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Kim Brown
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Kim Brown
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PostSun Jan 03, 2016 9:51 pm 
Booby prize for some of you; my photos aren't from the summit - you'll have to see Matt Burton's great report for that! I didn't summit McCausland, rather called it a day below the summit while Jim, Gwen and Kevin did. Thanks for Matt & crew for laying in the route. My interest, as always, is in the details. But that's not why I didn't summit, that was because I'm a fat-ass lame-o. But I digress. 2 degrees at the start of the trip, rising to a balmy 10 degrees at the end of the trip. In between, though, as you all know, was bright, brilliant sunshine and fluffy, dry snow. This forest is dark and shady in summer, but firs have a wonderful, elastic, bendy attribute to their wood cells to accommodate snow load so instead of breaking, they simply bend, turning the trees into something like folded umbrellas. As a result, the forest is more open in winter, allowing lots of snow to sift down on top of rocks, downed and up trees, making beautiful sculptures. Some of them remind me of the shmoos in the old Li'l Abner cartoons! I'll shut up now, and show you the pictures. Oh, wait. The massive backup on Highway 2 prompted a stop at McDonalds in Sultan. We had to pee (this was on hour 3 of the jammed commute from Stevens Pass), and we were hungry. The place was PACKED. But the teens who work there were great. Efficient, friendly, happy, and overall great. e McDonalds in Sultan. Just thought I'd toss that out there. OK, now pictures.
McCausland alpenglow and hiker
McCausland alpenglow and hiker
McCausland alpenglow
McCausland alpenglow
McCausland art
McCausland art
McCausland bloops1
McCausland bloops1
McCausland crossing creek
McCausland crossing creek
McCausland giant hook
McCausland giant hook
McCausland giant scroll
McCausland giant scroll
McCausland pinwheel at top of tree
McCausland pinwheel at top of tree
McCausland point
McCausland point
McCausland snow tracks and bloops
McCausland snow tracks and bloops
McCausland
McCausland

"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area." Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
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Damian
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Damian
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PostSun Jan 03, 2016 10:01 pm 
Kim Brown wrote:
I'll shut up now, and show you the pictures. Oh, wait. The massive backup on Highway 2 prompted a stop at McDonalds in Sultan. We had to pee...

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Kim Brown
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Kim Brown
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PostSun Jan 03, 2016 10:22 pm 
Yes, yes, I know. I can't shut up.

"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area." Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
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puzzlr
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puzzlr
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PostSun Jan 03, 2016 10:29 pm 
Kim Brown wrote:
shmoos in the old Li'l Abner cartoons!
I just made the same comment about the snow blobs on our snowshoe up Amabilis Saturday. Nobody had heard of shmoos so it fell on deaf ears.

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JimK
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JimK
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PostSun Jan 03, 2016 10:34 pm 
Shmoos have there own wiki page.

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Kim Brown
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Kim Brown
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PostSun Jan 03, 2016 10:42 pm 
puzzlr wrote:
Kim Brown wrote:
shmoos in the old Li'l Abner cartoons!
I just made the same comment about the snow blobs on our snowshoe up Amabilis Saturday. Nobody had heard of shmoos so it fell on deaf ears.
Damn, you're old. wink.gif

"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area." Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
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HitTheTrail
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HitTheTrail
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PostMon Jan 04, 2016 6:46 am 
Yeah, I have never understood the attraction of an actual summit if you just got 99% of the enjoyment of the hike, the adventure (and often the view) by getting in the general vicinity! To me it's just about getting out. Nice photos. up.gif

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JimK
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JimK
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PostTue Jan 05, 2016 3:38 pm 
I have posted my trip report along with 38 annotated photos on my site at: Mt. McCausland Report & Photos Here are a few of my photos:
Snowshoes Go On
Snowshoes Go On
Smithbrook Road
Smithbrook Road
Blowing Snow
Blowing Snow
Summit In Sight
Summit In Sight
Almost There
Almost There
Sloan Peak
Sloan Peak
Kyes Peak
Kyes Peak
Summit Refuge
Summit Refuge
Heading Down
Heading Down
Lichtenberg
Lichtenberg

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Gwen
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Gwen
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PostTue Jan 05, 2016 9:49 pm 
I don't have much to add that the others haven't already posted. Again, big thanks to Matt, Cartman, Justus, and Redwic for doing the dirty work of breaking trail two day prior; I wouldn't have made it otherwise! And thanks to Jim for finding a trip that had broken trail! And thanks to Kim and Kevin for, as always, excellent entertainment. Really nice to get out with our summer "boss" on an off-duty trip!
A darkly shadowed Smithbrook
A darkly shadowed Smithbrook
Kim heads toward the light
Kim heads toward the light
Ice castles
Ice castles
Admiring raw beauty
Admiring raw beauty
Shadows ahead, Lichtenberg behind
Shadows ahead, Lichtenberg behind
Towering to the darkest daylight blue
Towering to the darkest daylight blue
Art shot
Art shot
Art shot gone b&w
Art shot gone b&w
No filters; the sky really was this deep.
No filters; the sky really was this deep.
Watching the snow blow off the Lichtenberg spire
Watching the snow blow off the Lichtenberg spire
Kevin forges forward while Jim hides in the trees
Kevin forges forward while Jim hides in the trees
Going up
Going up
View over to Howard and Rock
View over to Howard and Rock
Frozen giant
Frozen giant
A frozen cathedral
A frozen cathedral
I worship here
I worship here
Jim had a point; I missed it
Jim had a point; I missed it
Heading for the final push
Heading for the final push
The boys are always ahead
The boys are always ahead
I made them turn and smile
I made them turn and smile
Looking back to Lichtenberg, now heading down
Looking back to Lichtenberg, now heading down
And down some more, toward future destinations
And down some more, toward future destinations
Seems Kim and I eyed the same detail
Seems Kim and I eyed the same detail
Ice castles in the now changed evening light
Ice castles in the now changed evening light
Saw 4 or 5 of these fat hens in a tree. Anyone know what they are?
Saw 4 or 5 of these fat hens in a tree. Anyone know what they are?

Tomorrow's not promised to anyone, so be bold, scare yourself, attempt something with no guarantee of success. You'll be amazed at what you can achieve. -Olive McGloin
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mbravenboer
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mbravenboer
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PostTue Jan 05, 2016 10:27 pm 
up.gif Great photos from all!

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Kim Brown
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Kim Brown
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PostTue Jan 05, 2016 10:40 pm 
Gwen wrote:
Saw 4 or 5 of these fat hens in a tree. Anyone know what they are?
I'll hazard a guess & say they're probably fat hens in a tree. You're welcome.

"..living on the east side of the Sierra world be ideal - except for harsher winters and the chance of apocalyptic fires burning the whole area." Bosterson, NWHiker's marketing expert
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snoqpass
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snoqpass
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PostTue Jan 05, 2016 10:43 pm 
Forest grouse

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RichP
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RichP
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PostTue Jan 05, 2016 10:44 pm 
It was like the Smithbrook renaissance there for a few days. Beautiful images from a perfect winter day.

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HitTheTrail
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HitTheTrail
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PostTue Jan 05, 2016 10:50 pm 
My God! There are calendar candidates lurking everywhere in this TR and it is only January!

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Gwen
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Gwen
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PostTue Jan 05, 2016 11:05 pm 
Kim Brown wrote:
Gwen wrote:
Saw 4 or 5 of these fat hens in a tree. Anyone know what they are?
I'll hazard a guess & say they're probably fat hens in a tree. You're welcome.
Damn, I should have known that you would know! You dork!

Tomorrow's not promised to anyone, so be bold, scare yourself, attempt something with no guarantee of success. You'll be amazed at what you can achieve. -Olive McGloin
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