[D. Inscho]

Like most, I tend to seek out destinations that are wild with silence and solitude, but this year’s snowpack seems to be intent on an encore performance, rendering other late-spring goals too “steep & deep”. So Park Butte was it for me, right in the middle sno-mo country. I resolved to be at peace with the bargain; for a sunny weekend on a summit I would just have to suck some fumes and trade away any expectation of quiet.

From the LO window

In a bid to beat the petrol-based recreationists, I left the house at 5a, and parked the truck at 2800’, 2.5 miles from the TH. I was walking by 7a. All was quiet as I skinned upward on the promised wave of high pressure; the drizzle had stopped and the clouds were dissolving away.

Kulshan revealed while inbound

Tele skis were not necessary since the snow was well-enough consolidated, however, they would make departure day more sporting . This was likely my last trip on them having just gathered a used A-T outfit (the new Dynafit bindings arrived in the mail Thursday). My “winter” route ascended Rocky Creek to about the 4300’ level where I attained the west moraine ridgeline before cornices became a barrier; this also has the added benefit of easing passage over the creek itself, being entirely buried by snow at that point.

Looking up Easton Glacial channel from west moraine

I then roughly traversed to Morovitz Meadow through old-growth at 4500’. The remaining 900 foot ascent was in the open.

Almost there!

It took 4 hours.

My transport

That's better!

Other than capturing a moonless starscape, a new moon in the west, and spending long periods in indolent fraternization with our local volcano, I wanted to document the winter damaged railing to share with the Forest Service for later repairs (although it was mostly about the indolence part).

New moon in old light over Twin Sisters with the Strait of Georgia reflecting below.

A visit by the Karate Kid? Or rammed by an iceberg?

This is from Park Butte Lookout SW of Mt Baker in WA State

Walk the plank! Something to help with the snow-moat. Can be withdrawn in case of attack.

A room with a view.

Friday was relatively quiet, but by 9:30a on Saturday I could hear the drone of machines in the distance; it had the same effect on me as would a mosquito hovering near my ear. All hell broke loose by 10:30 as machines crossed the Wilderness boundary 300m away to park just below the LO. One would have parked right up to the railing had I not been sitting on the snow reading (almost runn’d me over). This went on till 5p, nonstop, posse after posse riding up, smokes & beers…

Parking lot.

Nice folks though; I enjoyed chatting with most of them. I learned a lot about their machines (2 stroke, 4 stroke, turbo, 5000-$20,000 machines) and why it is such a special area to ride. Some of them are funny without even trying, like those who scream up near-vertical slopes hanging on by a gizzard, under the threat of avalanche, yet skitter around the LO catwalk hugging the walls like acrophobic mice.

Park Butte perch

Nights were pretty sweet, true darkness only squeezed into the hours between 10:30 and 3:30. I left the door open to Ridley Creek’s distant roar.

Park Butte sunset

After photographing sunset, sunrise, and some of that precious starlit darkness, little time was left for sleep. As described above, siesta was out of the question. (I was a bit sleep-deprived after 3 days & 2 nights of this).

Lookout's single candle power competes with greater Vancouver glow

Milky Way looking SE, Glacier Peak is lump to the left. Park Butte Fire LO is a regular stop on my spring Cascadian rounds. The reasons probably don't need explanation...

Park Butte Lookout and Kulshan

The ski out was quite a rollick. I had to wait till about ten so the snow was soft enough. I am not a very accomplished tele-skier, especially with a full pack, so “turns” included some head-over-heels type. My delayed start meant plenty of speeding machines on the way out. It was only threatening on the road section where it was tight quarters. High speed + curvy road+ washboard= their marginal control; mix in a representative from an alternative user-group and you get irritated sledders, sometimes almost ramming into each other while hitting the brakes. Thrilling.

Ptarmigan perch

View from below after LO was opened up.

So that was it, for 40 hours of silence and fresh air all I had to endure was 6.5 hours of shrieking machines and 2 stroke exhaust ; not much worse ( but worse none-the-less) than hanging out on a downtown Seattle street corner at rush-hour. Throw in the spectacular accommodations and call it a deal I say! Here is the promised time-lapse montage (feel free to make motor noises during the sno-mo scenes): Park Butte time-lapse from David Inscho on Vimeo.

[Hiker Mama]

Spectacular photos!

[Magellan]

Nice captures as usual D. Did you ask any of the sledders why they were inside the wilderness boundary?

[puzzlr]

Looks like a nice time, snow machines aside. Great night shots.

[peltoms]

What great views. Was Coors light the beer of choice? Can't wait to get on that trail.

[silence]

david .. i just looked at all your photos on flickr and commented there .. you answered some of my questions here .. great work .. beautiful images ..

[Bandanabraids]

I'm jealous! So beautiful up there and your pictures are amazing! I've been looking for an alternate route to get up there, but it looks like I'm just going to have to wait until it melts out a bit more Last year I did it in August and still had to cross two snow fields to get up there.

[Ingunn]

Fantastic.

[yew]

The Milky Way pic is frikken' amazing! Good to see its galactic star haze visible even with city lights off in the distance. You should write the US Forest Service in Sedro-Woolley and tell them about the snowmobiles within the Wilderness boundary.

[Schroder]

Those are great sunset and night photos Has the Wilderness Boundary been moved up there? The maps show it as right through the lookout so I was wondering... View larger size in new window

[cascadeclimber]

Fantastic pics. Truly great. The sled-head thing seems to have gotten out of control up there. Does anyone know what entity is responsible for enforcing the boundaries? I'm thinking it's time for some phone calling.

[D. Inscho]

[D. Inscho]

[D. Inscho]

Howdja know? Don't forget the M-boro smokes!

[D. Inscho]