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Schmidt Altitude
Whippet Entourage



Joined: 28 Mar 2007
Posts: 803 | TRs | Pics
Location: The Quah
Schmidt Altitude
Whippet Entourage
PostMon Nov 10, 2008 8:29 pm 
Freedom Warriors
Freedom Warriors
Date: Saturday, November 8, 2008 Crew: yukon222, GeoTom and Jasper, Schmidt Altitude Team (Babe, Row, Kief, Dude) Summit: Freedom Peak (a.k.a. Little Navaho) – 6442’, #61 Back Court 100 Hiking Stats: ~10 miles, 3540’ gained, ~5 hours round trip With a typical soggy November forecast predicted for the west side of the Cascades, we decided head to the Teanaway area for something short and sweet. GeoTom suggested Freedom Peak, not too challenging plus a Back Court 100 peak to boot!
Everything's okay now that we're back on the south side of the creek
Everything's okay now that we're back on the south side of the creek
Rowena roams ahead
Rowena roams ahead
Western larch amongst the pine
Western larch amongst the pine
We met up at “truck town” off exit 34 and caravanned east (we couldn’t figure out how to fit 4 people and 3 dogs in one vehicle). At the Stafford Creek Trail parking lot, we briefly talked with another party that was hoping to summit Navaho and then come out via the Standup Creek Trail before they headed off. We made our last minute adjustments and hit the trail a little after 9:30 under solid grey skies.
A little bit of blue sky
A little bit of blue sky
Stafford Creek  Valley on the way up to Freedom Peak
1 label
Stafford Creek Valley on the way up to Freedom Peak
Kiefer shows off her winter coat
Kiefer shows off her winter coat
Babe on the final ridge to the summit
Babe on the final ridge to the summit
The trail climbs gently and it was easy walking for the next few miles. We hit patchy snow about 4,000’ about the same time we passed the other hikers taking a break. At 4100’ the trail goes by a meadow and we had our first glance of the mountains above us. We thought we could see the summit but figured it probably was a false summit since it looked so close.
The summit of Freedom Peak
The summit of Freedom Peak
Cloud filled valley off to the east
Cloud filled valley off to the east
Babe on Freedom
Babe on Freedom
At 4800’ we came to the spot where the creek coming from the Navaho-Freedom Col (Navaho Creek?) crosses the trail. At this point we should have turned east and headed for the summit on the south side of the creek. For some reason, Dude convinced us to cross the creek and head east on the north side of the creek. We quickly realized our mistake and re-crossed the creek as soon as the terrain allowed but not before GeoTom dunked his foot in one of the side channels.
Dude's summit silhouette
Dude's summit silhouette
Synchronized shutter delay
Synchronized shutter delay
Just under the cloud ceiling on the Freedom summit
Just under the cloud ceiling on the Freedom summit
The clouds covering the Stafford Creek valley are getting thicker
The clouds covering the Stafford Creek valley are getting thicker
The country was open with very little brush to deal with. We came across an external frame pack set next to a rock but presumably forgotten by the owner. On our way up the sun briefly came out and we could see the summit much closer than expected (it was the peak we had seen from the trail). Soon we were on the ridge line that led to the summit. We followed as close to the crest as we could, veering to the east side of the crest if needed. There were some snow drifts up to our knees but easily navigated.
Freedom summit group shot
Freedom summit group shot
Now we have to head back down
Now we have to head back down
Kiefer waits for the stragglers
Kiefer waits for the stragglers
Finally we reached the top marked by a small cairn but no register. The cloud ceiling was just a couple hundred feet above our heads so we could see the bases of the surround mountains (Earl, Navaho, Three Brothers) but not the tops.
Clouds, trees, and snow
Clouds, trees, and snow
Waterfall time lapse
Waterfall time lapse
Freedom Peak trailhead shot
Freedom Peak trailhead shot
After a half hour on the summit we headed down, a little surprised it was still before 1:00. We had briefly considered a double of Navaho but decided we wanted to save that summit for a day when we could have good views of the Stuart Range to the north. The way down was uneventful except for Rowena playing her new favorite game of chase the tumbling rock (stupid dog is going to get hit with one of those tumbling rocks one of these days!). We hiked a leisurely pace to the vehicles and then made plans to meet Dani for dinner in Bellevue. Short and sweet and mostly dry – a great day!

"Forest 101: These big wood stick things are called trees. The big rocks are called mountains, and the little rocks are their babies." Elliott from Open Season
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yukon222
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Joined: 12 Mar 2007
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yukon222
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PostMon Nov 10, 2008 8:29 pm 
I wish I had explored this area earlier in the summer - first time here and really liked the terrain. Lots of roaming possibilities with plenty of views (views I'm imagining since we had clouds most of the time hockeygrin.gif ). And very surprised to see a few more wayward larches.
DSC_8004 - Jasper (and GeoTom) on Freedom Peak summit
DSC_8004 - Jasper (and GeoTom) on Freedom Peak summit

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GeoTom
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Joined: 19 May 2005
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GeoTom
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PostMon Nov 10, 2008 8:33 pm 
They can take my summer hiking season, but they can never take my Freedom! More of the same photos, only different:
Hey, wait up!
Hey, wait up!
Grass
Grass
The stream where I got my foot wet
The stream where I got my foot wet
Our route
Our route
Schmidt Attitude  :)
Schmidt Attitude wink.gif
You go, Row
You go, Row
Heading for Freedom
Heading for Freedom
Final rocks
Final rocks
Almost Free
Almost Free
Three Brothers
Three Brothers
Partial Navaho
Partial Navaho
J & J
J & J
Soapy
Soapy
Check your ISO
1 label
Check your ISO
My timer needed 11 seconds
My timer needed 11 seconds
They have better food dad
They have better food dad
Descent
Descent
Jasper and I had already been up Navaho, so I offered to run back down the trail and get the vehicles warmed up while the rest headed up Navaho. biggrin.gif Here's the pack with Jasper's head for scale:
No owner found
No owner found

Knows literally nothing
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JimK
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Joined: 07 Feb 2002
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JimK
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PostMon Nov 10, 2008 9:10 pm 
Looks like a good time was had by all. Here's a look at the ridge of Little Navaho with a little snow for contrast.

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Jennifer S.
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Jennifer S.
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PostMon Nov 10, 2008 9:20 pm 
"A little bit of blue sky" and "clouds, trees and snow" are really pretty pics. Looks like a nice place for a hike. Thanks for sharing.

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gone
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gone
Member
PostMon Nov 10, 2008 9:42 pm 
Wow, what a strangely barren place. Thanks for sharing the pics! up.gif

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Go Jo
of the lykkens



Joined: 08 Jun 2003
Posts: 2248 | TRs | Pics
Location: Around The Bend
Go Jo
of the lykkens
PostMon Nov 10, 2008 9:47 pm 
Now this song will be stuck in my head all evening!! George Michael - Freedom! '90 Great report, love the water vs wood shots.

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Sadie's Driver
Sadie's Driver



Joined: 24 Apr 2006
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Location: Welcome Pass
Sadie's Driver
Sadie's Driver
PostMon Nov 10, 2008 10:12 pm 
Teanaways rock!
Welcome to the Teanaways Yukon/Schmidts! Some of the "purtiest" country in Washington! I wondered what the weather was like on the dry side of the mountains this past weekend! hmmm.gif Thanks. s.d.

Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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Tazz
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Tazz
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PostMon Nov 10, 2008 10:23 pm 
JimK wrote:
Looks like a good time was had by all. Here's a look at the ridge of Little Navaho with a little snow for contrast.
Oh my goodness that looks sooo yummy to ski or tour...yum yum yum...

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joker
seeker



Joined: 12 Aug 2006
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Location: state of confusion
joker
seeker
PostMon Nov 10, 2008 10:40 pm 
Nice job getting out with some blue sky above (we had that in Redmond today too!), and fun report. Thanks for sharing.
the lykkens wrote:
Now this song will be stuck in my head all evening!! George Michael - Freedom! '90
Perhaps a little Richie Havens can help you with that awful fate, Jo:

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EastKing
Surfing and Hiking



Joined: 28 Mar 2007
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Location: 77 miles from Seattle!
EastKing
Surfing and Hiking
PostMon Nov 10, 2008 10:50 pm 
Excellent trip report! Great photos! Keep them coming!!! Let Freedom ring!!! up.gif up.gif

YouTube | SummitPost Saw the depths of despair. Now I am salvaging what time I have left on Earth.
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Schmidt Alti-Dude
4th class poster



Joined: 06 Jul 2007
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Location: Looking for Adventure 201!
Schmidt Alti-Dude
4th class poster
PostMon Nov 10, 2008 10:53 pm 
During the trip, GeoTom suggested The Soup Dragons "I'm Free"

Anything stated by me in no way reflects the attitudes or opinions of my wife
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Jasper
Cascade Snow Pig



Joined: 13 Apr 2008
Posts: 350 | TRs | Pics
Location: Burrowing in the snow
Jasper
Cascade Snow Pig
PostMon Nov 10, 2008 10:57 pm 
Re: FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!
Schmidt Altitude wrote:
(we couldn’t figure out how to fit 4 people and 3 dogs in one vehicle).
I have had the pleasure of being in the back of a Subaru with 2 German Shepherds while 5 of you 2-leggers rode up front. The packs were upstairs in the rooftop coffin. It was not fun, but at least the other dogs were my buddies Loki and RJ. I am scared to ride in a car with Rowena. paranoid.gif

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Go Jo
of the lykkens



Joined: 08 Jun 2003
Posts: 2248 | TRs | Pics
Location: Around The Bend
Go Jo
of the lykkens
PostMon Nov 10, 2008 10:57 pm 
Schmidt Alti-Dude wrote:
During the trip, GeoTom suggested The Soup Dragons "I'm Free"
And I thought I was hallucinating on cold medicine before... now it's like a party! Thanks for the 'flashback'!

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Schmidt Alti-Row
The Alpha



Joined: 22 Dec 2007
Posts: 21 | TRs | Pics
Location: On the Couch
Schmidt Alti-Row
The Alpha
PostMon Nov 10, 2008 11:03 pm 
Re: FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!
Jasper wrote:
I am scared to ride in a car with Rowena. paranoid.gif
blah.gif blah.gif blah.gif You're always dissing me Jasper but the fact remains you always talking about me!

If it's small and furry and moves, I must kill it.
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