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KascadeFlat Member
Joined: 06 Jul 2020 Posts: 310 | TRs | Pics Location: Eating peanut M&Ms under my blue tarp |
Happy new year! My hiking partner (M) and I decided to ring in 2021 with a little snowshoeing. Watching the avy forecast carefully over the last few days, and pouring over my lists of 'safe snowshoe spots', I finally settled on Mutton Mountain in the Norse Peak Wilderness.
The forecast was cloudy and in the high 30s. Visibility wasn't predicted to be good, but what's the fun of climbing 3000 ft and seeing anything anyway?
We parked at the end of FR 7170 and were on the trail around 8:30 am. There is no snow at the TH (elevation 2800'). The trail starts along Deep Creek, which has a beautiful cascade right at the beginning. It stair steps up the ridge, interspersing flat plateaus with switch backs. We only had one annoying log to navigate, but we did have to placate the trail guardian for safe passage.
The snow started around 4000' once we hit the burn area. We put our snowshoes on at 4400'. Then it was up, up, up. We were lucky to have intermittent tracks to follow, but we still broke trail ~70% of the time.
The weather turned out much better than we hoped. When we finally gained the ridge at 6000' we had stellar views of Rainier and east all the way to Stuart!
From here, we dropped down 200' on the ridge towards Mutton before we ran into a sketchy looking, perfectly wind loaded, and un-anchored slope. We mulled over our options and decided we were tired of breaking trail so we retreated back to the top of the ridge at 6011' for lunch. M and I decided to name this point 'Little Lamb' so that we would feel like we "achieved something", instead of "giving up". After lunch, we walked down into the early winter sunset, enjoying the change in the atmosphere as the weather rolled in over Rainier and stole our perfect blue skies.
We were back at the truck and on the way home shortly before 4:30 pm. All in all, it was an awesome adventure with good company.
For a good time call: 1-800-SLD-ALDR.
For a good time call: 1-800-SLD-ALDR.
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kitya Fortune Cookie
Joined: 15 Mar 2010 Posts: 842 | TRs | Pics Location: Duvall, WA |
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kitya
Fortune Cookie
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Sun Jan 10, 2021 2:12 pm
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I thought the other high point on that ridge that is not Mutton Mountain or Noble Knob is already called "Ignoble Knob" by most. It is not where you went?
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KascadeFlat Member
Joined: 06 Jul 2020 Posts: 310 | TRs | Pics Location: Eating peanut M&Ms under my blue tarp |
No, Ignoble Knob is to the north of where we stopped and probably +100 feet. We essentially just walked straight up the approach ridge to the highest point and stopped there.
For a good time call: 1-800-SLD-ALDR.
For a good time call: 1-800-SLD-ALDR.
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IanB Vegetable Belayer
Joined: 21 Jul 2010 Posts: 1061 | TRs | Pics Location: gone whuljin' |
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IanB
Vegetable Belayer
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Sun Jan 10, 2021 11:06 pm
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What a great-looking day you lucked into!
"Forget gaining a little knowledge about a lot and strive to learn a lot about a little." - Harvey Manning
"Forget gaining a little knowledge about a lot and strive to learn a lot about a little." - Harvey Manning
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Stefan-K Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2009 Posts: 522 | TRs | Pics Location: seattle |
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Stefan-K
Member
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Mon Jan 11, 2021 11:16 am
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Is that little white rabbit for real?? I guess it was well placated...
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KascadeFlat Member
Joined: 06 Jul 2020 Posts: 310 | TRs | Pics Location: Eating peanut M&Ms under my blue tarp |
Yes! I was amazed to see him sitting there so calmly.
For a good time call: 1-800-SLD-ALDR.
For a good time call: 1-800-SLD-ALDR.
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Matt Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
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Sun Jan 17, 2021 2:24 pm
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Wow, I didn't even notice the rabbit. Sort of caught in the wrong color with the high snow level right now.
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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eishundo Member
Joined: 11 Jul 2013 Posts: 5 | TRs | Pics
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eishundo
Member
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Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:45 pm
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Please share few ideas from your safe snowshoeing list.
We've done Oakes Peak and High Hut in the last couple of weeks.
The view from the former was amazing!
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KascadeFlat Member
Joined: 06 Jul 2020 Posts: 310 | TRs | Pics Location: Eating peanut M&Ms under my blue tarp |
PM sent.
For a good time call: 1-800-SLD-ALDR.
For a good time call: 1-800-SLD-ALDR.
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