Hwy 20 larch viewing out of the Cutthroat Lake Trailhead.
From Hwy 20, Hinkhouse is a bump on a sunbaked slope. What fun is that? Plus no larches grow on south sides and I'd watch the Hwy all day. However, it is a dramatic and beautiful mountain from the north with big faces and a wild feel. So, even if it is an extra 1000ft of vertical I made a nice loop full of larch, a great solid ridge run to two other points, strolls through two big basins, and a lake at the end. Thus the loop was: NE Basin Hinkhouse to summit--ridge run to Cutthroat BM and Pt 7160--NW Basin Hinkhouse descent--Cutthroat Lake and trail.
Rather than taking the new trail bridge 100 yards from the Cutthroat Lake TH, I stayed on the abandoned road on the creek's south side and clmbed through brush into Hinkhouse Peaks' NE Basin. It got pleasant over a bedrock rise.
Brushy start to NE Basin
Pk 7552 larches
weeping wall
opening up nicely
easy travel
upward
Tower pops out
Constitution Crag
good rock on basin margin
fun class 2
gully or spine
at the divide looking back
I wish I'd investigated a start to the dramatic NE Buttress but I started at 1:30 PM and couldn't afford obstructions. Someone go do it, it has "Classic Scramble" written all over it! Think West Ridge North Twin Sister drama. Anyway hugging the (climbers) right margin in the basin I made my way to the ridgetop and up to the Class 3 traverse ledge the makes Hinkhouse a Class 3 scramble and not a rope deal.
Famous Class 3 ledge variant
Hinkhouse finish from above
Oh my, classic ridge anyone?
Nicer looking NW basin
After the nice solid finish I went west along the ridge, so solid and free of obstructions it can possibly be jogged. Up to Cutthroat BM 7046 where I saw how nice and Class 2 easy continuing to Pt 7160+ (with it's 320P) would be. A nice solid scramble it was.
Pt 7160+ looks fun from BM
Easy aesthetic Class 2 it is
Liberty Bellish
NW basin to descend
Turn around, retrace steps to the entrance of Hinkhouse's NW Basin and visualize larch heaven. The lake was quiet at dusk and the trail was a pleasant highway to guide me toward's darkness.
Getting nice late afternoon
Ah, why I love NC Hwy
Hinkhouse and colors
Cutthroat BM and Pt. 7160+
Slabby road
BM and 7160+ from lake
Next report up: the Honeymoon traverse, Oct 7.
Cub Peak
Kitling Peak
Peak 7690'
New Morning Peak
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
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“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
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Nice looking trip John.
