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belowfellow Transplant
Joined: 22 Feb 2009 Posts: 261 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
The drive to the Esmeralda Basin TH was longer than I had anticipated, partly from being stuck behind an SUV going 10-15 mph over the pot hole riddled road for the majority of its length. Hit the trail quite late at 11:00, TH was a zoo. I had planned on doing a short trip up to Headlight Basin to photograph some larches, but changed plans abruptly when I saw the crowds. Instead, I turned off of the Ingalls Way Trail at the 1.3 mile mark and headed up toward Longs Pass, on trail 1229 in search of some solitude. I reached Longs Pass quickly and took a few photos of Mt Stuart before heading up the ridge to the north. I had the ridge to myself and was at the base of Pt 6878, or Longs Pk as the register calls it, before I knew it. Once on the summit, I signed the register and took a few more photos. From the summit, the view of the route up S. Ingalls was alluring and I decided to go for it. After some quick downclimbing I was at Ingalls Pass and headed into Headlight Basin. The basin was buzzing with people and the trail was nothing more than a trough of slippery soup. Weather was still cooperative and Stuart even poked out of its veil of clouds a few times, just long enough to get a quick look and occasionally a photo. To top it off, the larches in the basin were ablaze with vibrant shades of gold and yellow. During the approach to S. Ingalls I encountered patches of sloppy wet snow intermittently for most of the way to the col, all of which added a little more excitement to the scramble. Upon reaching the col, I crossed over patches of snow and rock to easily attain the summit. After reaching the summit, I signed the register and checked out the route down the south side of the summit block. The route down to the saddle was very apparent and posed no problems. After a half an hour or so of milling about, I headed down a narrow chute down to the saddle and then down the talus and boulders back into the basin. As I left the summit, the west side of Ingalls was completely socked in and clouds were beginning to build to the north. I encountered some small snow patches in this gulley as well, but nothing substantial. The hike out was uneventful and I made great time. Another glorious day in the mountains.
10-18-09- stuart from longs pass 10-18-09- larix crop 10-18-09- traverse to ingalls pass fom longs pk 10-18-09- ingalls from longs pk 10-18-09- stuart and ingalls lk from s ingalls 10-18-09- foggy col 10-18-09- s ingalls register 10-18-09- larix under ingalls n 10-18-09- frozen herbage 10-18-09- larix under ingalls
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Hikingqueen Member
Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 2946 | TRs | Pics
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That drive is LONG w/o a slow car in front..and I imagine the zoo due to all the coverage on larches and featured hike on WTA..I did it in the summer like 97 degrees.. brutal.. I don't blame you for finding solitute and going another path.
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Tom Admin
Joined: 15 Dec 2001 Posts: 17857 | TRs | Pics
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Tom
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Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:43 pm
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Nice, I particularly like the shot of Ingalls Lake from South Ingalls with Stuart poking out above the clouds.
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Spotly Member
Joined: 06 Jan 2004 Posts: 3723 | TRs | Pics Location: Spokane Valley |
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Spotly
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Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:46 pm
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Very nice. What you've called "Longs Peak" is also known as Not Hinkhouse.
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EastKing Surfing and Hiking
Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Posts: 2082 | TRs | Pics Location: 77 miles from Seattle! |
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EastKing
Surfing and Hiking
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Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:49 pm
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Nice shots of the larches. Gives me ideas for next week. Excellent TR!!
YouTube | SummitPost
Saw the depths of despair. Now I am salvaging what time I have left on Earth.
YouTube | SummitPost
Saw the depths of despair. Now I am salvaging what time I have left on Earth.
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mhutch Member
Joined: 21 Sep 2008 Posts: 168 | TRs | Pics
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mhutch
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Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:28 pm
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great larch and stuart shots, nice work!
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Bryan K Shameless Peakbagger
Joined: 29 Sep 2005 Posts: 5129 | TRs | Pics Location: Alaska |
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Bryan K
Shameless Peakbagger
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Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:21 pm
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Nice looking shots!! I really like the pano shot of Ingalls from the pass.
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Radnord Member
Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 193 | TRs | Pics Location: Kitsap County, WA |
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Radnord
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Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:50 pm
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Thanks for the TR. I love that area; I haven't been back there for too many years now. The whole Teanaway is a ridge-runner's paradise.
To you, is it movement or is it action, is it contact or just reaction, and you, revolution or just resistance, is this living or just existance? Yeah you, it takes a little more persistence to get up and go the distance.
To you, is it movement or is it action, is it contact or just reaction, and you, revolution or just resistance, is this living or just existance? Yeah you, it takes a little more persistence to get up and go the distance.
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belowfellow Transplant
Joined: 22 Feb 2009 Posts: 261 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
Thanks to all for the photo love.
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