Forum Index > Trip Reports > Snowy Tusk O'Granite 5566 (USGS Snoqualmie Pass) 2/27/2012
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot



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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
PostFri Mar 02, 2012 12:06 am 
The trees should have been a poem, they were all rimed so well. Destination: Granite Mountain Point 5566 “Tusk O’Granite” (USGS Snoqualmie Pass) Party: Matt, cartman We wanted to take advantage of the one bright shiny day between storms, so we picked a route that would be reasonably protected from avalanche danger, and went up into the sunshine and fresh snow. My affection for snowy trees was well-satisfied today. Peakbaggers call this peak “Tusk O’Granite,” I guess because it’s adjacent to Tuscohatchie Lake and Granite Mtn. I’d have just called it Northwest Granite, since it’s simply a side summit of Granite Mountain. Anyway, it has 406 feet of prominence, so it qualifies as a summit by the 400P rule. Hereinafter be “Tusk O’Granite” abbreviated as TOG. We hiked the Olallie Lake trail to 3300 feet, then went up TOG’s SW ridge over Point 5180 and on to the summit at 5566. There was only one exposed spot, where we had to briefly go up the side of the ridge where it turns a sharp corner near 4800 feet. The snow was 12-14 inches of light powder in the forest. Higher up it varied from half a foot to a couple feet deep, depending on how the wind had blown it on the crest. In the open stretches up high, we were careful to stay right on the crest or amid trees, and avoid getting onto any of the big slopes. Up the Ridge:
TOG GPS Track
TOG GPS Track
Hiking through the snowy forest
Hiking through the snowy forest
Coming out onto the ridge
Coming out onto the ridge
Bandera thru the trees
Bandera thru the trees
Light between the shadows
Light between the shadows
Tall snowy trees
Tall snowy trees
Crossing the open step at 4800
Crossing the open step at 4800
Over Point 5180:
Coming up to Point 5180
Coming up to Point 5180
Granite Mtn on our right
Granite Mtn on our right
TOG ahead
TOG ahead
Wildly counter-carved cornice
Wildly counter-carved cornice
Olallie Lake, Pratt, & Defiance
Olallie Lake, Pratt, & Defiance
Hiking through the Rime Gallery:
Bending Rime
Bending Rime
Rime spire
Rime spire
Major rime
Major rime
Backlit
Backlit
Cornice Channel
Cornice Channel
Sky, Rime, & Cloud
Sky, Rime, & Cloud
Rime-sided
Rime-sided
Rime trees marching upward
Rime trees marching upward
Through the poetry forest to the summit:
Last slope to the summit
Last slope to the summit
Between the rimed trees
Between the rimed trees
Fly like an angel
Fly like an angel
Rimed snags on the summit
Rimed snags on the summit
On the summit:
Eric having lunch
Eric having lunch
Me
Me
Summit Tea looking back at Point 5180
Summit Tea looking back at Point 5180
Summit Tea and the Tuscohatchie view
Summit Tea and the Tuscohatchie view
More summit views:
Kaleetan Peak
Kaleetan Peak
Chair Peak
Chair Peak
Snoqualmie Mtn & Chimney Rock
Snoqualmie Mtn & Chimney Rock
Granite Mtn Lookout
Granite Mtn Lookout
I'll post a panorama of the summit view here tomorrow. Going Down:
Our tracks across the col
Our tracks across the col
Another view of the counter-carved cornice
Another view of the counter-carved cornice
Tree Icicles
Tree Icicles
I can see why skiers love fresh powder. Back in the forest, where the snow was undisturbed by wind or sun, I could just float and glide down through the powder, even on snowshoes. Statistics: 7.5 miles, 3650 net gain, 3810 cumulative gain, 8 hours

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks



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puzzlr
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PostFri Mar 02, 2012 12:15 am 
Matt wrote:
Peakbaggers call this peak “Tusk O’Granite,” I guess because it’s adjacent to Tuscohatchie Lake and Granite Mtn.
I did not know that, and was too dense to figure it out. shakehead.gif Mark this one down for the calendar -- works great as a vertical. eek.gif
Rime spire
Rime spire
Kaleetan looks freak'n awesome.

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Mike Collins
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Mike Collins
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PostFri Mar 02, 2012 7:48 am 
Thanks for posting this climb. I'll have to put it on my hit list. The Homecourt Peaks require 500 ft of prominence so this one missed the list. If it was a Backcourt Peak it would be on that list as only 400 ft of prominence would be needed.

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RichP
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PostFri Mar 02, 2012 9:51 am 
Nice photos, Matt. I was close to doing this hike on the same day. Looks like perfect conditions and an ideal spot for a summit camp in fair weather.

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twodogdad
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PostFri Mar 02, 2012 1:01 pm 
Matt wrote:
Kaleetan Peak
Kaleetan Peak
So you know why skiers love powder, eh? Vade retro Satana smile.gif N

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reststep
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reststep
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PostFri Mar 02, 2012 8:57 pm 
Beautiful, thanks for sharing. No swimming?

"The mountains are calling and I must go." - John Muir
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DGage
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DGage
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PostFri Mar 02, 2012 10:47 pm 
What an amazing adventure on a stunningly beautiful day! Dealing with feelings of jealousy now...

Why do people climb mountains? Because they're big, old, and stationary. And so are the mountains.
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the Zachster
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PostFri Mar 02, 2012 11:17 pm 
ditto.gif Beautiful day, beautiful place, beautiful pics! up.gif up.gif up.gif

"May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am"
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SergioNapelo
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PostSat Mar 03, 2012 10:25 am 
Amazing! Stunning! Wonderful! Blue sky and white fresh snow look so good together! eek.gif up.gif up.gif up.gif

"I will lift up my eyes to the mountains. From where shall my help come. My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!" - David, King of Israel 1,000 BC
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot



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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
PostSat Mar 03, 2012 10:50 am 
Labeled pan of the peaks beyond Tuscohatchie Lake
16 labels
Labeled pan of the peaks beyond Tuscohatchie Lake
Wavy 180+ degree pan of the view north from TOG
Wavy 180+ degree pan of the view north from TOG
Wavy 180+ degree pan of the view south from TOG
Wavy 180+ degree pan of the view south from TOG

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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GranolaGirl
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PostSun Mar 04, 2012 12:08 am 
WOAH!!! Beautiful pictures! Wish I was there!

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Stefan-K
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PostSun Mar 04, 2012 4:24 pm 
yes indeed, super nice pics Matt! Thanks! And what Niko echoed about the powder... I got all excited seeing your photo of Kaleetan - instant nostalgia - having recently skied that whole face in similar conditions... actually, exactly one month earlier to the day! And nice one of Chair too! It's looking fat (tho prob shrunk and shed some with the recent rain and warmth).

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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks



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puzzlr
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PostMon Mar 05, 2012 2:25 am 
You know how when you hear an unusual word suddenly it comes up everywhere? After your explanation that “Tusk O’Granite” was derived from Tuscohatchie Lake and Granite Mtn I came across this interesting 1897 map. Tuscohatchie has been demoted over the years -- it used to be the name for what's now called the Pratt River.
From "Mining In The Pacific NorthWest" by Hodges, 1897
From "Mining In The Pacific NorthWest" by Hodges, 1897
There are some other very interesting name shifts on this map.

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Forum Index > Trip Reports > Snowy Tusk O'Granite 5566 (USGS Snoqualmie Pass) 2/27/2012
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