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Sadie's Driver Sadie's Driver
Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics Location: Welcome Pass |
Well, Middle E (Barry) had the Traveling Summit Register burning in his backpack, and since our planned trip to Bull's Tooth was unsuccessful last weekend, he needed to find a resting spot. Mac Peak had been in the back of his mind and Type E's (no relation) trip report from earlier this week about Mac was all the inspiration he needed!
Mac Peak with map .
But first, there was some unfinished business. The trip last week was cut short due to some unforgiving blow-downs hindering our progress. Now, Barry is a smart guy - a statistician in fact! So, he "Did the Math" and came prepared for anything we might encounter on today's trip. Read on for all of the details! (And, for a fuller explanation about math, you can read the commentary at the end of the No Bull Trip Report. )
Barb E and Tish joined us for this little jaunt. It was to be a stellar day - perhaps a little too warm. We weren't sure what to expect in the way of bugs, but we were armed . . . or so we thought! But, first things first - we need to deal with "habituated" bears first!
Beware! Oh my! Habituated Bears! Call the ATF!
Undaunted (or perhaps not too bright) we headed out.
Signing in at the Deception Creek TH
To get to the Deception Creek TH - drive the Foss Lake Road off of Hwy 2; split off just beyond the train tressel you drive under and head up towards Tonga Ridge. You will split off of this road - taking the lower road to the left (which isn't marked) at about 10 miles. Drive another ten almost to the end of the road. You'll see the TH sign. Sadly, you have to drop down 500' to Deception Creek - sad, because you have to regain this 500' at the end of the hike, when you least want to! We got down to Deception Creek (you actually CAN walk all the way out to Highway 2 from here! Why you would, I have no idea! )
It was here that we began the battle of the bugs! OMG - they were awful and would get nastier!
Ladies vs. Bugs
We forged on . . .
We would cross on the foot log over Deception Creek. Before long, however, we encountered the dreaded "BLOW DOWN!" But fear not, Barry was ready today!
He's ready . . . . Preparing to remove the obstacle I think he's done this before . . . Tough work - but someone's gotta' do it! Amazing . . .
The man is amazing! He really did Do The Math and was able to clear the way for us in no time!!!
From Deception Creek, you climb about 1900' to the Pacific Crest Trail. Right at that juncture, we basically headed up - Type E's map included in the link above, has a decent route to follow.
First boulder field almost immediately off of the PCT
You are in forest much of the way - sometimes finding a trail - sometimes not. You finally break out into a basin with a couple of small tarns. You need to keep going to get to the next set of tarns that are in the very open basin.
Mac in the distance
In this basin, you will see an obvious gully to the southeast - which will take you to the upper (and larger) tarn.
Obvious gully to the southeast in the basin below Mac
It's a little steep, but not too bad.
Some bouldering on the way to the upper tarn below Mac
From there, basically stick to the ridge - we stayed pretty much to the east side of the ridge almost all the way to the summit of Mac (Gus and I had to go on the west side at one spot where he had trouble negotiating some of the rocks and moat just below the summit - no big deal.)
Last push to Mac summit
The bugs had been feasting on us pretty much the whole way - but as we reached the summit, they were literally in swarms around us! Ugh. The summit of Mac can be seen before you actually get there.
Summit of Mac - register in view
You actually have to drop over to the west and then head up the final 25' to a very, very small summit. There you will find Fay Pullen's register (Type E and another group in July are the only ones in 2011; before that, the last visitor was in July of 2010!) - but now, there is a companion register - the NW Hikers Traveling Summit Register. Perhaps other adventurous souls will take up the challenge to visit this spot. The views are pretty cool - and Daniel DOES dominate!
Glacier from Mac summit Baker in the distance Not sure - Trico? Cathedral Rock
So, as for the title of this little tome, here's the Mac (summit) with "Cheese" and a side of flies (don't know if you can see the swarming little bas*ards!).
Mac with Cheese and a side of flies!
We didn't dawdle on top - maybe a whole 15 or 20 minutes! Soon, we headed back down.
Small moat remains on route to Mac summit Heading back down off of Mac Daniel dominates! Talus Lake below Mac Barry and Tish heading down to the tarn Largest tarn below Mac
I saw this peak and wondered (aloud) what it could be with those interesting terrace-like rocks . . . .
Doh! Terrace Mountain!
We kinda' did the same thing as Type E on our way down - we ended up at Deception Lakes - oops!
Deception Lake(s)
When I was last here in 2009 - the lakes weren't nearly so full (in fact, they were more like ponds and the bugs were horrible!) Because there was a bit of a breeze, the bugs weren't too bad here, but as soon as we got back on trail to head down, they were swarming once more. The rest of the trip back to the car was unremarkable - a bit warm - but a lovely day despite the bugs. We did not see any other people on the trail and only one car at the TH - likely they were overnighting somewhere, because the car was stil there when we got back around 5:30 p.m. Nice to have a light pack with no ice ax or other gear to carry. Just took trekking poles and used them. About 4600' of gain and around 10 or 11 miles. Nice trip! Now go get that Register!
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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Nietzsche's Horse Equine Philosopher
Joined: 16 Aug 2010 Posts: 92 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
This is a delightfully witty and entertaining trip report, but I am hung up on the fact of Barry's superhuman saw-work.
For example, I did my own math, and can only conclude that between "habituated bears" and the myriad swarms of bloodsuckers, Barry would not have survived long enough to cut that blowdown with that "saw":
Amazing . . .
So, what dark camera artistry is at work here?
"Trails are like that: you're floating along in a Shakespearean Arden paradise and expect to see nymphs and fluteboys, then suddenly you're struggling in a hot broiling sun of hell in dust and nettles and poison oak... just like life." - Kerouac
"Trails are like that: you're floating along in a Shakespearean Arden paradise and expect to see nymphs and fluteboys, then suddenly you're struggling in a hot broiling sun of hell in dust and nettles and poison oak... just like life." - Kerouac
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touron Member
Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Posts: 10293 | TRs | Pics Location: Plymouth Rock |
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touron
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Sun Aug 21, 2011 7:37 am
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Touron is a nougat of Arabic origin made with almonds and honey or sugar, without which it would just not be Christmas in Spain.
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BarbE Member
Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 1153 | TRs | Pics
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BarbE
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Sun Aug 21, 2011 9:56 am
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Good thing Barry carried his saw to clear the trail for this determined group about to give the register a new home.
This will be a great hike once the fall colors are happening and the bugs are gone.
The NW Hikers Traveling Summit Register is waiting-come and get it!
steep bushwhack up the gully just below summit long legs required! so happy together! Glacier from Mac summit cheese on Mac w/bugs come'n get it! Gus looks for alternate route fun moat scramble Barry and Gus leaving the summit Talus Lake & Junggeselle, another Backcourt 100 Terrace Mtn. the ridge below Mac Peak the tarn beckons Tarn below Mac Peak Deception Lake well fed Deception Lake frog
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Magellan Brutally Handsome
Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 13116 | TRs | Pics Location: Inexorable descent |
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
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Sun Aug 21, 2011 2:22 pm
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Sweet!
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Middle E no more moustache
Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 432 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle, WA |
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Middle E
no more moustache
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Sun Aug 21, 2011 2:26 pm
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Except for the bugs, this is an OK little peak. Even if the peak itself is not that impressive, the views from the summit are outstanding. The route finding is not hard with a good map, and fairly forgiving - meaning you can get there many different ways. With time and energy, it appeared feasible to get from the summit of Mac to either Swallow Tail or Junggeselle, although with considerable elevation loss and gain for either.
Thanks to Suzanne, Barb, and Tish for helping to place the Traveling Summit Register. Hopefully it will find a new home before snow flies!
Ladies debugging Daniel and southwest ridgeline Two registers Talus Lk with Junggeselle behind Descending to upper tarn Upper tarn Surprise behind tarn
Although I don't think the road goes much beyond the Deception Cutoff trailhead, for now it doesn't go anywhere beyond. About 100 yds past the trailhead it is completely blocked by avalanche debris.
Avalanche debris blocking road
pithy yet insightful signature
pithy yet insightful signature
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Highwalker's Daughter Member
Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 1575 | TRs | Pics Location: Bothell, WA |
I have to get back to that area on a sunny day! It looks so gorgeous. I just saw white two years ago. Glad you had a great day. That blowdown clearing was quite the feat .
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Stefan Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Posts: 5082 | TRs | Pics
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Stefan
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Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:04 am
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I really like the group pictures with your friendly bugs. It shows how many bugs there were!
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Dani Kimtah's Mom
Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 136 | TRs | Pics
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Dani
Kimtah's Mom
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Mon Aug 22, 2011 12:09 pm
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Great trip! The weather certainly cooperated for everyone this weekend.
Keeping GeoTom in line since 1998
Keeping GeoTom in line since 1998
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Roald Member
Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 367 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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Roald
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Mon Aug 22, 2011 12:34 pm
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Fun report! Thanks for the tip, although I will wait until the bugs are frozen.
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TrailPair Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1699 | TRs | Pics
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Beautiful spot, but I bet you are all glad you were not camping with those bugs!
This thing called work is interfering with my play
This thing called work is interfering with my play
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Schmidt Alti-Babe The Ice Queen
Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 606 | TRs | Pics Location: Buried by backlogged pictures |
Thank you for the great hike! I wasn't expecting as many skeeters as there were (think I went through my entire supply of deet ), but I really enjoyed knocking off another Backcourt Peak!
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