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Sadie's Driver Sadie's Driver
Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics Location: Welcome Pass |
Well, we WOULD BE Gold Diggers, but we had to settle for Silver! Today was to be a brief weather window of semi-decent/maybe even sun day! So, Elle & Izzy and Barb joined Gus and the Driver for an ascent of Silver Peak (5605') (I-90). Our approach would be from the Annette Lake Trailhead up to Ollalie Meadows and on up to the northwestern ridge of Silver. Only two other cars were in the parking lot as we arrived about 8:15 a.m. - a couple of Geo-cachers were hanging around and agreed to document our departure.
Trio at trailhead
We were on the trail by a little after 8:30 a.m. It was all dirt - in fact, dirt until we got to about 3700' - looked a lot different from the trip Opus, Gus and the Driver did last year! Silver Peak April 30, 2009 There was A LOT of water in the creeks.
Izzy, Gus and Elle on bridge crossing the creek Full creek John Wayne Trail - creek behind Crossing a full creek above John Wayne Trail
We jumped off the Annette Lake trail at about 2500' - the typical way to get up to the ridge that takes you to Ollalie Meadows. But, it sure looked a LOT different from the previous three trips I've done up to Silver via this route. NO SNOW! Making travel a bit slower because of all of the under brush we had to negotiate. We got just below the ridge along Ollalie and the snow started - but not really decent snow and lots of small Douglas Fir to negotiate - and these little trees were loaded with water!
Coming through the small Doug Fir
We struggled through the trees that normally would be covered and much easier to navigate. But the weather was decent and our pace picked up as we got into the more open areas of the Meadows.
Not a bad day! In Olallie Meadows Silver in the distance
As we started up above the Meadows and making a bee-line for Silver's Northwestern Ridge, we started to see fresh boot prints (right about where there is a dirt road during the summer). Definitely, someone was above us - and there were ski tracks too. Yup. As we turned to the south a bit to climb the chute, we saw three folks ahead of us - two skiers and one hiker.
Two skiers heading up to Silver's Ridge Heading up to the upper bowl - two skiers and hiker
We quickly caught up with them. The snow is in great condition - easy to boot and consolidated enough to not worry about avalanche danger.
Encounter in bowl below Silver's Ridge (looking north)
The hiker was more than happy to let us proceed and kick steps - and meanwhile, Gus was impatiently waiting for us above!
Where are you guys???? Gus at upper bowl
The Driver took the lead up to the ridge - probably the steepest part of the trip (very short) - reaching the ridge and watching the "technique" offered by Barb to get to the ridge!
Barb and Elle reaching the ridge Barb belly-flops to the ridge
Elle used a different approach . . .
Elle reaches the ridge
And we could see the solo hiker below getting ready to follow our route.
Hiker below the ridge
We stopped for some pics from the ridge . . .
Silver ahead - Barb and Elle on ridge Lake Annette surrounded by her friends Looking northwest from Silver's western ridge Looking southwest from Silver's western ridge - Lake Annette below and Abiel above Driver, Elle and Barb with Gus in front
And then made our way toward the summit of Silver - but we wouldn't get too far because the snow conditions began to deteriorate as we progressed along the ridge.
Crack in the snow along the ridge at point of avi
We got to just about the same place where David and I turned around last year - a mere 150' below the summit. We called it good here and had some lunch, taking in the views . . .
Looking east from Silver's western ridge Looking east along Silver's east ridge line
And then, made our way down off the ridge with some fabulous glissades (the other hiker and the two skiers stopped at the ridge below us and made their way back - they had come up from the Hyak parking area.)
Barb glissading off of the ridge Elle and Izzy coming down Cornice along the ridge
We headed back down at a fairly good clip because of a couple of nice glissades, but when we got back to the Ollalie Meadows area we were slowed once again with making our way through the small Doug Firs and descended a little farther to the north than our route up and ended up in Slide Alder
Show-off1
And lots of "greenery."
Tip-toeing through the tangle . . .
No matter, back on the trail before long (much closer to the John Wayne Trail). Good day. 3600' of gain, maybe 8 miles roundtrip. Back to the car by about 2:00 p.m. Lovely day out in the mountains with great pals! (two-legged and four legged)
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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puzzlr Mid Fork Rocks
Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 7220 | TRs | Pics Location: Stuck in the middle |
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
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Thu Jun 03, 2010 6:35 pm
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TrailPair Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1699 | TRs | Pics
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I guess we were lucky when we did that route with you and Opus in 2008. The brush was covered with snow and the summit ridge was almost snow free!
This thing called work is interfering with my play
This thing called work is interfering with my play
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wolfs Member
Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 302 | TRs | Pics
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wolfs
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Thu Jun 03, 2010 11:07 pm
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Anyone in your group lose a GMRS radio? Found one at top of the Windy Acres clearcut. PM me if it's yours.
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BarbE Member
Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 1153 | TRs | Pics
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BarbE
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Fri Jun 04, 2010 9:43 am
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A fun day and an interesting route to Silver.
We carried snowshoes, micro spikes, ice axes and rain gear-didn't need any of it.
Impressive bridge and waterfall a fine playground This will be more fun on the way down Gus and Isabel waiting catching up to a fellow hiker Elle clears last obstacle to ridge Annette Lake so close Gus and the babes getting higher on the ridge leaving melting snow at Ollalie Meadows Warning-this is not a trail! much better to hug this one than.. ... shrubs & slide alder
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Go Jo of the lykkens
Joined: 08 Jun 2003 Posts: 2248 | TRs | Pics Location: Around The Bend |
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Go Jo
of the lykkens
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Fri Jun 04, 2010 11:49 am
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Sadie's Driver wrote: | The Driver took the lead up to the ridge - probably the steepest part of the trip (very short) - reaching the ridge and watching the "technique" offered by Barb to get to the ridge!
Barb and Elle reaching the ridge Barb belly-flops to the ridge |
While I certainly miss BarbE at TNAB (hint hint ) it's almost worth her absence to see the belly flop summit style on film
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BarbE Member
Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 1153 | TRs | Pics
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BarbE
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Fri Jun 04, 2010 12:56 pm
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Hey Jo, just so you know- that's how the pros do it! I'm willing to give lessons
Would have joined you on Margaret, but I was there just a few days ago.
Hope it was a fine TNAB!
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Snowdog Member
Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 1028 | TRs | Pics Location: on (& off) the beaten path |
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Snowdog
Member
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Fri Jun 04, 2010 3:00 pm
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love the 'swacking! I have the bruises to prove it. My few pics are poor cousins to both of yours-
'we don't have time for a shortcut'
'we don't have time for a shortcut'
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beaudaddy Coast To Cascades
Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Posts: 401 | TRs | Pics Location: Tulalip, WA |
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beaudaddy
Coast To Cascades
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Fri Jun 04, 2010 3:33 pm
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beaudaddy Coast To Cascades
Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Posts: 401 | TRs | Pics Location: Tulalip, WA |
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beaudaddy
Coast To Cascades
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Fri Jun 04, 2010 3:37 pm
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Quark Niece of Alvy Moore
Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 14152 | TRs | Pics
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Quark
Niece of Alvy Moore
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Fri Jun 04, 2010 6:59 pm
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The belly-flop is a stylin' move.
If I flopped my belly on a summit, I'd probably bounce off.
"...Other than that, the post was more or less accurate."
Bernardo, NW Hikers' Bureau Chief of Reporting
"...Other than that, the post was more or less accurate."
Bernardo, NW Hikers' Bureau Chief of Reporting
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Dave S Member
Joined: 11 May 2007 Posts: 5 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle, WA |
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Dave S
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Sat Jun 05, 2010 10:16 am
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I was the fellow hiker. Thanks for the photos.
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Highwalker's Daughter Member
Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 1575 | TRs | Pics Location: Bothell, WA |
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