[beaudaddy]

I got off work yesterday 5/14/2010 and was hungry for a quick hike, good prominence, snow and sunsets. Because I had recently read a REDWIC TR a couple weeks ago, North Mountain 3,840' came to my mind. This report will be a quickie with photos, cause thats about what it was. So it was a race to Darrington. Stopped on the way and grabbed a power bar, gas and water at the store. Guy told me that my stuff (water and bar) was going to be something like 438 pennies, I gave him the typical fake laugh and was out... Stopped and took a picture of Whitehorse. I wanted to feel what it was like to be another yahoo at the 530 pulloff.

Whitehorse

Finally got into Darrington. Took a left at the light and headed out of town just a bit. Took another left on FSR 2810, pass a park which will be on your right and continue on the road. Do not take any lefts or rights, just stay on the main road. I promise, it comes to an end. SO AFTER 11 miles of logging road and my freshly polished rims now muddy, I made it to the locked gate at 6:45pm. Why would I think about washing my truck for a beautiful weekend? Got my photo taken by a rare spotted mountain mink.

Start of the Road Walk

Saw some cool flowers as usual. Saw a couple more, but what the heck.

Alpine White Marsh-Marigold

Alpine White Marsh-Marigold

Hit snow at about a 1/4 mile in. Roughly 3 ft on the road and I was breaking through about 18 inches. Pretty soft stuff. Right before you get to the false summit you see the tower.

Tower from the road

Come around the corner and more tower.

Tower in the evening light

From here if you want to snag, bag, tag the true summit just head toward Whitehorse and claim it in the brush... Do a little dance or whatever. Not to bad of a bushwhack, you will find that there are a couple spots that could hold the crown. The views are amazing on this mountain. Its a great Vantage point. Lets see if we can get some label action on some of these. Maybe make it fun for you, like it was for me. The colors just kept getting more amazing every minute until it was dark.

Mt Baker

Mt Baker

Northwest face of WhiteChuck seen from North Mountain

Looking Northeast

The Major Ones Left to Right: WhiteChuck, Pugh, Bedal & Sloan

The Major Ones Left to Right: WhiteChuck, Pugh, Bedal & Sloan

View of the Picket Range

Major Ones: White Chuck and Pugh

Looking Northeast

Jumbo and Whitehorse

Whitehorse

Whitehorse Mountain

Mt Baker

Twin Sisters And Mt Baker

Mt Higgins, Round Mtn, Highway 530 Valley and out toward saltwater

Last Bit of Sun and Baker

And then the sun was down far enough to walk back in the dark.

Last Bit Of Sun

[Redwic]

Nice! And thanks for the name drop.

[Sadie's Driver]

Gorgeous pics! Be gad you weren't on this trip! Odyssey on North Mountain by Opus - 2008 s.d.

[peltoms]

That is an awesome shot showing the exposure of the southwest face of Whitechuck.

[Jim Dockery]

Great shots, thanks for the photo TR idea.

[raising3hikers]

Very nice pics of the surrounding mountains

[beaudaddy]

Thanks for the comments everyone!!! Jim, this would be a good spot for a great mountain photo session. With your photography talents and probably nice equipment, the mountains would be at your mercy... . I just have a little Sony cybershot and no Photoshop. However getting good gear is on my wishlist, because I'm starting to love it!!! Sadie's Driver- now that is taking North Mountain to a whole new level... I wish I could have been a part of that expedition... Wow, what a cluster cuss of a time. Peltoms- White Chuck showed up in all of it's majesty. Prominent, Proud and very impressive!!! It was sweet to stare at it from this angle.