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neek Member
Joined: 12 Sep 2011 Posts: 2335 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle, WA |
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neek
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Tue May 14, 2019 8:07 am
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Took the Lake Ethel trail to North and Middle Chiwaukum yesterday, then looped back via some of the lakes out there. Conditions were great and I was surprised nothing got stomped out over the weekend. All easy and safe class 2 terrain. Skeeters were out already near the trailhead. Lots of blowdown on the initial section of the trail before the clearcut. No snow until after the clearcut, 5000 ft. Instead of descending to Lake Ethel, I stayed on the ridge and followed it to North Chiwaukum. A lot of the tundra-like meadows up there are already melted out, so the snowshoes went on and off several times. They weren't strictly necessary, but definitely helped. I continued on to Middle C and hung out for a while, enjoying the view as the cloud layer thinned a little. Descended into the larch-filled basin N of McCue Ridge, then to Lake Donald, which was still frozen enough to walk across. Headed N from near the outlet of Donald to the outlet of Lake Eileen. There was no reason to descend all the way to Lake Julius so I took a fairly direct approach to Lake Ethel and then back up to the trail I came in on. Ended up being about 17 miles. Glad to finally check out this area, first time I've been back there.
Waterfall on Gill Creek Tweedy's Lewisia - thanks Nancyann Lake Ethel Middle and North C The melted-out areas were covered by these little flowers Middle C from the northern peak Sloan, Glacier, etc. Approaching Middle C Looking back at N. C The basin above Lake Donald Heading up the spine of snow below the summit, the only place an ice axe seemed like a good idea Bare trail on the final push Summit shot with Stuart in the distance, maybe Larch Lake in front Summit shot Down into the basin My glissade path Lake Donald Lake Donald Lake Julius Loch Eileen Loch Eileen Sketchy snow bridge From the other side Lake Ethel Fungus
Sorry for the lame cell phone photos, I'll take a better camera next time.
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Nancyann Member
Joined: 28 Jul 2013 Posts: 2316 | TRs | Pics Location: Sultan Basin |
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Nancyann
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Tue May 14, 2019 8:17 am
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Thanks for the helpful trip report and pictures, neek. We were just talking about the best way to get up to Lake Donald from Lake Ethel and wondering when it would be melting out. You just answered our questions!
The beautiful flower you wondered about is Tweedy's Lewisia, one of my favorites.
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Bootpathguy Member
Joined: 18 Jun 2015 Posts: 1787 | TRs | Pics Location: United States |
Need to adventure that area myself. Thanks for sharing
Experience is what'cha get, when you get what'cha don't want
Experience is what'cha get, when you get what'cha don't want
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Anne Elk BrontosaurusTheorist
Joined: 07 Sep 2018 Posts: 2419 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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Anne Elk
BrontosaurusTheorist
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Tue May 14, 2019 8:33 am
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Nice report, neek, about an area I know nothing about. I was going to guess that the mystery flower looked like some kind of odd Lewisia; pretty good guess! Thanks Nancyann for the ID.
"There are yahoos out there. It’s why we can’t have nice things." - Tom Mahood
"There are yahoos out there. It’s why we can’t have nice things." - Tom Mahood
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Backpacker Joe Blind Hiker
Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 23956 | TRs | Pics Location: Cle Elum |
Great pics Neekster. Thanks for the early season beta.
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
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timberghost Member
Joined: 06 Dec 2011 Posts: 1323 | TRs | Pics
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Nice report at least you didn't have to fight the down burned tree mess on the Chiwaukum cr trail.
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Sculpin Member
Joined: 23 Apr 2015 Posts: 1382 | TRs | Pics
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Sculpin
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Thu May 16, 2019 9:31 am
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Between every two pines is a doorway to the new world. - John Muir
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Triciaann777 Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2013 Posts: 66 | TRs | Pics Location: Snohomish County Gold Bar wa |
Cell phone pictures are great, unless you expect to enlarge them to frame. I regretted trying.
Tricia's Mantra
You were made to move,
Tricia's Mantra
You were made to move,
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