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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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Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:19 am
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I signed up for a BCRT with WTA in The Salmo-Priest Wilderness and was unsure if it would be cancelled due to the pandemic. The trip ended up happening so I thought I'd combine it with some peak bagging in the area before and after as this is a remote part of the state.
On the trip up I visited North Baldy Mtn which is a drive up summit near Usk. Cross the bridge over The Pend Oreille in town and go north to signed Mill Ck Rd which takes you to the top. Higher up a brief and violent hail storm started and I parked to wait to out. The last 1/4 mile of the road was rough enough that I walked. A couple of trees had fallen across the road on the way down which I cleared.
After a brief and violent storm headed to North Baldy summit. North Baldy Mountain, 6173.' A road goes to the top of North Baldy but was too rough the last 1/4 mile for my car. This is a Wa P2k summit.
I then drove up to Sullivan Mtn outside of Metaline Falls to visit a standing lookout. The last bit had some trees down on the road.
Some trees on the last 1/2 mile to Sullivan Mtn Lookout. Sullivan Mtn Lookout, 6483.' Gypsy Peak and others.
From there I continued up to Salmo Mtn Lookout and camped for the night as it is a short distance from where I would meet with the WTA crew for the work party on The Salmo-Priest Loop in the morn.
Almost nighttime on Salmo Mtn Lookout. I camped just below the top. Salmo Mtn Lookout the next morning. The actual highpoint of Salmo Mtn is a short distance from the lookout, 6880.' Gypsy Peak. This is the highest point in Wa east of the Cascades.
At 8:30am we met for the lowdown on new rules to follow social distancing guidelines during the BCRT. We then started on the 5-mile descent to the South Salmo River clearing downfall along the way. When we got to the river it was evident that crossing would be unsafe as the water was high and fast. We camped for the night and started the hike back up the following morning. Along the way we worked on some brushing and drainage issues.
Salmo-Priest Loop Trailhead. Masking up when necessary. Cleared. The South Salmo River was too deep to ford safely so we camped nearby and humped the 5 miles and 1700' of gain back up to the trailhead to work from the other end of the loop.
Back at the trailhead we took a brief break and continued out in a counterclockwise direction on the loop. We found plenty of work to do on this side of the trail. We set up camp at the junction of The Shedroof Divide about 3 miles in.
Working counterclockwise on the Salmo-Priest Loop. Camping at the junction of Shedroof Divide.
In the morning we continued on the loop into Idaho section and logged off the trail until snow stopped our progress within a few miles.
Along the Salmo-Priest Loop. This skid worked well. The log rolled right off with little effort after cutting. Shedroof Mtn. Headed back to camp after encountering the trail covered in snow. We logged about 5 miles of trail on each end of the loop. A WTA crew will go in during July to finish the rest. My camp.
Since we returned to camp early I took advantage of the time and weather to visit Shedroof Mtn about 2 miles up the Shedroof Divide Trail. I could also report back on trail conditions for an upcoming BCRT there. Thunder started as I was on top so I hastily returned to camp. That night was stormy.
I took a hike to the summit of Shedroof Mtn after a day of work. A spur trail goes to the top which used to have a lookout. Sign on Shedroof Mtn summit. The outhouse is still standing. BM on Shedroof Mtn. North Priest Lake in the distance.
On the way out the following day we logged numerous trees toward the trailhead that we had left and completed about 10 miles of the 19-mile loop. Another crew will be headed in during July to finish the rest.
After the BCRT I met up with Daniel, a peakbagging buddy for some summits. Abercrombie from the west was up first.
Flume Creek Trail on the west side of Abercrombie Mtn. Flume Ck Trail. Some garbage that I hauled out. Abercrombie from the saddle on the north side. The south side of Abercrombie. Abercrombie Mtn summit, 7308.' This ranks as the 7th most prominent summit in the state after the volcanos and Mt Stuart. SW. South.
We then drove down to Ione and crossed the river to Sullivan Lake Rd for Molybdenite, another P2k. A gated spur road off of Paupac Rd signed 100 goes to a short bushwhack up to and old trail that lead to the long gone lookout.
Walking Rd 100 toward Molybdenite Mtn. Firefinder on Molybdenite Mtn summit. Molybdenite Mtn, 6784.' South view from Molybdenite.
We camped on Old Dominion Mtn near Colville but no pics for that one as it was night and the morning was in a cloud. The road is horrendous but I somehow got a Forester up to the top.
Up Aladdin Rd to Mt Rogers from the Roger Mtn Trailhead. Take Rd 500 (Kolle Ck).
Roger Mtn Trailhead to Mt Rogers. We are going to the point at 2.5 miles. Some big shrooms along the trail. Rogers Benchmark or Rogers Mt. Lookout remains on Rogers Mtn. Old Dominion. We did a nighttime drive up and camped on that one. Storms are brewing.
The last peak was a rough drive up and short bushwack. Lime Ck Mtn also off of Aladdin Rd. Turn off on Black Canyon Rd and drive as far as your nerves and vehicle allow you.
Looking for the highest stump on Lime Ck Mountain, a Wa P2k. Headed back to the cars after a short bushwhack on Lime Ck Mtn, 4739.'
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neek Member
Joined: 12 Sep 2011 Posts: 2329 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle, WA |
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neek
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Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:24 am
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glad to hear these are still on; I'm signed up for one next month. I assume they ask everyone to drive separately?
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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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Wed Jul 01, 2020 10:32 am
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neek wrote: | I assume they ask everyone to drive separately? |
All of us did but that would be a personal choice as it's not during actual work time.
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altasnob Member
Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 1382 | TRs | Pics Location: Tacoma |
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altasnob
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Thu Jul 02, 2020 8:34 am
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Cool area. Could you see any of the glacier clad Canadian peaks from the top of Abercrombie or other summits? Like the Valhallas or peaks in Kokanee Provincial Park? I see some snowy mountains off in the distance in some of the photos but looks like those are the Idaho Selkirks?
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Jake Robinson Member
Joined: 02 Aug 2016 Posts: 521 | TRs | Pics
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Thanks for all the hard work! Also, really nice trip getting all those peaks. I have been meaning to check out that area for a long time now. The whole place is a big blank spot on the map for me. Good to see some pics of the current conditions, looks like a really nice place.
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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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Thu Jul 02, 2020 8:46 am
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altasnob wrote: | Could you see any of the glacier clad Canadian peaks from the top of Abercrombie or other summits? |
Here's a view of some big Canadian peaks from Abercrombie. Not sure what they are.
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Jake Robinson Member
Joined: 02 Aug 2016 Posts: 521 | TRs | Pics
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I believe that is the Valhallas - Gladsheim, etc. Cool!
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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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Thu Jul 02, 2020 9:16 am
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Thanks for identifying that, Jake.
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Stefan Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Posts: 5085 | TRs | Pics
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Stefan
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Thu Jul 02, 2020 9:33 am
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OutOfOffice Member
Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Posts: 91 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
Thanks for the trail work and the peak ideas. I'll be in eastern WA next week and was thinking about going to the Salmo-Priest wilderness finally.
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glenoid Member
Joined: 30 Oct 2012 Posts: 306 | TRs | Pics
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glenoid
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Thu Jul 02, 2020 4:59 pm
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Thanks for the TR and the trail work!!! Been awhile since I haunted those areas. Looks like not much has changed, thankfully!!
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Brushbuffalo Member
Joined: 17 Sep 2015 Posts: 1887 | TRs | Pics Location: there earlier, here now, somewhere later... Bellingham in between |
Nice trip. You tagged a lot of sites of former lookouts, which not surprisingly often correspond with prominence points.
I need to plan an extended trip to that remote part of the state.....maybe get very lucky and see grizzly tracks.
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
Passing rocks and trees like they were standing still
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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 Jul 03, 2020 10:19 am
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bertman Member
Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 362 | TRs | Pics
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bertman
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Fri Jul 03, 2020 6:09 pm
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Nice! Thanks for all the hard work. I wish I could have joined in the logout.
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Cyclopath Faster than light
Joined: 20 Mar 2012 Posts: 7697 | TRs | Pics Location: Seattle |
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Cyclopath
Faster than light
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Fri Jul 03, 2020 10:28 pm
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Thanks for the trail work! Also, thanks for posting a TR from beyond the Cascades. Really nice to see. There's so much variety in the mountains and forests here in the NW.
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