing about trips like this is crossing them off your list!

Views on the Ascent

Collins-Smitchger

Stefano!

Tom and Justus on 8-Mile

Wesss-Side

Smoke From the Valley to Lungs

Jack Ridge Engulfed

8-Mile in the Haze

Stuart From Jack Ridge

Hawkins

Pond, Pebbles, and Plumes

Stuart From Descent

Jack Ridge High Point From Ascent

Valley Floor

[Justus S.]

Another fine trip with the gang. Summary with pics. We hiked to the lake then around it. Hike up valley to just west of the big avalanche path off Eightmile. We stayed to the west of the brushy area where the terrain was pleasantly less brushy, if that makes sense.

Mike maneuvering up a slab

Tom hopping boulders

It was nice when we made it above the trees where there where some views.

Views opening

Another view of the lake

We hiked past the little hole at 6400, not really a hole.

the 6400 hole

The terrain was more open after that, and we began to get some nicer views of Stuart.

Tom hiking up slope

Stuart Range comes into view

bouldery terrain to the summit

Mike making his way up the boulder fields

We were glad to be on top.

Tom happy to be on the summit boulder

We then looked over toward where Randy was headed and were surprised to see he had made it as quickly as we did.

Looking at the ridge to Jack

Randy on Jack's summit

I took some pics from the summit plateau.

Eightmile Lake from Eightmile

Cashmere

smoke rising on Jack Ridge

Trout Lake

Mike on the summit plateau

Stuart and smoke

We headed down and stopped at the lake for a bit before the hike out.

Tom working his way down

Eightmile Lake and Peak

[Movenhike]

J morrow wrote: Ski trip this Winter/Spring anyone? I'd be down. I live in leav, Pm me this winter when you get serious bro.

[EastKing]

Great trip report. Eightmile looks very tempting.

[wildernessed]

Nice summit and views, especially when done in The Spring, the cooler temps, crisp views, and walking on top of those boulders, I never knew there were boulders there.

[Andy D.]

Nice work fellas! Looks like a fun trip! Great pictures.

[DIYSteve]

[Tom_Sjolseth]

I'd ski some stuff in there, John. Keep me in the loop as well.

[DIYSteve]

[John Morrow]