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Randy Cube Rat
Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 2910 | TRs | Pics Location: Near the Siamangs |
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Randy
Cube Rat
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Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:39 pm
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It’s true what they say; the best thing about some peaks is drawing a line through them when you get home. The Backcourt peaks were some of the first places I visited while making the transition from lake OCD to peak OCD. I remain loyal to the cause, but sometimes against my better judgment. Thursday of last week, Mike Collins invited me on this extended day trip. I had never liked the idea of the 12-mile approach into Opportunity, but I figured with the longer days this was as good a time as any, so Mike and I connected for the second straight week to make it happen.
With heads down we stomped out the first 6 miles or so in good time. We came to our first creek crossing and our only footlog of the day.
Crossing Chiwaukum Creek, Our Only Footlog of the Day
We continued up along the South Fork of Chiwaukum Creek until we were interrupted by a snake in the trail. Rubber boas don’t bite when investigated; instead they twist and constrict themselves into odd shapes just long enough for you to lose interest and walk away. However, they will make false strikes with their tail in an apparent parental distraction move while they consume young mice and birds.
Northern Rubber Boa, Constricting Phase.
At 7.4 miles we came to the intersection with the Painter Creek trail then continued another 1.6 miles to the intersection with the Index Creek Trail. After Painter Creek, the trail starts to lose its form and is encroached more often by brush.
On the trail, South Fork Chiwaukum Creek
At 10 miles, we broke out into a great meadow below Opportunity. A heinous brush slope lay above us, but the route further ahead didn’t guarantee better options.
Meadows Along the Creek
We went for the brush and paid a price. Over 900’ vertical feet of pure suck-fest.
Flop and Lean - Making a Route to Opportunity Hating the Route, Mike Emerges
Around 5500’ things improved. We crossed the major drainage separating Point 7157’ from Opportunity then continued up open slopes to the ridge near the summit.
High on Opportunity (~ 6800') Blooms High on Opportunity
An easy walk got us to the summit after 5.75 hours on the move. My first order of business was to check out Lake Charles. For 10 years I’ve always wanted to see this lake, but unfortunately it was still covered in snow!
The Elusive Lake Charles Mike on Opportunity Rock Fin, Opportunity Summit A View North, Opportunity Summit Area
Near the summit I noticed two large bucks heading down off the mountain in a different location than we had ascended. I was determined to find a better way down, so we followed their route and sure enough our descent was smooth through open forest. The deer know what’s up. It took us an hour to get from the summit back to the trail and soon we were back at the trail junction with Index Creek. Time to wade.
Muscling the South Fork Must Not Swim, South Fork Chiwaukum Creek
Once across, we followed the Index Creek trail for about 200 yards then left it and went straight up hill towards the summit of Painters Thumb. We gradually worked up and left until we intersected the SW ridge at 5300’.
Opportunity (R of C) From High on Painters Thumb
The ridge goes direct to the summit with easy travel the entire way.
Painters Thumb Summit Area Summit View (SW), Index Creek Drainage Painters Thumb Summit Snags
We mixed things up a bit on the descent in order to see some new terrain. We dropped to the NE down into the Painter Creek drainage. This was a good move as the travel was far easier than a drop back to Index Creek.
Bear Sign, Painters Thumb East Slopes Painters Thumb East Slope Blooms on the Descent Big Jim
The walk out Painter Creek was a highlight of the trip. Very scenic and lonely country through here.
Painter Creek Walls Along Painter Creek Trail Descending Painter Creek Trail Fault Line, Painter Creek Praying on the Fault, Crossing Painter Creek (~4400')
We took a left at the junction with the Hatchery Creek/Badlands trail and descended 1500’ back to the South Fork of Chiwaukum Creek. After a full day of snow melt the creek was raging. Ack!
Final Chiwaukum Crossing = Scary
My camera went berserk on me and I didn’t get any pictures of us crossing, but it was interesting nonetheless. Once on the other side, we prepped for the long walk back to the cars. I started to comment that we needed to watch out for our rubber boa on the way out when all of the sudden we saw another, larger one spread out across the trail. I had never seen one of these before this trip and we got two in one day, cool!
Northern Rubber Boa, Heating Phase
As is usually the case, the last few miles were long and we eventually had to get the headlamps out. This trip turned out to be much more about the adventure and camaraderie than the summits, but it was nice to take a Sharpie to the list when I got home!
Numbers: 25 miles, 9100’, 15 hours
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Justus S. Member
Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 1298 | TRs | Pics Location: WA |
Sounds like a very long day. Nice work! I guess the plus side to the creek crossings is you guys got to cool off.
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Randy Cube Rat
Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 2910 | TRs | Pics Location: Near the Siamangs |
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Randy
Cube Rat
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Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:23 pm
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I was surprised to see your name on Painters. As you know it's a long ways in there!
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Yet Member
Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 2634 | TRs | Pics Location: Happily Ever After |
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Yet
Member
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Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:32 pm
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Randy, I'm curious what color Sharpie you used to cross this one off?
You do such interesting trips!
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wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
Wowza ! You guys must be down to a 100 lb. by now.
Living in the Anthropocene
Living in the Anthropocene
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Stefan Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Posts: 5085 | TRs | Pics
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Stefan
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Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:47 pm
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Glad to see I am not the only person out there torturing my body.
DOOD that is a long day!!!
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Randy Cube Rat
Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 2910 | TRs | Pics Location: Near the Siamangs |
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Randy
Cube Rat
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Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:54 pm
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Yet wrote: | Randy, I'm curious what color Sharpie you used to cross this one off?
You do such interesting trips! |
BLACK
There can be no doubts.
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Randy Cube Rat
Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 2910 | TRs | Pics Location: Near the Siamangs |
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Randy
Cube Rat
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Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:55 pm
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wildernessed wrote: | Wowza ! You guys must be down to a 100 lb. by now. |
No. I still have my love handles!
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DIYSteve seeking hygge
Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 12655 | TRs | Pics Location: here now |
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DIYSteve
seeking hygge
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Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:08 pm
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25 miles and 9100 verts -- yeah baby! Looks like a great grunt adventure!
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yukon222 Member
Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 1893 | TRs | Pics
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yukon222
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Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:11 pm
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Type E Member
Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 1381 | TRs | Pics
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Type E
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Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:11 pm
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I am surprised you didn't climb Opportunity via Upper Grace Lakes it seems like a straighforward and shorter route. I have had way too much creek crossings lately. I am sure after as many as the two of you did on your trip you probably feel the same way.
E
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wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
Living in the Anthropocene
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Mtn Man Snow addict
Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Posts: 552 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline, WA |
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Mtn Man
Snow addict
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Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:21 pm
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I think you're officially "in shape" now. Nice TR!
B)
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Randy Cube Rat
Joined: 18 Dec 2001 Posts: 2910 | TRs | Pics Location: Near the Siamangs |
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Randy
Cube Rat
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Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:41 pm
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Type E wrote: | I am surprised you didn't climb Opportunity via Upper Grace Lakes it seems like a straighforward and shorter route. I have had way too much creek crossings lately. I am sure after as many as the two of you did on your trip you probably feel the same way.
E |
Not sure if it's as efficient if doing both peaks. I wasn't going to go back in here for Painters.
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Schmidt Alti-Babe The Ice Queen
Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 606 | TRs | Pics Location: Buried by backlogged pictures |
I wasn't aware of Opportunity Mountain and Painters Thumb though that's an area I'm very interested in. I too have longed to visit Lake Charles. Old lake bagger habits die hard I guess. Great trip report!
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