Forum Index > Trip Reports > YES! peak - 2010-08-14
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iron
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Joined: 10 Aug 2008
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Location: southeast kootenays
iron
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PostMon Aug 16, 2010 5:19 pm 
engagement ring
engagement ring
will she say yes? some people call it dakobed; others call it glacier peak. for me, it's now YES! peak.
the ring!
the ring!
and a kiss ::)
and a kiss smile.gif
it's quite an amazing life i have, job or not, consistent pain in my hip or not, and any other fill-in-the-blanks or not. i'm a lucky guy and just multiplied that luck factor by an immeasurable amount! hotpantz and i climbed YES! peak via the now-standard north fork sauk. it was a late seattle departure on friday, allowing us to reach the trailhead at 7:30p and start hiking ~7:45p. about half way to the mackinaw shelter, headlamps were donned. thankfully, she had an extra as mine was missing. d'oh! we made it to the shelter area ~10:00p under crystal clear skies. set up the tent in what appeared to be the last spot available, made dinner, and went to an avy clearing to watch the meteor showers. i already felt the specialness of the trip. next day, lazy start. out of camp ~7:15am. did the fun switchbacks in mostly cool air and a good breeze, which were both nice given the record-high setting forecasts. quickly, i noticed my heels were getting destroyed since i was borrowing a pair of hotpantz' boots while mine were in the shop. ouch. the pain was great for most of the trip, and it really took a lot of energy out of me to walk with all quads and no calves, but i knew i wanted this trip to be the trip i asked her to marry me. on we go! around white pass, the flowers were starting to shine. i think they're still at peak. little did i know there'd be a veritable PCT-like trail leading towards YES! peak. sweet.
in awe of the flowers
in awe of the flowers
reaching for the sun
reaching for the sun
a heart for us
a heart for us
off with the shirt!
off with the shirt!
dark, yummy water
dark, yummy water
moss!
moss!
had no idea this trail existed
had no idea this trail existed
heather!
heather!
a perfect blend
a perfect blend
hotpantz and white river valley
hotpantz and white river valley
gorgeous summer day
gorgeous summer day
flowers everywhere
flowers everywhere
we see you
we see you
barren here
barren here
waving grasses
waving grasses
over the ridge and into the white chuck basin. amazing. IMV, this area totally trumps the enchantments, but only at the sacrifice of a huge glacier. route finding didn't exist as there was either trail or footprints to follow. glacier gap brought more amazing views and a humbling sense of appreciation for the power of the mighty suiattle river, perhaps my most respected, so far, of all waterbodies in the cascades.
a new world over the ridge
a new world over the ridge
looks dauntingly far away still
looks dauntingly far away still
checking out the map with smiles
checking out the map with smiles
stripes
stripes
one of many stream crossing
one of many stream crossing
a different kind of enchantments
a different kind of enchantments
multicolored lake at base of former whitechuck glacier
multicolored lake at base of former whitechuck glacier
lava water
lava water
yellow green
yellow green
sloan presiding over us
sloan presiding over us
awesome
awesome
all smiles, like always
all smiles, like always
more hearts for us
more hearts for us
following snow to glacier gap
following snow to glacier gap
i'm smiling too ::)
i'm smiling too smile.gif
we roped up for all glacier travel, even though the route was reported to be excellent, which it was and still is. at this point, hotpantz literally dragged me up the mountain; she was strong and i was beat - likely a product of calve-less hiking and very painful feet.
at glacier gap, the route unfolds easily
at glacier gap, the route unfolds easily
trail on the ridge
trail on the ridge
hotpantz dragged me up the mountain this day
hotpantz dragged me up the mountain this day
nearing the only crux - the snow bridge at the junction of cool and suiattle glaciers
nearing the only crux - the snow bridge at the junction of cool and suiattle glaciers
crux
crux
snow bridge
snow bridge
still packed in pretty well
still packed in pretty well
cool glacier crevasses
cool glacier crevasses
down towards suiattle river valley
down towards suiattle river valley
rollover
rollover
COOL
COOL
lines every which way
lines every which way
fluting below the summit
fluting below the summit
yawn
yawn
looking back at route from disappointment/glacier saddle
looking back at route from disappointment/glacier saddle
the disappointment/YES! saddle was windy, but not sandpaper windy like the seven descending groups informed us. soon, we were atop this wonderful peak - a peak that seems to be, more often than not, my centerpiece area. if i've ever experienced a completely natural draw to anything in my life (besides hotpantz), YES! peak is it. winds on the summit were stiff. reported campsites nearby were buried. we summited around 5:30p and sat for ~2 hrs before determining we should descend just a hundred or so feet to what looked to be a wind-sheltered area and flat-ish. it was just enough room for her tent; well, actually part of it was downsloping considerably, but where we actually slept was good.
another trail!
another trail!
running water for our future campsite!
running water for our future campsite!
sloan, pilchuck, and puget sound
sloan, pilchuck, and puget sound
white chuck valley
white chuck valley
feeling high
feeling high
final steps to the summit
final steps to the summit
cool (near) and suiattle (far) glaciers
cool (near) and suiattle (far) glaciers
only sky remains
only sky remains
the sun led us to the exact point
the sun led us to the exact point
baker
baker
no campsites up here :(
no campsites up here frown.gif
brr. i thought it was 90* in seattle
brr. i thought it was 90* in seattle
warming up the hands
warming up the hands
three fingers and whitehorse
three fingers and whitehorse
layers
layers
stuart and the bulk up the upper route
stuart and the bulk up the upper route
disappointment and saddle
disappointment and saddle
combing the hair at 10000ft
combing the hair at 10000ft
smoke from the olympics, creeping in
smoke from the olympics, creeping in
food doesn't rehydrate as well at this elevation
food doesn't rehydrate as well at this elevation
me, starting to get nervous...
me, starting to get nervous...
getting cold; time for sleeping bags with dinner and sunset
getting cold; time for sleeping bags with dinner and sunset
glacier peak's shadow
glacier peak's shadow
adios sun
adios sun
olympic smoke
olympic smoke
okay, really nervous now
okay, really nervous now
gone
gone
the darkest red sky we've ever seen
the darkest red sky we've ever seen
i-5 corridor of the puget sound
i-5 corridor of the puget sound
as we ate, i struggled to find the courage to ask the question, not because of doubt or similarly flavored feelings, but because i wanted it to be perfect. but with fading light and falling temps, i knew it was time. bending on one knee on lose dirt and steep-ish terrain was, err, interesting. eventually i found my footing and the words. the next 24 hrs until we returned to seattle were pure magic. no words can, nor should, be used to describe what we were feeling; they are deep and unique and beautiful. the descent from the summit took us from ~9:30a to 7:30p, slowed by taking way too many pictures, a nice swim in the upper-most tarn in the white chuck basin area, torn up heels, talking to people, a dip in the north fork sauk, and rigging up orthotocrocs (crocs + orthotics). but, it's ok to be slowed sometimes, especially when you're spending it, one-on-one, with the person you care about most. we celebrated, again, with beers at the car while taking another dip in the north fork sauk.
happy morning ::)
happy morning smile.gif
it's too bright
it's too bright
not a bad deal to wake up and see my fiance amongst gorgeous mountains
not a bad deal to wake up and see my fiance amongst gorgeous mountains
tent view to the east
tent view to the east
getting some water
getting some water
a humble abode
a humble abode
farewell tent site
farewell tent site
see ya, YES! peak
see ya, YES! peak
heading to disappointment peak with some nice crosswind
heading to disappointment peak with some nice crosswind
flying
flying
cakewalk to disappointment
cakewalk to disappointment
now hotpantz is COOL too
now hotpantz is COOL too
dirty crevasses. they should really clean their crack
dirty crevasses. they should really clean their crack
reluctant to head back to the land of green
reluctant to head back to the land of green
now, to remember where we crossed exactly
now, to remember where we crossed exactly
a monster flying bug
a monster flying bug
laying down some boot tracks
laying down some boot tracks
i now better appreciate the power and beauty of the suiattle river and its headwaters
i now better appreciate the power and beauty of the suiattle river and its headwaters
color layers
color layers
walking the ridge, now with less clothing ::)
walking the ridge, now with less clothing smile.gif
lazy step
lazy step
skinny legs
skinny legs
monte cristo range looking intimidating
monte cristo range looking intimidating
examining the underground water source
examining the underground water source
great texture
great texture
small tarn mimicing the sky
small tarn mimicing the sky
we found a wand; now it looks like hotpantz is armed with an antenna
we found a wand; now it looks like hotpantz is armed with an antenna
carving a turn
carving a turn
lava rock
lava rock
big rocks
big rocks
there's a spider coming right at me!
there's a spider coming right at me!
silty stream crossing
silty stream crossing
and now, a refreshing dip; we could feel the cold of the icy lake pouring onto us at this point
and now, a refreshing dip; we could feel the cold of the icy lake pouring onto us at this point
more boot skiing
more boot skiing
and... transition
and... transition
back at the mackinaw shelter, taking a dip and cooling off for the last descent
back at the mackinaw shelter, taking a dip and cooling off for the last descent
yoga in the north fork sauk? nah, just icing the knee
yoga in the north fork sauk? nah, just icing the knee
taking off the boots and using crocs + insoles and velcro straps for the last 5+ miles of trail
taking off the boots and using crocs + insoles and velcro straps for the last 5+ miles of trail
a new best seller for sure
a new best seller for sure
tree growing out of rock
tree growing out of rock
lush forests
lush forests
gnarly roots
gnarly roots
dinosaur plants
dinosaur plants
all week long, leading up to this trip, this moment in our lives, i had one song embedded in my head:
Ahh Home. Let me go home. Home is wherever I'm with you. ... Ahh home. Yes I am ho-oh-ome. Home is when I'm alone with you. and it's true with hotpantz; i've known it ever since we met. as she said that night: "live simply and love deeply"

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Chief Joseph
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Joined: 10 Nov 2007
Posts: 7676 | TRs | Pics
Location: Verlot-Priest Lake
Chief Joseph
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PostMon Aug 16, 2010 5:25 pm 
That's simply AWESOME! up.gif I tried to get a shot of you guys from 7FJ but my zoom was not zoomy enough. You are right we are all truly blessed to have what we have. Great pics as well!

Go placidly amid the noise and waste, and remember what comfort there may be in owning a piece thereof.
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belowfellow
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Joined: 22 Feb 2009
Posts: 261 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle
belowfellow
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PostMon Aug 16, 2010 5:30 pm 
Congrats on the engagement and a nice climb. up.gif

"Wilderness is bliss"
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Yet
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Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Posts: 2634 | TRs | Pics
Location: Happily Ever After
Yet
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PostMon Aug 16, 2010 5:30 pm 
iron wrote:
as she said that night: "live simply and love deeply"
She's a keeper. Congratulations to you both! wub.gif

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Quark
Niece of Alvy Moore



Joined: 15 May 2003
Posts: 14152 | TRs | Pics
Quark
Niece of Alvy Moore
PostMon Aug 16, 2010 5:34 pm 
godDAM, that's a gorgeous ring. smile.gif Lovely Glacier Peak and route and lake and rock (volcanic) photos, too! Very different than other pics of this trip. Jeez, I can't believe I mentioned the ring before Glacier Peak. Mama, what's happening to me? confused.gif

"...Other than that, the post was more or less accurate." Bernardo, NW Hikers' Bureau Chief of Reporting
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Ingunn
Hiking Viking



Joined: 01 Feb 2008
Posts: 1751 | TRs | Pics
Location: Redmond
Ingunn
Hiking Viking
PostMon Aug 16, 2010 5:36 pm 
Congratulations!! wub.gif You couldn't have picked a better place or, it seems, a better lady. up.gif

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Grizzy
Yellow Cedar Hugger



Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 1936 | TRs | Pics
Location: Switchbacks
Grizzy
Yellow Cedar Hugger
PostMon Aug 16, 2010 5:37 pm 
Congratulations! What an awesome place to do that! A FIVE banana TR! up.gif banana.gif banana.gif banana.gif banana.gif banana.gif

All the birds have flown up and gone; A lonely cloud floats leisurely by. We never tire of looking at each other - Only the mountain and I. ~Li Po~
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wamtngal
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wamtngal
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PostMon Aug 16, 2010 5:38 pm 
Congrats! A small group of us were over in upper Leroy Basin looking at YES! Peak on Saturday night, admiring the sunset. I have a handful of shots from that day (day and one fuzzyish night sunset shot) if you want one from afar... biggrin.gif

Opinions expressed here are my own.
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Zukismom
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Zukismom
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PostMon Aug 16, 2010 5:47 pm 
party.gif party.gif party.gif party.gif rockband.gif rockband.gif rockband.gif rockband.gif chickenleg.gif chickenleg.gif chickenleg.gif chickenleg.gif up.gif up.gif up.gif up.gif

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EJ
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EJ
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PostMon Aug 16, 2010 5:58 pm 
Awww... smile.gif I'm pretty sure my friend and I were one of the parties who told you about the sandpapery winds above (they nearly blew me off the ridge!) You were just gearing up for glacier travel and my friend asked you how you liked your harness.

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Quark
Niece of Alvy Moore



Joined: 15 May 2003
Posts: 14152 | TRs | Pics
Quark
Niece of Alvy Moore
PostMon Aug 16, 2010 6:00 pm 
EJ wrote:
my friend asked you how you liked your harness.
C'mon, man - that's rude. They just got engaged.

"...Other than that, the post was more or less accurate." Bernardo, NW Hikers' Bureau Chief of Reporting
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raising3hikers
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raising3hikers
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PostMon Aug 16, 2010 6:30 pm 
up.gif Congrats to the both of you! Nice climb also

Eric Eames
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kite
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kite
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PostMon Aug 16, 2010 6:38 pm 
Most excellent!

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silence
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silence
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PostMon Aug 16, 2010 6:39 pm 
awesome ... am i surprised? not! congrats you guys .. neat that you cinched it on yes peak ..

PHOTOS FILMS Keep a good head and always carry a light bulb. – Bob Dylan
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Mtn Dog
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Joined: 01 Aug 2004
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Mtn Dog
Technohiker
PostMon Aug 16, 2010 6:43 pm 
Awesome, Iron. A match made in Heaven!

Footprints on the sands of time will never be made sitting down.
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