Previous :: Next Topic |
Author |
Message |
awilsondc Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2016 Posts: 1324 | TRs | Pics
|
Jake, Dave, and I teamed up to tackle Coleman Pinnacle near Artist Point on the last day of good weather. We met up at a park and ride at 5:30 and were on the trail shortly after 8:00 am.
As we were nearing the parking lot, sunrise colors were pretty impressive all around. I stopped a couple times for photos, but was only really happy with one.
Sunrise on American Border Peak and Larrabee
Jake and I hiked in boots up to Artist Point on a firmly packed trail, Dave opted to put on snowshoes part way up, and we made decent time getting to Artist Point where Jake and I put on our snowshoes. There were a couple split boarders or skiers up there, the last people we'd see until back at Artist Point later in the day.
Jake and Dave starting out The road ahead, from Artist Point
We made our way to the traverse under Table Mountain. This traverse is renowned for avalanche danger, and sure enough we crossed an avalanche which was likely a couple days old. Avalanche conditions for our trip were "low", which is a rarity. This trip certainly has avalanche risk and is only recommended in stable snow conditions.
Avalanche - several days old Baker Lovely scenery Jake and Dave with Table Mountain
After Table Mountain we reached a saddle and traversed on the west side of... I forget the name Dave mentioned, something like Snow Bunny hill or something, anyway we traversed the west side under some cliff bands to another saddle. The views just kept getting better and better! This is truly very scenic area. One of the best in our state!
Traversing Gorgeous country Helicopter Jake admiring Baker and the Coleman Pinnacle Onward Pano, just past table mountain
We hit another saddle and traversed on the east side of Ptarmigan Ridge and made a less than optimal route finding choice. We went up to the summit of point 5831 rather than around it. This entailed a bit of class 3 scrambling (interesting when done in snowshoes) and a bit of bushwacking down the other side to get back on route. A nice little bit of spice for our route. Once back on route, the view of the Coleman Pinnacle was really impressive jutting up above the horizon. I'm a sucker for pointy peaks, I just love 'em!
Jake leading the way Dave on one of the flat sections Jake and Dave with Coleman Pinnacle and Baker Snow and rock with Shuksan Cool views Jake approaching the Coleman Pinnacle Dave approaching the Coleman Pinnacle Shuksan
We traversed around to the southwest side of the pinnacle. The snow cover on the SE facing slopes here was really thin. We even hiked through a short patch of heather, and near the base of the summit block was fairly melted out. We took off our snowshoes here for the final 200 feet up to the summit. The final scramble was mostly melted out easy class 3 rock, which was a fun way to reach a summit in winter conditions. The views from the summit were incredible! Jake and Dave spent several hours through the course of the trip identifying all the surrounding peaks, and Jake annotated my panorama (which was actually cropped from a photoshpere and has some stitching errors, sorry about your head Dave! lol) to list several of the peaks in view from the summit.
The summit block of the Coleman Pinnacle Jake and Dave reaching the summit Dave and Jake on the summit of Coleman Pinnacle Coleman Pinnacle summit selfie Baker from the summit Shuksan from the summit Coleman Pinnacle Summit Panorama. Annotated by Jake Robinson.
We had lunch and spent maybe 45 minutes on the summit before heading back. After reaching our snowshoes we strapped them on our packs and plunge stepped down the steepish snow back to the traverse section where we put our snowshoes back on for the way back.
Heading back to our showshoes Jake descending Mount Shuksan pano
We made a couple different route choices on the way back, like going around point 5831, but mostly followed the same track. Again, the views were just amazing all day. I can't say enough how beautiful this area is! This was probably my best snowshoe trip ever in terms of scenery. Just, amazing. Eventually we made it back to Artist point around maybe 3:30 and hung around for the sunset.
The scenery was great the whole trip Jake taking some video at a flat spot Jake with the long stride Jake, wondering in a winter wonderland Views for days snow. rock. Jake. Shuksan. Shuksan and pillow soft snow
After the sun had dropped behind Mount Baker there was an interesting solar flare, bright spot kind of thing to the left of Mount Baker. None of my pictures of it came out all that well, and we weren't really sure what was causing it. We stayed until a bit after sunset and got to see some decent colors, but after the sun had set we thought the show was over and put on crampons for the hard packed boot path back to the car. We were wrong however. As we descended pink colors broke out over Table Mountain which was pretty impressive. There were also some nice colors over the border peaks and Larrabee.
Sun setting behind Baker Shuksan with golden hour light Sunset behind baker Baker sunset pano Table Mountain sunset Dusk colors and Table Mountain Heading back to the car with dusk colors
It took us 8 1/2 hours car to car, 10.4 miles 2800 ft elevation gain (it felt a lot harder than that) with ~45 minutes on the summit and another ~45-60 at Artist Point for sunset. Phenomenal trip! Thanks Dave and Jake for the gorgeous day trip!
|
Back to top |
|
|
RichP Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 5634 | TRs | Pics Location: here |
|
RichP
Member
|
Sun Dec 17, 2017 4:31 pm
|
|
|
That looks awesome. Great pics, guys.
|
Back to top |
|
|
awilsondc Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2016 Posts: 1324 | TRs | Pics
|
Jeff wrote: | Would you recommend trying the west side of ptarmigan ridge instead? |
Nah, the east side was fine, just needed to drop down into the basin a little bit sooner to avoid going up to point 5831. Here is our track. The left / upper track is how we came in, the right / lower track is how we went out.
Final portion of our route up Coleman Pinnacle in winter conditions.
|
Back to top |
|
|
olderthanIusedtobe Member
Joined: 05 Sep 2011 Posts: 7709 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
Looks gorgeous, thanks for sharing.
|
Back to top |
|
|
Brushbuffalo Member
Joined: 17 Sep 2015 Posts: 1887 | TRs | Pics Location: there earlier, here now, somewhere later... Bellingham in between |
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
|
Back to top |
|
|
MangyMarmot Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2012 Posts: 474 | TRs | Pics
|
Awesome trip guys! Awesome photos! Here are a few of my photos:
Baker with Coleman Pinnacle from Artist Point. Heading up the ridge. Kodak moment. Lasiocarpa Ridge. Baker and Coleman. Explorers Climbing the pinnacle. Near the summit. Summit shot. Baker Heading down. Shuksan Sunset
|
Back to top |
|
|
puzzlr Mid Fork Rocks
Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 7220 | TRs | Pics Location: Stuck in the middle |
|
puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
|
Sun Dec 17, 2017 11:03 pm
|
|
|
awilsondc - thanks for the labelled panorama. Those take a lot of time to create, especially with some distant small (in view) peaks you labelled.
|
Back to top |
|
|
seattlenativemike Member
Joined: 06 Oct 2012 Posts: 524 | TRs | Pics Location: seattle |
puzzlr wrote: | awilsondc - thanks for the labelled panorama. Those take a lot of time to create, especially with some distant small (in view) peaks you labelled. |
yes thats awesome! Thanks
|
Back to top |
|
|
silence Member
Joined: 25 Apr 2005 Posts: 4420 | TRs | Pics
|
|
silence
Member
|
Tue Dec 19, 2017 4:50 pm
|
|
|
PHOTOS
FILMS
Keep a good head and always carry a light bulb. – Bob Dylan
|
Back to top |
|
|
awilsondc Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2016 Posts: 1324 | TRs | Pics
|
The credit for the labeled panorama goes to Jake. Well, I took the photo, but Jake did all the peak identification and labeling. He's getting quite good at it, so thanks Jake!
|
Back to top |
|
|
cartman Member
Joined: 20 Feb 2007 Posts: 2800 | TRs | Pics Location: Fremont |
|
cartman
Member
|
Tue Dec 26, 2017 8:40 pm
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
|