[Sadie's Driver]

Reminder: You're not lost if you don't know where you are going! OK - so I counted only 41 e-mails, Iron, to try and organize this trip. In fact, there really wasn't a destination until about 11:00 p.m. last night! It was decided (for a variety of reasons - wind, weather, distance, etc. etc.) to go to Stevens Pass (yes, on a Sunday!) and run an attempt on Well Digger's A$$. The count was at least 9. Well, then they started defecting . . . first there was Iron - something about already did three trips this week . . . wus . . . then there was Janet saying that she and GeoTom were going to follow Carla and Franklin up Salmon la Sac to Red Mtn. on Elle's advice. Well, the final stake to the heart was David (aka Opus) - - - he decides to "settle" for Tronson Ridge with Lauren. Well, ok, a quick recovery . . . but, the driver began to waffle. Perhaps we should join Janet, Geo, Carla and Franklin on Red for the hopes of better weather? In the end, it was agreed Well Diggers was the choice, since it would be a first for all of us. Collecting Barry, Eric, Jim K, and Gus, the driver took the boys to Stevens, with the hopes that the weather would improve from what the National Weather Service was saying! The weather did start to look better as we headed east. We got going at the incredibly early hour of 9:45 a.m. at the old Yodelin ski area parking lot (note: park in the upper lot to the southwest of the old Yodelin ski lodge - that's where you will start your trek). Now, some refer to this as Well Digger's Ass - but, I renamed it the Boys Buttocks . . because there were a LOT of them (BBs) - and we added a second "cheek" to our trek today. Plus, EastKing inspired us . . . East King's Butt Summit Here we go.

The BBs heading out . . .

Ridge we would head for

Lots of BBs around!

Splitting off fromt he skiers

More BBs heading up to the Digger

Skier ahead of us - lots of them today!

Not much to say about this little jaunt. Just head up from the parking lot to the old road - follow that if you like, or strike out on your own to the ridge. There were lots and lots of ski tracks . . . this is a favorite of the skinny board bunch. And we certainly saw a LOT of them today. You end up going by the old ski lift area . . .

Old ski lift footing on way to Well Digger

with views to the Digger's summit.

Gus with Well Digger off in the distance

We didn't go past the old lift shed on our way up, but saw it on our way down. Some skiers went that way rather than our route towards the shoulder of Pt. 5023. In any case, you wind up in a saddle just below the primary A$$. Another 400' and you're at a broad, treed summit, that goes on for a while - finally opening up with views below you to the Nordic ski area and then across to Arrowhead, Big Jim (although the REAL "Big Jim" was with us today! ) and the Chiwaukums.

The summit of Well Digger

Looking eastnortheast from Well Digger

Barry on the summit of Well Digger - Nordic Center below (looking east/southeast)

Eric, tempting fate, decided to see how motivated Gus is when it comes to food . . . trust me, he's motivated!!!

Gus attacking Eric for some sandwich - Big Chief off in the distance

Gus going to any lengths for a bite of sandwich

There were some fog-type clouds from our perch - but all-in-all, it was a lovely day, with barely a whiff of wind.

"Summit" of Well Digger

Chiwaukums across the way

Nordic ski area below us

The obligatory (albeit lopsided) summit shot . . .

Tilted hikers on the summit of Well Diggers (in the SUN!!!)

and then down we headed, deciding to add a second cheek to our journey. Eric is risking safety by summiting the high point of Pt. 5023 and jumping.

Eric breaking the summit cornice on Pt. 5023

Since it was still really, really early, we decided to explore the west side of the ridge and take a round about way back to the car - a perfectly lovely day.

Eric concentrating about his next trip

Barry and Gus with the Yodelin/Nason drainage ahead

Jim K on the way back . . .

Nearing the car, we ran into a nice couple who were out for a bc ski. They run the Beach Haven resort up on Orcas island and opted for a snow day . . . Nice gear!

BC skier heading in as we are coming out - nice skis!

Nice bindings on this bc skier

Somewhat satisfied with our adventure, the BBs head back.

BB's heading back to the car

Probably a couple thousand feet gain and maybe 5 miles (at the most) in just 3.25 hours (including a leisurely lunch) - but such a lovely day to be out. Nah-nah all you mid-week 'shoers!

[Middle E]

I had low expectations for this adventure, but obviously the weather turned out far better than expected, and the new powder (maybe up to a foot at the summit) was a treat. Not a long trip but we did manage to surmount the two cheeks and traverse the crack...er, saddle...in between.

Starting out

The road up

The Ass itself

Near the top

Jim Hill and Chiawakums

Toward Big Chief

Burned trees

[Magellan]

Way to keep it classy SD! Glad you guys got some sun. Worst job of a weekend forecast ever!!

[TrailPair]

It looks like my kind of trip!

[HitTheTrail]

The intro was an entertaining as the photos. Way to get out.

[iron]

sunshine? WTF is that?

[puzzlr]

Good lesson here -- if the trip isn't that notable, just pimp up the TR. Fun read

[Sadie's Driver]

[cartman]

[JimK]

A few more photos from the trip.

Parking Lot

Some Clouds

Flocked Trees

Welldigger's Ass

Ascending Ridge

Blue Sky & Snags

Arrowhead Mountain

Photo Break

[CC]

Burning trees, august 2008:

welldigger fire 2

welldigger fire 1

[JimK]

Thanks for the photos. I didn't realize the fire was so recent.

[Sadie's Driver]