Forum Index > Trip Reports > French Cabin Mountain West Pk and Pt. 5563 10/25/2016
 Reply to topic
Previous :: Next Topic
Author Message
some names
Member
Member


Joined: 08 Jan 2012
Posts: 243 | TRs | Pics
some names
Member
PostTue Nov 01, 2016 1:47 pm 
We were recently on French Cabin Mtn South Peak and thought French Cabin Mtn West Peak and Pt 5563 (Middle Peak) looked like fun destinations. The rocks in this area are really cool! We decided to take the Kachess Ridge/Silver Creek trail # 1315 which leaves from the same trailhead as the trail to Mt Baldy/Thomas Mtn but goes up the west side of Silver Creek. The trail is in good shape. It starts up steeply, but after about 1.5 miles it levels off and is almost flat as it goes through the hanging valley before gently rising to 4660ft at the junction of Silver Creek Tie trail #1308.1. The junction is unmarked and has no sign, but was not difficult to find. There is a clear path that immediately crosses a small Silver Creek here. We took trail #1308.1 up to the crest of the south ridge of West Peak at about 5200 ft. Here we left the trail and headed up the rocky south ridge of West Peak for some fun rock scrambling. About 100 ft. below the summit we left the rock ridge and went up a shallow grassy/rocky gully on the west side to the summit.
Our approximate route
Our approximate route
On trail 1315 - microspikes work great on slippery logs
On trail 1315 - microspikes work great on slippery logs
West Peak - south ridge
West Peak - south ridge
West Peak - south ridge
West Peak - south ridge
On south ridge of West Peak
On south ridge of West Peak
On south ridge of West Peak
On south ridge of West Peak
On south ridge of West Peak
On south ridge of West Peak
View to east ridge of West Peak
View to east ridge of West Peak
Middle Peak - 5563
Middle Peak - 5563
Rocks on Kachess Ridge
Rocks on Kachess Ridge
West Peak summit rocks
West Peak summit rocks
What a nice view from the top. Many of the mountain tops were cloud covered, but we had a 360 degree view. As we looked across to Pt 5563 we counted 27 goats on its south slopes! We ate lunch and took pictures.
View to French Chin, French Tongue, and Kachess Ridge
View to French Chin, French Tongue, and Kachess Ridge
French Tongue (L) and French Chin (R)
French Tongue (L) and French Chin (R)
East ridge of West Peak to Middle and South Peaks
East ridge of West Peak to Middle and South Peaks
North Peak
North Peak
Kachess Ridge
Kachess Ridge
French Tongue
French Tongue
French Tongue (L) and French Chin (R)
French Tongue (L) and French Chin (R)
Thorp Mtn
Thorp Mtn
Meadow Mtn in the distance
Meadow Mtn in the distance
Top of French Tongue
Top of French Tongue
French Tongue
French Tongue
On West Peak
On West Peak
East ridge to Middle and South Peaks
East ridge to Middle and South Peaks
East ridge
East ridge
On West Peak
On West Peak
On West Peak
On West Peak
North Peak
North Peak
Silver Creek valley and Thomas Mtn
Silver Creek valley and Thomas Mtn
We descended to the Tie trail #1308.1 on grassy slopes, faster than descending the rock with threatening clouds approaching.
Descending West Peak on grassy slopes
Descending West Peak on grassy slopes
Clouds forming over Kachess Ridge
Clouds forming over Kachess Ridge
We continued east on the trail toward Pt. 5563, descending a steep 300 ft. and then climbing back up to near the summit of Pt. 5563. We left the trail and walked up to the summit which had nice views to the north, east, and west . . . and more cool rocks.
Goats on Middle Peak
Goats on Middle Peak
Hiking to Middle Peak
Hiking to Middle Peak
Middle Peak - 5563
Middle Peak - 5563
On Middle Peak - 5563
On Middle Peak - 5563
West Peak from Middle Peak
West Peak from Middle Peak
Goats on Middle Peak
Goats on Middle Peak
Silver Creek valley and shoulder of Easton Ridge
Silver Creek valley and shoulder of Easton Ridge
Thomas Mtn
Thomas Mtn
Rocks on Kachess Ridge
Rocks on Kachess Ridge
West Peak from Silver Creek Tie trail 1308.1
West Peak from Silver Creek Tie trail 1308.1
West Peak from Silver Creek Tie trail 1308.1
West Peak from Silver Creek Tie trail 1308.1
Microspikes work great on the way out, too
Microspikes work great on the way out, too
We returned by the same trails, another day in a really nice area . . . another day without seeing any other person. 12.5 miles 4200 ft elevation gain

somesignaturehere and somesignaturethere
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
RichP
Member
Member


Joined: 13 Jul 2006
Posts: 5628 | TRs | Pics
Location: here
RichP
Member
PostTue Nov 01, 2016 3:33 pm 
Nice hike. Good to see that goat herd going strong. I saw them two years ago lounging near the West Peak.
Goats above trail
Goats above trail

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
   All times are GMT - 8 Hours
 Reply to topic
Forum Index > Trip Reports > French Cabin Mountain West Pk and Pt. 5563 10/25/2016
  Happy Birthday speyguy, Bandanabraids!
Jump to:   
Search this topic:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum