Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 2236 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle, WA
Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:07 pm
The Putrids Tackle Putrid Pete's Peak - 4/25/09
What to do when you must be back in town for an evening dinner? Pick a trip down the I-90 lane and ask your Putrid Friends to go with you, of course!
JustPutrid, GeoPutrid, Putrid Dicey, Putrid Yana, Putrid Jasper and Putrid Jack joined moi (waputridgal) for the rotten trip.
Since exit 45 has "undergone organic breakdown" we were left to ponder an alternate route. It took all of 1 unpleasant second for PutridDicey to suggest we go via the Dirty Harry's Peak trail (well, she is the one who came up with the P3 idea after all).
So we started out on the Rock Trail from Hell ( ), which apparently is also called the Dirty Harry's Peak trail.
After crossing the Death Bridge (of which I was so scared I forgot to take a photo), it only took a few rock stumbles further to reach the Dirty Harry's Balcony turn-off. We turned and followed the DHB trail until we came to a Y in the trail (with the balcony heading to the right). From here we wandered around in one complete circle before heading straight and soon found our abandoned trail.
Following the trail for awhile the Putrids met the Gully of Doom and the Slide Alder Slashing Session. Next we came to the Forest of Look Alike where nothing looked like a trail and everything looked like a trail. Finally one of the Putrids noticed some old logs that outlined a pathway and we continued a long our rotten way.
A couple miles down this trail we came upon a Stealthy Junction that began switching backing up, up, up to the north. Since we were all in a switchback type of mood, we followed this trail up, up, up. We were met with the most Putrefying Triple Creek Crossing of the Same Creek on this segment of the journey. It was around 3000' that we finally found ourselves kick-stepping up some stale icy snow and we decided that we had had enough with the rotten switchbacks and just headed straight up.
After making some disgustingly quick work of the stale icy snow, we reached a small clearing. Here the snow was minutely softer. We climbed up a Huge Mound of Snow and entered another short section of forest. Finally we broke out of the dense forest and had our first views of putrefying I-90.
Now we only had to tackle the final steep ridge to the summit. After some serious ass-kicking, I mean kick-stepping on firm snow and a quick huff up the rocky ridge, we reached the summit...and found it most Putrid. The wind was blowing, snice (that would be snow-ice for those whose vocabulary is more sophisticated than a bunch of Putrids) was falling and we had no choice but to take in the lack of views around us.
We quickly signed into the summit register, said "hi" to Pete and then slid our way down the summit to a spot where we could sit in the cold and eat and take in those non-existent views. Mmmmmm.
The trip down was non-eventful except for the Death Bridge crossing where we had to watch PutridDicey attempt a death-defying crossing...don't worry, she made it across.
In case you, too, feel like being putrid, we recommend that you take your ice axe and crampons and a whole lotta rottenness.
Oh, and a Big Rotten Congrats to Putrid Jack for his first rock scramble to the summit!
Jasper and I had been up this last year on a TNAB hike via the Exit 45 route. This was a much more enjoyable pace, although I suddenly remembered why I hadn't been on the Dirty Harry's Road for several years.
Some more putrid images from the day:
-------------- This space for rent
Joined: 28 Jan 2002 Posts: 7593 | TRs | Pics Location: Maple Valley, Wa
Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:26 pm
wamtngal wrote:
After crossing the Death Bridge (of which I was so scared I forgot to take a photo)
I refer to going on a hike there the first time as the "Oh I have great knees, who needs trekking poles" hike where after I wondered if I would ever be able to walk again coming down all those lousy stinking rocks.
Oh well, there goes that idea. I was going to do this one tomorrow, early afternoon. Looks like a real putridly pleasant bushwhack. I think there will be some nice views tomorrow pm.
Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 3368 | TRs | Pics Location: Out Hating
Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:33 pm
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the most putrid of them all? I was wondering why the inside of the car smelled so bad on the way back to Seattle. Oh well, could have been worse - at least PutridTom and PutridJasper were in another vehicle.
Couple more pics:
-------------- PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
After that ugly report, I wish someone would me a hike within 1:15 drive that is doable leaving Seattle at 11a and returning by 5p. I think I'll be done with my work by 1030a or so tomorrow.
Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 341 | TRs | Pics Location: Burrowing in the snow
Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:50 pm
Yana wrote:
I was wondering why the inside of the car smelled so bad on the way back to Seattle. Oh well, could have been worse - at least PutridTom and PutridJasper were in another vehicle.
Dad is the one who stinks. I smell like a nice fresh pile of poop.
Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 3357 | TRs | Pics Location: Stuck in the middle
Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:51 pm
Dicey casually told me about this trip on Sunday, but never mentioned that it was practically an epic! Nice work toughing it out all the way to the top. The cornices look scary.
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 You cannot attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
), which apparently is also called the Dirty Harry's Peak trail.
lousy stinking rocks.
