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Fletcher Member
Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Posts: 1870 | TRs | Pics Location: kirkland |
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Fletcher
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Sun Jun 13, 2021 10:31 am
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A tight weather window for Saturday had a large crew of peakbaggers assembling at the end of Entiat River Road on Friday evening. Buckskin was on the menu for Josh and I, while Selena, Dave, Beth, Damon, Jake, and Reed were going for Fernow. Drill Sergeant Klein was knocking on car windows at 1:45am and we were hiking through intermittent drizzle and wet brush at 2:15. The first few hours of hiking in the dark is mostly a blur to me. It was light by the time we were crossing Snow Brushy Creek and the stoke was rising among the group.
Damon crossing Snow Brushy Creek at dawn Maude and South Spectacle alpenglow
We hiked in 13 miles to Entiat Meadows by 7:30am. What a place! At 8:00, Josh and I wished our friends luck and parted ways. The route up Bucksin looked straight forward from the Meadows.
beautiful Entiat Meadows Buckskin team Fernow sets out
Josh and I picked a line up towards Buckskin's SE ridge. Very easy travel brought us up to the ridge at 7200 feet in improving weather and views. It was fun to see Bonanza and the Stehekin Triangle peaks look so close on a day trip.
The Spectacle Buttes Wy'East, Riddle, Castle Rock and Flora up the ridge
After a quick break on the ridge, we scrambled upward on a mix of snow and rock. Many transitions from crampons to no crampons on this day. Around 7800 ft we got turned around trying to climb over a gendarme and had some exciting scrambling getting us back on course. The route over the gendarme may go in drier conditions, but the wet black lichen on exposed and loose terrain felt sketchy.
the gendarme that gave us trouble Josh getting Buckskin scramble step getting over gendarme class 4
Once back to easy snow slopes on the other side of the gendarme, we climbed more moderate snow to the summit. We enjoyed lunch in fairly mild temps. Views were great.
Josh finishing Buckskin Copper, Bonanza, and Martin Maude, 7FJ, and Fernow
We did not hang out long, as we had a long ways to go to get out. Instead of reversing our ascent route, we dropped more directly from the summit on snow. I was able to get some long boot skis in! We made excellent time back down to the meadows by 12:50pm.
Buckskin descent Buckskin descent Entiat Meadows
We hiked out the last 13 miles in roughly 4 hours, taking a couple quick breaks. The beer felt well deserved at the trailhead. I then drove all the way home to Burlington and my comfy bed without stopping. Great day in the hills! Hopefully one of the Fernow Group does their own TR for their trip.
looking back at Buckskin Wolverine Fire Art fawns
~29 miles
~5100 ft of gain
~15 hours car to car
~167/200
Gimpilator, freddyfredpants, Tom, Cyclopath, reststep Bluebird
Gimpilator, freddyfredpants, Tom, Cyclopath, reststep Bluebird
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raising3hikers Member
Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 2343 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, Wa |
A 1:45 am wake up, way to get motivated for that! Nice job squeezing 29 miles in that weather window. Cool fawn pic
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Gimpilator infinity/21M
Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 1684 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, WA |
Thanks for the report. 29 miles is a burly day.
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