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Sadie's Driver Sadie's Driver
Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics Location: Welcome Pass |
Pondering where to go on what appeared to be a (likely) miserable day, the Schmidts + Yukon came up with an idea to just go an wander somewhere back by Lake Kachess and see what kind of trouble we could get into! There was something about picking up a Front Court 100 - Ugly Duckling Peak - as it turns out, you can just about drive to the top of the sad little sucker! So, Elle and I (Gus and Izzy) met Tish, Jer and Steve (Rowena and Keifer) in North Bend at the "bright and early" time of 9:30 a.m. with light rain falling. You take the Lake Kachess exit off of I-90 then drive until you get to FS 4948 (not the Rachel Lake trailhead) and then drive some more on borderline 4WD roads to get to the start of the Ugly - don't be expecting a trailhead sign!
Lake Kachess from FS Road 4948 Ready to go At the "trailhead" for the Duck Making our way up
As it turns out, it's all of about 1/2 mile from this point and 486' of gain!
Summiting Ugly Duckling HiBox from Ugly Duckling Mt. Margaret from Ugly Duckling Looking west from Ugly Duckling Swan Lake from Ugly Duckling Microwave tower on Keechelus Ridge Our cars below Ugly Duckling Steve as a sitting duck
Jer was a bit concerned about the possibility of getting lost, so he had his GPS with him . . . (after our trip to Baldy earlier this year, we weren't about to let him out of our sight either!)
Let's see - better get a way point Down off of Ugly Duckling Looking back at Ugly Duckling
Knocking that off in all of about 1/2 hour we decided, "What's next?" Having spied Swan Lake from Ugly Duckling's summit, we decided to stay with the avian theme and head to Swan Lake . . . with a slight detour over to Rock Rabbit upper and lower lakes - the was Gus' suggestion!
Reflection in Rock Rabbit Rock Rabbit Lake
These are all road walks - unless you decide to take Jer's short cut and virtually walk on water from one lake to another! Not recommended. We decided that Swan would be our lunch spot - Keifer couldn't wait.
Capturing Keifer at lunch Mmmmmm, lunch Yummy Looking west/southwest from Swan Lake Swan Lake looking west
It actually was turning out to be a lovely day here in the "Upper Teanaway" (it's ALWAYS sunny in the Teanaway!)
Lunch spot Reflection in Swan Lake The creature of Swan Lake Get it Gus! Got it! Lunch break at Swan Lake Carved face at Swan Lake Demonic Happy Face at Swan Lake
We pondered tackling another fabulous peak while in the vicinity, but decided the elevation gain of about 700' was probably too much for all of us - we might experience altitude sickness!
Ugly Maggie peak
So, we headed back to the cars and set our sights on another lofty summit - Snooze. When we were on our way in earlier today, we noticed three pick up trucks with three guys who were busily snipping away at greenery along the road - we didn't give it much thought until we saw these enormous stacks of boughs!
Bundles of branches Elle checking the clippings
Not sure if this is a sanctioned activity, but green holiday wreaths will be hitting your local stores soon!
Anyway, we continued on our way to another "drive up" peak - however, this was a bit steeper than Ugly, but we all made it!
Reaching the summit of Snooze Summiteers on Snooze Snoozin' on Snooze Peak Rowena wakes from her Snooze Afternoon skies above Kachess Clouds with a little blue Lake Kachess from Snooze peak Gus grants Teve a photo op Pondering another Snooze
And, not wanting to miss a moment, we couldn't let East King get all the glory . . . but Elle refused to remove her shirt!
East Queen in full pose!
Amazingly, we didn't get rained on and even had some lovely sunshine. We opted to continue on FS 4948 on our way back and connect to the Mt. Margaret Road (FS 4934) a fun way to avoid I-90 until the Mt. Margaret trailhead! And, yup, as soon as we drove over the Keechelus Ridge crest it started to rain! Oh well, great day out just poking around somewhat aimlessly with a good friends!
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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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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Sat Nov 06, 2010 11:46 pm
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YouTube | SummitPost
Saw the depths of despair. Now I am salvaging what time I have left on Earth.
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yukon222 Member
Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 1893 | TRs | Pics
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yukon222
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Sun Nov 07, 2010 12:00 am
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Amazingly good weather with nary a rain drop falling all day while we were out in the woods. The 4WD roads are in good shape with the brush recently cut back. Just a couple inches of snow at the Pass near Microwave Hill.
DSE_4173 - Bypassing the slick moss DSE_4176 - Row on the edge DSE_4190 - Ugly Duckling crew (and summit!) DSE_4191 - Toy cars DSE_4198 - Kiefer pays tribute to the Dogmother DSE_4199 - Queen of the Mountains DSE_4202 - Izzy wants more snow DSE_4206 - Rock Rabbit Lake DSE_4208 - Water dog at play DSE_4211 - Crazy angles DSE_4216 - Won't be many more reflections this year DSE_4223 - Mountain whippet DSE_4227 - Approaching Swan Lake DSE_4230 - Road does NOT continue thru! DSE_4242 - Eerie surface fog forms DSE_4244 - Reed grass at Swan Lake DSE_4246 - Clearing skies at Swan Lake DSE_4251 - Fading Fall color reflections DSE_4252 - The Moors DSE_4253 - Gus showing Row how it's done! DSE_4256 - Dog mayhem! DSE_4257 - Testing the waters DSE_4259 - Success! DSE_4262 - Row telling Kief the glorious story DSE_4264 - "Again?!?!?" DSE_4268 - Epic road walk! DSE_4271 - Doozy of a Snooze! DSE_4275 - Warming in the Sun DSE_4276 - Gus insisted on a portrait pic! DSE_4278 - Lake Kachess
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BarbE Member
Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 1153 | TRs | Pics
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BarbE
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Sun Nov 07, 2010 9:47 am
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Sadie's Driver wrote: | Summiteers on Snooze Snoozin' on Snooze Peak |
Sorry I missed out on the epic snoozing.
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the Zachster Member
Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 4776 | TRs | Pics Location: dog training |
Did you photoshop all that blue stuff in your pictures?
Looks like a fun day was had by all!
"May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am"
"May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am"
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puzzlr Mid Fork Rocks
Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 7216 | TRs | Pics Location: Stuck in the middle |
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
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Sun Nov 07, 2010 9:52 pm
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Ugly TR and a real snooze fest. Not even a single dead animal sighting. You're going to have to do better than this. Maybe wait for the snow and take a snowmobile to the summit. Yeah, that's the ticket!
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Sadie's Driver Sadie's Driver
Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics Location: Welcome Pass |
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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Schmidt Altitude Whippet Entourage
Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Posts: 803 | TRs | Pics Location: The Quah |
Thanks for a fun time everyone! By the way, it's the "Home Court" SD.
Upward to Ugly Duckling This peak has gone to the dogs....oh, and Dude and Yukon too. Looking towards Mt. Margaret and Swan Lake Ugly Duckling descent Never fear stick, Gusto is here! Rock Rabbit Lake What? No puddle too shallow for this dog! Puppy play Arrival at Swan Lake The sun makes an appearance over Swan Lake Caught making a dirt nest? The evidence is clear! Which one is scarier - Dude or the angry tree? Tough call! Sadie's Driver ascends Snooze Looking back over Kachess Lake The Snooze Crew
"Forest 101: These big wood stick things are called trees. The big rocks are called mountains, and the little rocks are their babies." Elliott from Open Season
"Forest 101: These big wood stick things are called trees. The big rocks are called mountains, and the little rocks are their babies." Elliott from Open Season
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Sadie's Driver Sadie's Driver
Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics Location: Welcome Pass |
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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