[GeoTom]

?

[Ingunn]

Lack of sleep (and general laziness) kept me home from this one, and I can't really say I'm devastated to have missed it after seeing what lovely weather you had. Wouldn't have minded some brownies though.

[yukon222]

Thanks for writing up the TR, GeoTom! Looks like the true hardcore TNAB'ers turned out for this one. Less than stellar weather but you got it done. Congrats. Sorry I didn't make it (BUT I DID HAVE AN EXCUSED ABSENCE AHEAD OF TIME!! ).

[Malachai Constant]

Too bad you guys got a late start and missed the sun and panos . The hiking conditions were actually pretty good as the usual problems here are heat, bugs and loose dirt. I was beginning to feel it would be a solo hike and was getting lonely. A bit more snow than expected but back to the cars before dark. Great exercise in any event.

[Dayhike Mike]

[Sadie's Driver]

Gosh - those summit views look about the same as ours did a few weeks ago. I don't believe there ARE views from that summit - don't see no stinkin' proof of any!!! s.d.

[yukon222]

SD, there were a couple last year at TNAB Snoqualmie Mtn.

Rainier looking mighty fine

Spectacular summit sunset

Soft golden evening light

I can't vouch for any in 2009 though!

[Sadie's Driver]

[joker]

Nice work. Not sure I could do that sort of door-to-door time these days. FYI, this time of year, it can be quite nice on the descent to head left soon after dropping down from the summit (the right spot is pretty obvious, as most others would involve a cliff drop or otherwise impractical travel), do a descending snow traverse (with a little non-snow here and there) over to that next rib over to the east at the other side of the basin, and follow that down to the saddle between Snoqualmie and Cave Ridge, and then drop to the basin floor, follow the stream down and re-join the up-trail just above the waterfall. If you're comfortable on snow and off-trail, it's easier walking, pretty. and a nice addition of variety, and you stop hearing highway noise for a wonderful but short while as you get to the lower parts of the basin. Or you can descend the ball-bearing ridge and perhaps slip and bang your butt .

[seattlehikertoo]

All TNABers that didn't show up are now on detention

[moosefish]

Well, shoot. I wish I'd heard of that alternate descent before today. I'd have at least tried to talk to others into it. I know Erik and I were looking down into the basin from the ridge longingly...

[seattlehikertoo]

That basin looked way better for travel. I couldn't see if it would take us in the right direction eventually or not due to the spectacular visibility we were enjoying.

[Malachai Constant]

I considered that descent. In previous years we descended that way usually accessing the basin by a standing glissade. This year there was only a narrow band of snow on top with a fairly long band of loose rock before you reach the basin below which was still snow covered.

[joker]

Yeah, I've done it when after the first strip of snow (which we traversed cautiously - no standing glissade in that condition), you had to spend a little time crossing annoying talus before getting on snow (the big dog didn't like it that time - talus of that size gave him trouble), then a little more non-snow (but not annoying) then a little more snow down a gully feature, before getting onto what I'll call the "east rib" and we still thought it was worth it, in part for variety and in part to avoid the ball bearings and have a little less sustained steepness. But for folks who are intrigued by the notion, the period of worthiness does end as the snow melts, and if, in conditons that MC describes as having seen yesterday, you try to drop too quickly in the basin there are unsavory slopes and/or cliffs that you'll likely encounter. The key is think "descending traverse to that far rib." I've never been there early enough to simply glissade the basin directly to the bottom. It has always been a pre-July 4 endeavor for us, but never earlier than late June (before then is clearly ski season!!). Yeah, it took a little nudging of my partners the first time we tried it

[gone]

Nice report and pics GeoTom, and good work TNAB! My scaredy cat status probably falls short of an excused absence, so I'll accept my detention and try mightily to make it up next Thursday! Btw, I dropped by the Pour House around 11PM, thinking it'd be a late one, and learned that your small group had already come and gone. Was glad to learn you were all safe, but sorry to have missed you. Catch you next week!