[puzzlr]

Dissent is a bump on the north ridge of Mount Defiance, Pt 4573 on the topo. The name is appropriate as a milder form of defiance. Surprisingly, four people agreed to join me on a hike out to this minor high point with only 133' of prominence. The attraction to me is its central position overlooking the Pratt River valley, giving a unique view of the peaks and valleys in that area. Open this map full screen. We went up the old Mason Lake trail and continued on the Mt Defiance trail to 4840' at the last switchback before it swung over to the east ridge. We crossed the large talus field above Lake Kulla Kulla heading for a 5000' low point on the north ridge. There is one spot where it's an easy scramble to the top -- in most places slabby rocks make it difficult to gain the ridge.

Mason Creek bridge

Traversing above Kulla Kulla Lake

Traversing above Kulla Kulla Lake

Slabby rocks on the east side of the ridge. It was an easy scramble in the trees beyond.

The other side of the ridge was the most difficult part of the day and we used a hand line for insurance to drop down 50' to the talus slopes on the west side. We dropped to the bottom of the talus for easier terrain on the margins. A surprise was coming across a refreshing tarn which we dubbed Dragonfly Pond because of the large iridescent ones we saw there -- I don't remember seeing these in other places. They have obviously not been caught by the nearby "Spider" and his "Web". Beyond the tarn we were mostly in alpine forest and rejoined the north ridge as it dropped down toward Dissent. The final section along the ridge was surprisingly open and easy to move along, culminating in a short scramble up to the rocky top of Dissent.

Descending to the talus with the aid of a handline

Where we got down to the talus

First view of Dissent, the rocky point at the end of the north ridge of Defiance.

Dragonfly Pond, name for the iridescent insects seen there.

Traversing below the slabby rock slopts of Defiance's north ridge

Richp in the open alpine forest

After traversing below the north ridge for a while we intersected it at an open talus area.

The ridge walk out to Dissent was mostly open forest

A view point of Spider Lake with P3, Web, Dirtybox, Mailbox and Thompson Point on the skyline

A glimpse of the summit block

BarbE and Penguin on the summit

Elle and Richp prefer the shade

Cliffs on the east side

View east from the top

We retraced our route out, choosing not to include a summit of Mount Defiance even though that would have only been a 550' climb from our crossing on the north ridge. The day was going to be long enough at 9+ hours and over 4000' of total gain with the ups and down. A highlight on the way out was Richp catching a crayfish in Mason Lake, released unharmed.

Richp demonstrating his flexability

Dragonfly Pond again on the return trip

Elle and an ancient tree growing alone in the talus field

Scrambling back up to the ridge line. We didn't need a rope this direction.

The beautiful traverse over Lake Kulla Kulla with pioneering trees finding a way to survive in the middle of the talus field.

Young tree growing out of a crack

Richp found a crayfish in Mason Lake

I left a register at the summit with just a few notebook pages. I expect this will not be revisted often, if at all. We didn't find a survey marker on top but this point does have a precise elevation on the USGS topo maps. It's also probable that hunters made it up here in the early 1900's when the Pratt River valley was popular for hunting and several cabins were located there. The logging and fires of the 1940s wiped out the cabins and the old trails.

[RichP]

That was a fun day out and my first time on the old Mason Lake Trail which is in dandy shape. Dragonfly Pond would make a nice and secluded camp spot on the grassy shore and is the only water source in that area. We did see some bear poo right next to it.

The talus slope before crossing the ridge.

The other side of the ridge.

Dissent with Preacher and Caroline above.

Izzy at the pond.

The summit rock.

[BarbE]

I'm taking a wild guess, Puzzlr's summit register won't be overflowing with entries anytime soon. Interesting hard route, not your typical I-90 destination.

Still fresh

Boulder fields - theme of the day

Puzzlr rigging a handline

Steepish

Conquerers of the mighty Dissent

[zephyr]

[RichP]

[zephyr]

Thanks for the explanation, RichP. Bait never entered my mind since I don't fish. I was initially stumped on how they could gain such altitude or clamber over the many water falls and boulders in an outlet stream. (Did birds drop them in? haha) But bait usage makes perfect sense. ~z

[Blowdown]

Great report and photos, Puzzlr. I'm always impressed by your scholarly explorations of the Snoqualmie region.

Outstanding photo and viewpoint! Nice work!