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Sadie's Driver Sadie's Driver
Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics Location: Welcome Pass |
In preparation for a celebration of Mother Nature's May Day, Opus, Gus and the driver decided to do a little warm-up. Well, actually, that's not totally true. You see, we had failed to deliver for Barry and Elle on Mt. Ellinor - promising this fabulous glissade that fizzled in the fog Glissading Ghosts. So, believing the weather forecasters David and the driver proposed a Thursday hike - because the weather was going to be "spectacular" as a make-up. We had grandiose plans of a North Cascades excursion - bigger and better than Sourdough! We'd show them. However, our reputation must have preceded us, because (strangely) no one joined onto our little jaunt. And then, work duties called the driver back to the office by mid afternoon, so we had to figure something Quick and Dirty - Silver (above Lake Annette) it would be. Our trip last year had been pretty awesome
Silver Peak 2008 so we figured a repeat was in order. We left Seattle at 7:00 a.m. and arrived at the end of the road at 8:00 a.m. (no other cars when we got there)End of the road Road closed
The folks in the other car headed up the road in the other direction while we headed towards the Annette Lake trailhead. Mother Nature needs to get her kids under control! They left their toys all over the place . . .Messy kids! Messy, messy, messy!
The whole way we saw more debris than I have ever seen along this route. Must have been a tough winter! We made good time - the snow was rock hard for the most part.Lovely morning up through the trees
When we broke out of the trees, it was sunny and warm and we started up the steep hill to the ridge along Olallie meadows, it seemed that the snow was softening. So, we put on snowshoes, but soon we were back in rock hard snow.Reaching Olallie Meadows in the sun and blue
But we kept the snowshoes on until we reached the "gully" up towards the ridge that runs to Silver.Our destination Lots of tracks up through the gully leading to Silver Steep climb to upper plateau - Gus at top wondering what's taking me so long!
When it got really steep, David decided to take his snowshoes off and just boot it.David coming up to the ridge Views toward the East Fork of the I-90
When we got up on top of the ridge, there were some great views - but we noticed that the blue skies were being pushed away with lower, darkening clouds.Lake Annette from the ridge Clouds moving in
We continued along the ridge, dropping to the west side a little for some side-hilling. The snow was again rock hard and the pitch was steep - we had a little problem in this same area last year - but it looked a little more agreeable this time. Although David and Gus seemed not to be having any trouble, I had slowed considerably - not liking the lack of grip and the fact that I was running out of time to make it back to Seattle by 2:00 p.m. So, reluctantly, we turned around with less than a 1/2 mile to go and about 150' vertical. We stopped back on the ridge for lunchLunch time
We agreed that it wasn't that disappointing because we WERE out on a mountain today rather than sitting at a desk! The best was yet to come, however. We may have been jinxed on Ellinor, but we were redeemed and rewarded on Silver with 4 fabulous glissades! Made quick work of our trip back to the car.
David inspecting his feet - Gus finding this most curious Gus pursuing David
Lower down, the snow had softened considerably and we were postholing a lot - but didn't stop to put on snowshoes.Snow had softened considerably! David slogging through the slush
Below the John Wayne we ran into a really nice gal with a dog in tow and "mice in a box" strapped to her pack Turns out, she makes this trek often and feeds some roosting Spotted Owls. We had a nice chat and wished her well. When we got back into the snow-blocked parking lot we came upon a "gang" of varying-equipped snowshoers/hikers who apparently were with a U of W class and just hitting the trail at the crack of 12:45 p.m. A gaggle of hikers
Interestingly, one of the "students" was Beth - who accompanied us on the ill-fated Welcome Pass (avalanche) trip! Hmmm, maybe there is a reason she ran from us quickly! Made it back to Seattle in time for the meeting. ~7 miles and 3400' of gain. Fun day.
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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Opus Wannabe
Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 3700 | TRs | Pics Location: The big rock candy mountain |
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Opus
Wannabe
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Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:26 pm
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Sure beats being at work, even without a summit!
Granite Mountain Water The sun! Gusto likes snow Ollalie meadows Snoqualmie peaks Gus wins the race Turnaround point The ridge Glissade!
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iron Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 6391 | TRs | Pics Location: southeast kootenays |
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iron
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Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:37 pm
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wish i could have joined you guys. that's such a nice peak with the wide expanses of fellow snowy mountains. and so close!
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twodogdad Member
Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Posts: 846 | TRs | Pics Location: seattle |
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twodogdad
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Fri May 01, 2009 10:56 am
silver
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Opus wrote: | Gusto likes snow |
It doesn't get any better (including the little twig in the background). One of these days you can publish a coffee table book of dog shots.
You arsed down (excuse my french) toward the meadows, right?--not the lake. I was wondering how good the snow was closer to the lake because it's such a great run (we didn't have time for it last week).
Driver, what was the big NCNP plan (if it's not a secret)? tdd
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Sadie's Driver Sadie's Driver
Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics Location: Welcome Pass |
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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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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Fri May 01, 2009 11:34 am
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I like Gusto's style, but am wondering if he has been purposely avoiding me.
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Sadie's Driver Sadie's Driver
Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics Location: Welcome Pass |
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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twodogdad Member
Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Posts: 846 | TRs | Pics Location: seattle |
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twodogdad
Member
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Fri May 01, 2009 1:40 pm
Re: Avoidance
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Cerveza Member
Joined: 02 Apr 2009 Posts: 79 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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Cerveza
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Sat May 02, 2009 8:22 pm
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Beth a.k.a Cerveza a.k.a. Man Hands
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