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wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
Looking for a dayhike with some views and exercise I talked Steve into doing a thru-hike of Icicle Ridge starting at the 4th Of July TH early and gaining nearly all of our elevation in the shade, we would hit the LO and traverse Icicle Ridge to the Icicle Ridge TH.
The forecast was for full sun and 85 degree highs for Leavenworth, so my biggest concern was a water source. Steve has been up and through the area since either 1864 or 1964 and had always gotten water from the pipe near the upper trail junction. He was however hesitant to guarantee it would be flowing. I talked to several other people who had always seen it running even into November the latest they had been up there. Other sources further down the ridge were more questionable. With that information I packed a liter and counted on the sources, knowing it would be a quick, cool ascent, and that if there was no water we could descend back down the way we came up and eventually hit a water source.
On the way up it was cool in the shade in the low 50's and we were sun free until near the top. As usual great views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. There was some color change, but most of the Larch was across the Icicle Valley and glowed in the morning sun. The trail was in decent shape with maybe 2-3 blow downs, but hey it was a trail so I can't complain.
Big Lou Cannon Steve in some Fall color. Sherpa - Stuart
Upon arriving at the pipe we found only dry vegetation so there was no way with a couple hundred ML. of water I was going to run the rest of the ridge and wish for another water source, so we decided to have lunch at the LO and then head back down 4th of July trail.
Cashmere from the LO Dragontail, Colchuck, Argonaut, and the disappearing glaciers. Lost World Plateau Icicle Ridge from near the LO on a blue sky, hot, October day. The Cradle Grindstone
It was a gorgeous day, nearly as hot as a summer day as we made our way back down. My liter of Gatorade hit the spot when we took a break at the water source. Grinder on the knee's but at least hydrated. I drove through Leavenwoth and it was 85, 90 in Wenatchee. R/t 10 mi, 4700'
Looking across the Icicle Valley Looking up the Eightmile Creek Drainage. Mt. Cashmere ( foreground )
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HitTheTrail Member
Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 5452 | TRs | Pics Location: 509 |
Well heck, if I would have known you weren't going to run the entire ridge I would have accepted the offer to join you two jokers. Even in my post-op state of recovery. You are right, it looks pretty dry up there.
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Chico Member
Joined: 30 Nov 2012 Posts: 2500 | TRs | Pics Location: Lacey |
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Chico
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Tue Oct 07, 2014 1:06 pm
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wildernessed wrote: | Steve has been up and through the area since either 1864 or 1964 |
Um, wouldn't he be dead by now?
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wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
HitTheTrail wrote: | Well heck, if I would have known you weren't going to run the entire ridge I would have accepted the offer to join you two jokers. Even in my post-op state of recovery. You are right, it looks pretty dry up there. |
Hit the Trail it would of been much easier to hike the ridge than to descend the trail down, different view angles the whole way, and a lot less knee impact wit only a few more miles. Both of us have thru-hiked the ridge before. It was close and a nice spot you should have joined us.
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wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
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GaliWalker Have camera will use
Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 4916 | TRs | Pics Location: Pittsburgh |
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GaliWalker
Have camera will use
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Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:48 pm
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The larch are looking mighty nice, especially in your "Lost World Plateau" photo. Also, I really liked the "Steve in some Fall color." photo.
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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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Tue Oct 07, 2014 11:01 pm
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Love that hill.
I saw water pouring out of I don't know where in 20 degree temperatures one spring. I'll guess ~5700 elevation. Is this the source you are talking about or are you referring to something close to the ridge?
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wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
Magellan wrote: | Love that hill.
I saw water pouring out of I don't know where in 20 degree temperatures one spring. I'll guess ~5700 elevation. Is this the source you are talking about or are you referring to something close to the ridge? |
I am not sure of the exact elevation, but it is at a higher elevation just to the left of the trail not far from the 4th of July / Icicle Ridge trail jct. First time I have not seen water running out of it, but I have never been up there this late in the year.
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