Forum Index > Trip Reports > Pyramid Mountain (8,243') and Cloudcomb Peak (8,085') via Big Hill - August 12, 2017
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Tom_Sjolseth
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Tom_Sjolseth
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PostSun Aug 13, 2017 10:14 am 
raising3hikers and I linked up for a long day trip to Pyramid and Cloudcomb, two top 200 peaks, yesterday. We left my house at about 6:15AM in Wenatchee, headed for Big Hill Campground (6,500') up the Entiat, our starting point for this trip. Our plan for this trip was to bring bikes for the first 7.5 miles of trail, allowing us to bike 15 of the total 23 miles this trip would end up being. We made good time getting to Pyramid Mountain. The trail is in excellent shape for biking, but there are a lot of ups and downs. The trail goes through nice alpine meadows along the way, and wildflowers were still hanging on adding some color. We ditched our bikes about 7.5 miles in, 2 miles or so before the summit of Pyramid Mountain. Bikes could be taken to the top of Pyramid and ridden off the summit, but pushing our bikes up the last 2 miles didn't sound like much fun, so we opted not to. The summit register on Pyramid Mountain indicates it gets climbed quite often. From the summit, Cloudcomb Peak looks a long way off, and it is. Not only that, the route up looked tedious and the route to the true summit was not obvious. We made our way down to a saddle between Pyramid and Cloudcomb and dropped into Pyramid Creek on loose talus and dirt. All snow could be avoided, making the choice to leave crampons at home a good one (this time). The route to Cloudcomb crosses a slew of steep and loose gullies. We made our way over to the summit area and found a deep cleft at climber's left of the summit block (class 4). We made our way up the steep cleft with raindrops falling. The summit area is confusing, and the true summit is not at all obvious. Thankfully we chose the right gully the first time and soon we found ourselves on the secluded summit (aside from the millions of ladybugs). We were the third party to sign in since Fay left the register up there in 2010. The last ascent was in 2012. With clouds building, we were concerned we'd be walking out in a downpour, so we descended and made the long journey back to our bikes. Once at the bikes, going was slow as I was tired! You gain about 1800' on the way back to the trailhead, and lots of the uphill was too steep to ride on the bikes, so a great deal of pushing ensued. We donned headlamps for the last few miles to the trailhead, which we reached well after dark. Thankfully the rain never materialized. Thanks to Eric for another great trip in the hills. Trip stats: 23.5 miles 7800' elevation gain
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awilsondc
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PostSun Aug 13, 2017 10:35 am 
Nice effort guys! Cloudcomb sounds awesome. I love those rarely visited summits. First visitors in five years is pretty cool. Glad you didn't get rained on. up.gif up.gif

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raising3hikers
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PostSun Aug 13, 2017 10:50 am 
Thanks for the trip, Tom. It was a great way to combine those 2 pks. Although the biking helped a little in the morning, I think I was only on my bike for maybe 4 miles total on the day, it was a lot of pushing for me! At least I didn't get a flat tire. There's not a lot of good things to say after climbing Cloudcomb except that we don't have to go do it again:) It's a loose peak for sure!
Tom on the easier part of the biking
Tom on the easier part of the biking
still a few flowers hanging around
still a few flowers hanging around
Pyramid
Pyramid
the long traverse over to Cloudcomb
the long traverse over to Cloudcomb
the summit gully
the summit gully
looking up to the summit
looking up to the summit
Cloudcomb register
Cloudcomb register
finally getting a little blue sky over Cloudcomb
finally getting a little blue sky over Cloudcomb
in the Pyramid creek basin
in the Pyramid creek basin

Eric Eames
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HitTheTrail
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PostSun Aug 13, 2017 12:09 pm 
Good effort and beta. up.gif I am thinking of doing a hike to Pyramid basin/Grouse Pass area from Big Hill. Is there any water along the trail from the Big Hill TH out to Pyramid basin?

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silence
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PostSun Aug 13, 2017 1:06 pm 
Sweet! up.gif

PHOTOS FILMS Keep a good head and always carry a light bulb. – Bob Dylan
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Distel32
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PostSun Aug 13, 2017 1:46 pm 
up.gif Pyramid looks nice at least smile.gif

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RichP
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PostSun Aug 13, 2017 2:22 pm 
HitTheTrail wrote:
Is there any water along the trail from the Big Hill TH out to Pyramid basin?
Cartman and I were out that way in early Oct 2015 and found water in the basin below Graham Harbour Mtn and at Pyramid Meadows Camp right by the trail. The camp below Graham Harbor is nice.
Our comfy camp below Graham Harbor Mtn.
Our comfy camp below Graham Harbor Mtn.

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geyer
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geyer
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PostSun Aug 13, 2017 5:31 pm 
RichP wrote:
The camp below Graham Harbor is nice.
And if you decide to make the easy ascent up the ridge to the summit of Graham Harbor, it has some of the best views of Lake Chelan to the north and south. Also a good camping spot below the summit.

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raising3hikers
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PostSun Aug 13, 2017 6:30 pm 
HitTheTrail wrote:
Good effort and beta. up.gif I am thinking of doing a hike to Pyramid basin/Grouse Pass area from Big Hill. Is there any water along the trail from the Big Hill TH out to Pyramid basin?
We ran into 3 or 4 areas of running water on the way to pyramid. A couple streams had good flow and I filled my bottles with good tasting water

Eric Eames
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HitTheTrail
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PostSun Aug 13, 2017 7:06 pm 
RichP wrote:
Cartman and I were out that way in early Oct 2015 and found water in the basin below Graham Harbour Mtn and at Pyramid Meadows Camp right by the trail.
raising3hikers wrote:
We ran into 3 or 4 areas of running water on the way to pyramid. A couple streams had good flow and I filled my bottles with good tasting water
up.gif Thanks to the both of ya! With RichP's encouraging words about late water on the trail I might even make it a larch trip. I know from several trips up there lots of larches are to be seen in Pyramid basin.

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Matt
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PostSun Aug 13, 2017 8:35 pm 
I've been hoping to do the Pyramid area as a larch trip this October. Tom and r3h, you guys are really moving along on cleaning up the T200s.

“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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b00
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PostMon Aug 14, 2017 6:51 pm 
raising3hikers wrote:
At least I didn't get a flat tire.
congrats on bicycle success and breaking your pattern. although i think you passed this flat tire disease on to me, as both of my bicycle approaches this year - constance, goldmyer - involved flat tires :<( i guess i should wash my hands more often :>) nice work on the peaks guys!!! you two are awesome! :>)

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Justus S.
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PostSat Aug 19, 2017 11:14 am 
Nice daytrip climb. up.gif up.gif

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John Morrow
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PostSun Aug 27, 2017 8:35 am 
Matt wrote:
I've been hoping to do the Pyramid area as a larch trip this October.
As a loop in larchness: https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7994891

“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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Forum Index > Trip Reports > Pyramid Mountain (8,243') and Cloudcomb Peak (8,085') via Big Hill - August 12, 2017
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