Date: Saturday, November 8, 2008Crew: 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
Rowena roams ahead
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.
Stafford Creek Valley on the way up to Freedom Peak
Kiefer shows off her winter coat
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
Cloud filled valley off to the east
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
Synchronized shutter delay
Just under the cloud ceiling on the Freedom summit
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
Now we have to head back down
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
Waterfall time lapse
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
0
"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
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 ). And very surprised to see a few more wayward larches.
DSC_8004 - Jasper (and GeoTom) on Freedom Peak summit
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.
Here's the pack with Jasper's head for scale:
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! Thanks. s.d.
(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.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate NWHikers.net earns from qualifying purchases when you use our link(s).