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GeoTom Member
Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 3215 | TRs | Pics Location: Earth |
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GeoTom
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Sun Feb 15, 2009 9:33 am
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Trip overview:
Snowshoers: Ingunn, JK, silly_traveler and GeoTom
Bare paw walkers: Jasper the chewer of sticks
Map: Green Trails #207 Snoqualmie Pass (but I left it at home)
Access: Interstate 90 > Exit 54 (Hyak)
Trails: Nordic Pass trail
Mileage: Previous reports call it 9 or 10.
Elevation Gain: ~2,700 with the ups and downs.
Corporate sponsor: Blue Diamond Almonds (ok, they haven't actually agreed to a sponsorship deal yet).
Trip Details:
After finally recovering from last weekend's hatefest with Yana and cleaning Jasper from his roll in the poop, I decided to go on another snowshoe trip with silly_traveler. Originally we thought about heading to Blewett Pass, but neither one of us was enthused about the drive so we settled on what is becoming an annual trip for me: Mt. Catherine via the Nordic Pass Trail. Ingunn and JK had expressed an interest in joining us, so we met up at the Hyak parking lot and managed to squeeze into one of the few hundred remaining spaces.
After the short road walk to the start of the trail, we put our snowshoes on and started following the route to Hyak Lake. There was a faint trace of previous snowshoers and skiers, but not a very deep trench. Not to worry, the snow was fairly consolidated and we didn't sink much. The route is fairly easy to follow, just look for the blue diamonds on the trees:
Jasper gives advice Jasper follows silly_traveler and Ingunn
The route crosses some of the cross country trail network and the downhill crossover runs between Ski Acres and Hyak (Summit Central and Summit East), but there was very little activity on those trails today. Eventually we crossed I-90 (the main crossover trail) and ascended the last bit to Hyak Lake, which was frozen over.
Hyak Lake When Jasper attacks
We took a short break at the lake to eat, then continued on our way to Nordic Pass. Soon we made it to the BPA power line corridor and got our first good look at Mt. Catherine. We wisely chose to continue on the route to Nordic Pass rather than attempt the direct route up Catherine from here.
Mt. Catherine
I lost the blue diamond path for a short bit through the power line corridor, but remembered from previous visits where it continued on the other side. Soon enough we were back on track, following the blue diamonds to Nordic Pass. I kept telling Ingunn that 'We're almost to Nordic Pass'. I don't think she believed me after the third or fourth time I said it.
Follow the blue diamonds Trail maintenance or extreme hunger?
We did eventually reach Nordic Pass and stopped to eat again. I spotted the Nordic Pass sign on a tree, but it was ~10 feet off the snow surface. It was below eye level the previous times I had been at this same spot. The vote was 4-0 to continue on to Mt. Catherine. Jasper abstained from voting as he was too concentrated on finding food.
Food break at Nordic Pass Feed me please That sandwich looks good
From Nordic Pass we diverted from the blue diamond route that continues to Windy Pass and headed instead for the westren ridge of Mt. Catherine. There were a couple steepish sections, but nothing we couldn't manage, at least on the ascent. Occasionally we caught glimpses of previous snowshoe and ski tracks. The ascent went fairly quickly and I turned to tell Ingunn 'We're almost to the top'. Not sure if she bought it though after the Nordic Pass false alarms. The skies had also turned from mostly gray to partly sunny to mostly sunny as we ascended.
Battle on the ridge Steep section Brighter skies? Jasper waits patiently Sun! You talkin' to me? Blue sky and trees Jasper checks on the 'herd' Kaleetan, Chair, The Tooth, Bryant and Denny Granite Mountain Humpback?
There was one slightly tricky section ~50 feet below the top. We went left around the rocks, then up to the summit ridge. No big cornices, but the south face was still steep. The little breeze we experienced earlier had died, so we sat in the (mostly) sun on top and ate a little more while looking at some of the surrounding peaks.
We made it Jasper and JK on Mt. Catherine Even Soapy made a brief appearance Mt. Catherine summit JK and Ingunn Bandera and Pratt Tinkham Abiel and Silver Granite again First attempt Success I like this mat
We made it back through the slightly tricky section relatively unscathed, and made quick work of descending the ridge back to Nordic Pass. Somehow the route had gotten a couple miles longer from Nordic Pass back to Hyak Lake. Not sure how it happened, but I am positive it did.
My stick! Happy Valentines Day
Everyone made it safely back to the car, a little tired but happy.
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TrailPair Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1699 | TRs | Pics
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This thing called work is interfering with my play
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wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
I like the ridge shots, nice to see your sponsored. I have an endorsement from Depends and Ensure.
Living in the Anthropocene
Living in the Anthropocene
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wamtngal Member
Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 2382 | TRs | Pics Location: somewhere |
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wamtngal
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Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:04 am
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Opinions expressed here are my own.
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JimK Member
Joined: 07 Feb 2002 Posts: 5606 | TRs | Pics Location: Ballard |
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JimK
Member
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Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:44 am
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A nice day in the mountains. I believe the Silly One's first snowshoe trip was up Mt. Catherine with my borrowed snowshoes.
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GeoTom Member
Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 3215 | TRs | Pics Location: Earth |
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GeoTom
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Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:56 am
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captain jack Serving suggestion
Joined: 25 May 2004 Posts: 3389 | TRs | Pics Location: Upper Fidalgo |
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Go Jo of the lykkens
Joined: 08 Jun 2003 Posts: 2248 | TRs | Pics Location: Around The Bend |
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Go Jo
of the lykkens
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Sun Feb 15, 2009 1:40 pm
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GeoTom wrote: | Success
Everyone made it safely back to the car, a little tired but happy. |
That may be the ticket to life: end every day tired but happy!
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Highwalker's Daughter Member
Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 1575 | TRs | Pics Location: Bothell, WA |
Great pictures. We're definitely going to make that one soon.
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Magellan Brutally Handsome
Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 13116 | TRs | Pics Location: Inexorable descent |
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
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Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:47 pm
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Love it! I will have to hit that route again sometime when it is sunny out.
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silly_traveler ~ roaming ~
Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Posts: 1525 | TRs | Pics Location: Bellevue |
♫ You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. And you're the one who will decide where you'll go. Oh the places you'll go. - Dr. Seuss
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Schmidt Alti-Babe The Ice Queen
Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 606 | TRs | Pics Location: Buried by backlogged pictures |
Great that you enjoyed some sunshine. Sounded like a fun outing.
Jasper and food are synonymous aren't they?
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Layback Cascades Expatriate
Joined: 16 Mar 2007 Posts: 5712 | TRs | Pics Location: Back East |
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Layback
Cascades Expatriate
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Mon Feb 16, 2009 6:57 am
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Thanks for the TR guy! It looks like you had really pleasant conditions.
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Jasper Cascade Snow Pig
Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 350 | TRs | Pics Location: Burrowing in the snow |
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Jasper
Cascade Snow Pig
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Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:20 am
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Schmidt Alti-Babe wrote: | Jasper and food are synonymous aren't they? |
What's that supposed to mean?
Next time I see you I'm stealing your sandwich. Wait, that proves you point, doesn't it?
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Yana Hater
Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 4212 | TRs | Pics Location: Out Hating |
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Yana
Hater
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Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:26 am
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Schmidt Alti-Babe wrote: | Jasper and food are synonymous aren't they? |
I think I'd be a little concerned if I were you, Jasper. Doesn't this mean Jasper is food?
PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
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