Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 2998 | TRs | Pics Location: Back to work
Sat Jan 03, 2009 8:48 pm Kendall Peak Lakes (I'm not 40 yet!); 01-03-09
Trip overview: Snowshoers: Ingunn, JK and GeoTom the Older
Bare paw walkers: Jasper the Stout
Map: Green Trails #207 Snoqualmie Pass
Access: Interstate 90 > Exit 54 Hyak > Gold Creek Sno Park
Trails: Buried under the snow
Mileage: 8? 9? Something like that. Who actually keeps track of these things anyway?
Elevation Gain: 1,800 give or take an undetermined amount.
Trip Details:
I figured this might be my last chance to get outdoors on my birthday as I will turn 40 next year, and we all know hiking and snowshoeing is a young person's game. I knew Ingunn and JK from the site, but we had never actually met in person. Luckily for me they didn't check with some of my other regular hiking partners or they might have taken Jasper themselves and ditched me.
After a short delay putting on chains before the Denny Creek Exit, we pulled into the Gold Creek Sno Park. The weather was not great, but better than Rich Marriott had led me to believe. A path had already been broken into the road we would be following to the lake(s), and we headed up ourselves.
Not soon enough we arrived at a switchback in the road and an almost completely buried trail sign. The way continued straight ahead up the steep slope. We quickly caught the trail breaking group, and joined forces with them to break a new trail to the lake. Jasper and their good dog Olive weren't quite sure if they wanted to be friends or not.
The larger group (Now 7 humans and 2 canines) blazed a path to the first small pond and beyond to the second lake. All of us decided that this was good enough for today. Packs were dropped, lunches were retrieved, and to my surprise Ingunn and JK produced a couple celebratory beverages.
Jasper enjoyed his assortment of treats from my bag and some gingerbones, courtesy of Ingunn and JK's dog Bobby. Bobby is such a gentleman, er, gentledog, sharing some treats with Jasper even though they've never even sniffed each other's butts. The lake looked inviting, but we had forgotten our swim trunks.
It started to snow a little harder and since lunch was finished, we decided to head back. It was much easier going through an already made trench, but there was some slippage on some of the steeper parts. Once back to the road, JK exchanged snowshoes for his mini-skis. Apparently they worked well when he was 10 years old. He is slightly older now, but still quite agile on them. Jasper was not as impressed with this new development however.
We made it safely back to the car, and saw that traffic on the 90 was moving quite nicely without chains, so we removed the chains from the car and headed west.
Thanks Ingunn and JK for a nice snowshoe trip, the bubbly and the gingerbones.
Jasper is napping and dreaming of another trip. Or of rolling in poop. Who know what that dog thinks?
Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 2998 | TRs | Pics Location: Back to work
Sat Jan 03, 2009 9:07 pm
I am not a lake bagger.
Besides, it's a pretty narrow gully to get to the third one, and I've heard from many sources it's not recommended if avalanche danger is increased. I might be old, but I'm not dumb. Well, not that dumb.
Joined: 01 Jul 2006 Posts: 4210 | TRs | Pics Location: Out of the pit
Sat Jan 03, 2009 9:09 pm
That Jasper is fierce, good thing nobody knew karate.
-------------- "I've seen them fight in seedy bars in Mexico, and once as a side attraction at a cock fight in Toppenish. I've never seen this behavior in the wild, but maybe because the money just isn't good enough." - Kbatku, Marmot Naturalist
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 5828 | TRs | Pics Location: Conspiring in the Man Cave.
Sat Jan 03, 2009 9:19 pm
GeoTom wrote:
I am not a lake bagger.
Besides, it's a pretty narrow gully to get to the third one, and I've heard from many sources it's not recommended if avalanche danger is increased. I might be old, but I'm not dumb. Well, not that dumb.
You don't do dumb things as you get older, you just have "Senior Moments".
-------------- I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent_Gandhi
Thanks for letting us come with you on your dad's birthday, Jasper! Oh, and you too, GeoTom...
It was nice to get out today after a lazy Christmas, and staring at Jasper's wiggly little stumpy tail for hours is not a bad way to spend a Saturday. The lakes (they must be under there somewhere) were nice too!
Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Posts: 6283 | TRs | Pics Location: Lyle, WA
Sun Jan 04, 2009 1:59 pm
GeoTom wrote:
I am not a lake bagger.
Besides, it's a pretty narrow gully to get to the third one, and I've heard from many sources it's not recommended if avalanche danger is increased. I might be old, but I'm not dumb. Well, not that dumb.
Better safe than sorry I suppose, but the upper lake route doesn't seem risky to me at all. It is steep, but heavily wooded and with no tall treeless avy prone slopes directly above it for anything to get a running start on. I'm not sure where there would be sufficient snow unanchored by the old growth canopy and brush to get going on the route itself. The far side of the upper lake is a different story.
I'd think that with that steep, wooded slope deep in fresh snow, it just wouldn't be worth it swimming uphill in snow to reach it!
-------------- "Civilization is the process of setting man free from men."
- Ayn Rand
Hey 40 is not old, I'm 44 and still hiking, some climbing and diving so age is all what you make of it. Stay young by being active. Kendal peak lakes is a beatiful snow shoe trip. good shots.
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I am not a lake bagger.
