Forum Index > Trip Reports > Cardinal, Pinnacle, & Fern Lk (10/6 -10/9)
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rocknclimb
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rocknclimb
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PostTue Oct 10, 2017 7:57 pm 
Took advantage of a long weekend to head up the Entiat to check out the larches and climb some peaks. Unfortunately mother nature was not cooperating with snow and high winds forecasted for Fri - Sat. Headed down the N. Fork trail by 9:15 on Friday. The trail is in great shape considering all the burn. The first 6 miles are relatively flat, but then gains 1600' over the next 2. Didn't arrive at my camp until 1:15. The weather still was looking good so I started to head up Cardinal. Followed the larches to a large talus basin around 7000'. From there a horribly loose gully leads one up to 8300'. Turned right at the top of the gully and ascened easy class 3 to the summit. The winds and snow started just as I reached the top. Hurried back down to camp, arriving just before dark.
Larches low on Cardinal
Larches low on Cardinal
Larches and Saska
Larches and Saska
Loose crappy gully
Loose crappy gully
Top of the gully on Cardinal
Top of the gully on Cardinal
Cardinal summit block
Cardinal summit block
Cardinal summit with Pyrmaid in the distance
Cardinal summit with Pyrmaid in the distance
The night was met w/ constant 30 mph wind gusts and snow. Decided to bag my plans on Saturday to climb Emerald & Saska due to all the fresh snow and winds up high. Instead I headed back down a couple miles to the Fern Lake junction. There are several blowdowns on this trail slowing travel a bit. When I arrived at the lake it was snowing and the wind howling. Snapped a couple pics and retreated back to camp.
Camp life
Camp life
Colors on the way to Fern Lake
Colors on the way to Fern Lake
Wintery scene
Wintery scene
Saska Pass
Saska Pass
Fern Lake scene
Fern Lake scene
Fern Lake
Fern Lake
Sunshine at Fern Lake
Sunshine at Fern Lake
After another long 12 hours in the tent I awoke to a near perfect morning. Decided to head over Saska Pass to make an attempt at Pinnacle. Crossed over the pass and lost 1600' to the Snow Brushy Creek trail. The trails are all but gone after crossing Saska Pass due to all the recent fires up there. After crossing the creek I made an ascending traverse to a broad gully system under Borealis Pass. The route was dry to the pass, and the larches on the way were prime.
Clark
Clark
Basin below Borealis Pass
Basin below Borealis Pass
After the pass I headed up the seemingly endless ridge scramble. Nothing harder than class 2, but the snow made for slow and slick travel.
Borealis Pass
Borealis Pass
Fernow group framed by larch
Fernow group framed by larch
Larches en route to Saska Pass
Larches en route to Saska Pass
Pinnacle Mtn
Pinnacle Mtn
Pinnacle summit block
Pinnacle summit block
Cardinal
Cardinal
Looking down at Borealis Pass
Looking down at Borealis Pass
Spectale Butte, Glacier, and Maude
Spectale Butte, Glacier, and Maude
Pinnacle summit views
Pinnacle summit views
Ramparts
Ramparts
Emerald and Saska
Emerald and Saska
Entiats
Entiats
Fernow group
Fernow group
N. Cascades
N. Cascades
Made the slog back down to the creek, up Saska Pass, then down to camp. 7 hours round trip. The thoughts of cold beer and hot pizza won over the idea of climbing on Monday so I headed out. The road had several new blowdowns since Friday, but thankfully the FS or random person had made it passable. 41 miles. Another great time in the mountains!!!

When asked "Why do you climb"? Simply respond "Why don't you"?
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Roly Poly
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PostTue Oct 10, 2017 8:41 pm 
Gorgeous scenery with the larches.

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awilsondc
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awilsondc
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PostTue Oct 10, 2017 8:42 pm 
Looks pretty awesome man! Love the blue skies, white snow, and golden larches! up.gif

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wildernessed
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PostTue Oct 10, 2017 8:52 pm 
up.gif Nice !

Living in the Anthropocene
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fourteen410
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fourteen410
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PostTue Oct 10, 2017 8:54 pm 
up.gif up.gif

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RichP
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PostTue Oct 10, 2017 9:12 pm 
The Entiat is getting some well deserved love this year. How did your tarp tent do in the wind? 12 hours in the tent..that's the only sucky part of fall hiking.

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rocknclimb
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PostTue Oct 10, 2017 9:30 pm 
The double rainbow tarp tent holds up surprisingly well in high winds. Just be sure to enforce it with trekking poles.
RichP wrote:
12 hours in the tent..that's the only sucky part of fall hiking.
Absolutely, but well worth it up.gif

When asked "Why do you climb"? Simply respond "Why don't you"?
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rubywrangler
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rubywrangler
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PostTue Oct 10, 2017 10:09 pm 
Love this!
Larches and Saska
Larches and Saska

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Sallie4jo
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PostTue Oct 10, 2017 10:39 pm 
Wow....have wanted to get back out there..that country is so breathtaking. How were the areas where the recent fires were? Love the saska pass and emerald park area lots..and very fond memories of Borialis pass. Thanks for the show...beautiful!

I choose to live in a landscape of hope. Terry Tempest Williams
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Fletcher
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PostTue Oct 10, 2017 11:46 pm 
Dude! You scored, I have camped at that spot twice to get all those peaks but never in Larch season. Always wanted to get in there in the fall. I think that basin below Cardinal is one of the coolest larchy places in the range. Good job!

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Bootpathguy
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PostWed Oct 11, 2017 8:58 am 
rocknclimb wrote:
Larches and Saska
Larches and Saska
Agree. Love this image. Beautiful! up.gif wink.gif Sounds like a wonderful time. Thanks for sharing

Experience is what'cha get, when you get what'cha don't want
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neek
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neek
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PostWed Oct 11, 2017 9:21 am 
Lovely despite the harsh conditions. Compare one of your shots to a nearly identical one I took a few weeks prior:
your pic
your pic
mine from 9/27
mine from 9/27
rocknclimb wrote:
hot pizza
On your left please!

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mtn.climber
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PostWed Oct 11, 2017 12:22 pm 
Glad you got in there this season. Now you can go back next year and finish Saska and Emerald.

Reach for the sky, cuz tomorrow may never come. Live the life of love. Love the life you live.
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cascadetraverser
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PostWed Oct 11, 2017 1:39 pm 
Beautiful!! How far does the burn extend up the trail to the junction with fern lake?

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rocknclimb
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rocknclimb
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PostWed Oct 11, 2017 5:39 pm 
cascadetraverser wrote:
Beautiful!! How far does the burn extend up the trail to the junction with fern lake?
Only the first couple miles are burned.

When asked "Why do you climb"? Simply respond "Why don't you"?
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