Forum Index > Trip Reports > Dalles Ridge Double Banger - Little Ranger Pk. & Noble Knob
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Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher



Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 2993 | TRs | Pics
Location: Margaritaville
Bloated Chipmunk
Cock Rock Searcher
PostTue Jul 20, 2010 7:06 pm 
Yesterday MM & I headed out for a nearby leg-stretcher...something mellow enough so as to not wear ourselves out before a much harder trip later this wk. Little Ranger Pk. had been on the list for awhile, & since we were nearby we hit up Noble Knob. I'd been to Noble Knob once several yrs. ago but approached it from the south. This time we'd be coming from the west. From 410 we turned on FR 70 > FR 72 > FR 7250. The rd. is snow-free & not too bad w/the potholes & washboards. up.gif We got to the TH ~ 10AM & no one else was there. up.gif up.gif
View of Rainier from parking area
View of Rainier from parking area
TH
TH
The trail starts out more or less flat as it runs the crest of Dalles Ridge. In ~ 0.5 mi. we reached the junction w/the trail to Lil' Ranger.
Peek-a-boo views
Peek-a-boo views
Views to the NE
Views to the NE
Distant Stuart
Distant Stuart
MM
MM
Sunlit trees
Sunlit trees
Rainier as seen along the trail
Rainier as seen along the trail
Beargrass
Beargrass
Beargrass
Beargrass
Beargrass
Beargrass
Views to the SW
Views to the SW
Castle Mtn. in the distance
Castle Mtn. in the distance
1st junction
1st junction
We turned right downhill, dropping ~ 300' to the next junction where there is a big shelter. Just after the shelter were some rocky outcroppings w/nice views to the south.
MM on the trail
MM on the trail
Next junction
Next junction
Shelter
Shelter
View south
View south
View s-se
View s-se
MM relaxing @ viewpoint on the way to Lil' Ranger
MM relaxing @ viewpoint on the way to Lil' Ranger
Rock knob & MM
Rock knob & MM
Sign about trail
Sign about trail
We continued on & watched the GPS & map closely for our arrival @ the high point on the ridge. The true summit of Lil' Ranger is reached just before the trail switchbacks @ a viewpoint & starts going downhill back into the trees. We took a few pics from here, then scrambled back up to the pk. Much to my surprise there was a summit register. I figured that this pk. might not be substantial enough to place a register, but here it was. There's a great view of Rainier & peaks to the s/se. Trees block the view back north...but that's OK since it's mostly clearcuts anyway. wink.gif
Looking up the Wht. River valley
Looking up the Wht. River valley
Rainier
Rainier
Airstrip in the valley
Airstrip in the valley
Pink blooms just shy of Lil' Ranger summit
Pink blooms just shy of Lil' Ranger summit
MM & Rainier
MM & Rainier
Little Ranger summit cairn, Rainier behind
Little Ranger summit cairn, Rainier behind
MM admires Rainier
MM admires Rainier
Zoom of Rainier from Lil' Ranger Pk.
Zoom of Rainier from Lil' Ranger Pk.
Pks. to the south
Pks. to the south
Castle Mtn.?
Castle Mtn.?
Pks. east of Little Tahoma
Pks. east of Little Tahoma
GP
GP
We lounged for awhile in the sun, then headed back up to the ridge. Up on top we turned right to continue on Dalles Ridge toward Noble Knob, about 2 mi. away. The trail is pretty level along the ridge, then drops to a saddle & climbs gently to the next trail junction which is unmarked but obvious. We turned left, heading north now to the knob.
Xs
Xs
Noble Knob
Noble Knob
Noble Knob
Noble Knob
One last junction & a bit more of a climb, & we found ourselves on top.
Phlox on slopes of Noble Knob
Phlox on slopes of Noble Knob
Phlox
Phlox
Green meadow & Rainier
Green meadow & Rainier
Heading up to the knob
Heading up to the knob
2 knobs
2 knobs
MM checks out ants inside this plant
MM checks out ants inside this plant
Rainier as seen from west side of NK
Rainier as seen from west side of NK
Summit views
Summit views
Zoom of Rainier from NK
Zoom of Rainier from NK
Shades of blue
Shades of blue
Kelly B
Kelly B
Mutton Mtn. & Castle(?) behind
Mutton Mtn. & Castle(?) behind
Lost Lk.
Lost Lk.
Tarns below Mutton Mtn.
Tarns below Mutton Mtn.
Rocky
Rocky
Twin knobs below
Twin knobs below
Squirrel on the summit
Squirrel on the summit
MM on the summit of NK
MM on the summit of NK
George Lk.
George Lk.
Castle Mtn.(?)
Castle Mtn.(?)
Twentymile Lk.
Twentymile Lk.
The mosquitos were pretty bad so we didn't hang out too long. We dropped down a bit & MM climbed the rocky "knob", which may be slightly higher than the main summit area but it was hard to tell for sure.
MM decides to scale the knob
MM decides to scale the knob
He gets a little higher...
He gets a little higher...
Almost there...
Almost there...
One more step...
One more step...
He got it!
He got it!
The trip out went pretty fast as it was mostly downhill or level. For the drive down, we took FR 72 directly to 410 instead of back to 70. This rd. was also in good shape & overall is pretty comparable to the other route. Back in Enumclaw we hit up El Camino once again, & enjoyed overhearing the drunken conversation of the table next to us..."lick it clean, put it away dry" "you're gonna get us kicked out" "can we take this silverware home?".... As they stood to leave they came over & apologized to us "Sorry you had to listen to us, we're leaving now"... I thought it was hilarious. dizzy.gif wink.gif

Home is where the hiking is. "Peaks that have come and gone four times should halt a man in his steps." -- William O. Douglas A balanced diet is a margarita in each hand.
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Type E
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Joined: 19 Aug 2006
Posts: 1381 | TRs | Pics
Type E
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PostTue Jul 20, 2010 9:08 pm 
I was thinking of you earlier today when I saw your name in the summit register on Harding. Good work!

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rooinater
JAWS



Joined: 04 Jun 2008
Posts: 251 | TRs | Pics
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
rooinater
JAWS
PostTue Jul 20, 2010 10:20 pm 
nice report! thanks for sharing, I was hoping to see a current report before I headed up there soon.

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