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puzzlr Mid Fork Rocks
Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 7216 | TRs | Pics Location: Stuck in the middle |
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
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Fri Apr 19, 2019 5:30 pm
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Our original destination was French Cabin Peak via Silver Creek but the forecast got worse each day. We pulled off the road at Easton and looked at the the gloomy clouds and decided we didn't want to snowshoe in the rain. So we drove 1:20 further to the south end of Yakima Canyon to do our backup plan - Gracie Point. WTA has a good description under Yakima Skyline trail.
I didn't read those trip reports before going so we were surprised by the closure at the gate .7 miles from the usual trailhead. I think this is left over from a fire closure last summer. I saw evidence of a brush fire along the trail. There is another larger trailhead along the same road before the one at the end which is a more direct route to Gracie Point, but I think it is more old road and less trail than the route along the Skyline trail. It's really fun to walk right along the edge of the canyon for so long.
We started out in sun, but had some brief sprinkles crossing over the Yakima Skyline south high point. Then the sun came out and we had warm sunny skies the rest of the day. A bonus was spotting a herd of mountain goats and another of mule deer. Some beautiful flowers were out, but I think peak Balsam Root is yet to come.
Temporary closure at gate, .7 mile road walk from the actual trailhead Trailhead with beautiful flowers Gray's biscuitroot flower Early in the hike with the Yakima River below Reaching the edge of the canyon. The trail continued along the canyon for a long time. Mountain goats by a rocky point far below the trail Top of the Yakima Skyline south high point. We'd drop down about 250' before heading up to Gracie Point in the distance Sagebrush violet Mule deer disappearing over the ridge Something raising a big cloud of smoke/vapor to the west in the Yakima Military Firing Range. Whatever it was, it dissapated quickly. Gracie Point with Cleman Mountain in the distance, and Rainier hiding in the clouds Gracie Point summit cairn and sign Elle on the edge of Yakima Canyon. Our route came over the high point in the center. View down to the Roza dam and the railroad bridge While we were on the summit someone came through putting up signs and flagging for a 50K running event to be held over the weekend. Wide open walking, Gracie Point on the right. Spectacularly open views and sunny weather
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RichP Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 5628 | TRs | Pics Location: here |
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RichP
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Fri Apr 19, 2019 5:43 pm
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Good one. I'm pretty sure your mountain goats are actually bighorn sheep.
Cleman Mtn is looking good in your last photo.
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puzzlr Mid Fork Rocks
Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 7216 | TRs | Pics Location: Stuck in the middle |
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
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Fri Apr 19, 2019 6:00 pm
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You're probably right but I used that generic name because that's all the WDFW mentions (species oreamnos americanus) with no reference to bighorn sheep. Buy this map from wikipedia does show Bighorn Sheep in that area:
If this had been our primary destination we could have met you there -- it's probably less of a drive for you than it was for us.
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RichP Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2006 Posts: 5628 | TRs | Pics Location: here |
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RichP
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Fri Apr 19, 2019 6:09 pm
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puzzlr wrote: | If this had been our primary destination we could have met you there -- it's probably less of a drive for you than it was for us. |
It's about 3.5 hours from here, so quite a bit further to there than from Seattle. I've hiked in the area quite bit and have never seen a goat. Interesting that their range extends over there.
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BarbE Member
Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 1153 | TRs | Pics
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BarbE
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Sat Apr 20, 2019 8:04 am
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Our cars loaded with snowshoes, crampons, ice axes, puffies and rain gear.
This balmy ridgewalk was a pleasant change of plans.
Violet Gracie Point with Mt Adams & Rainier hiding in the clouds Above the canyon Leaving
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fourteen410 Member
Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 2622 | TRs | Pics
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Does anyone know the story behind Gracie? Was she a local landowner's dog?
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puzzlr Mid Fork Rocks
Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 7216 | TRs | Pics Location: Stuck in the middle |
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puzzlr
Mid Fork Rocks
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Sun Apr 21, 2019 9:14 pm
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I wondered the same thing. There's got to be a story there. Someone took some time to make that sturdy metal summit marker.
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Snowdog Member
Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 1027 | TRs | Pics Location: on (& off) the beaten path |
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Snowdog
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Mon Apr 22, 2019 11:40 am
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She could be a human too!
'we don't have time for a shortcut'
'we don't have time for a shortcut'
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