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rubywrangler Member
Joined: 04 Aug 2015 Posts: 509 | TRs | Pics
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Larches were past their prime but Julia and I were just happy to get in a few smoke-free days in the mountains before the weather turned. After an extra long drive due to getting stuck in heather/maple pass traffic on hwy 20, we started hiking from the eagle/oval creek trailhead a little after noon on Saturday. The trail is in the crescent creek burn scar for several miles but was in surprisingly good shape - only 1 blowdown - however VERY dusty. We took a short detour to West Oval lake for a snack break; many larches there were bare or brown. Where the trail splits below Gray we took a left and hiked up to the NE ridge, then up to the summit (8082), then down the north ridge to oval pass and Tuckaway lake, where we camped. The sky was crystal clear and we saw lots of shooting stars.
west oval lake hiking toward oval pass west oval lake oval to courtney from gray on the ridge tuckaway already in shadow meadows near tuckaway
On Sunday we took the trail that contours along the southwest side of Gray and Courtney all they way to the Star - Baldy col and had awesome, clear views to the Chelan and Entiat mountains the whole way. At the col we turned right and followed the ridge toward Baldy Mtn. The terrain was easy and the views were nice so we didn't check the map, and ended up aiming for the wrong high point, oops! But backtracking along the ridge to the summit (7810) was easy enough. Really nice views in all directions from here, including our next stop - Finney.
tuckaway rex creek burn (2001) cardinal, emerald, saska yes please approaching baldy baldy summit pano 1 baker, cascade river rd peaks, goode, logan, mcalister plume? from baldy bonanza from baldy entiat peaks julia on baldy finney
We stayed near the ridge crest and headed south to pt. 7618, then dropped down to pick up the trail heading west to Indianhead basin. It may be possible to stay on the ridge longer, but I didn't think of that. Also the next section continuing toward pt 7778 looked narrow in my photos. After a short stretch on trail we contoured around the head of the basin at ~7100 to the lower of the finney lakes. There are several nice campsites in the meadow before the lakes, and one nice lakeside spot that was occupied by a solo hiker out for a week and a half long trip. The lower lake is really gorgeous, but we continued on a social trail to the upper lake and tarns, all of which were looking very low/dry.
meadows and peaks to the east finney & lake on the trail to indianhead basin lower finney lake lower finney lake finney tarn camp on a knoll between lake and tarn
After setting up camp and having a late lunch, we headed for Finney. The route goes around the north side of the lake and through larchy meadows, then climbs to the saddle north of the peak on boulders and scree. We intended to take the west ridge route described by boo, so we descended into the basin on the west side, following the larches to avoid having to deal with huge boulders. We had a little trouble figuring out where to climb up to the west ridge, and ended up following game trails up a steep slope. On the descent we took a gully which was loose but still easier. Once we were on the ridge, it was pretty much just a 700' stroll to the summit, with a little bit of scrambly boulder hopping at the very top.
leaning larch larch basin below finney larch basin below finney looking w from finney's north ridge, we followed the larch trail to the w ridge
By the time we reached the summit smoke was beginning to build in the west but it was still clear otherwise. Finney is a pretty neat viewpoint, being partially encircled by Sawtooth ridge. It feels really remote compared to other parts of this area, and maybe that's why it doesn't get many visitors. We were the second party to sign the register this year. After about 45 minutes we headed down, hoping to avoid another episode of stumbing into camp after dark (we were successful). While eating dinner in the dark we heard geese overhead, which Julia's birding app identified as snow geese. We heard them a few more times over the next day, and saw a flock fly over the summit of Star on our hike out.
across the ridge to east summit looking down finney's west ridge summit view north pretty brown over by bernice getting smoky in the chelan mtns better route to/from the west ridge golden hour on finney sunset light sunset
On Monday we made our way back to the trail and then took it all the way back to Fish Creek, below the pass and Star lake. Here we split up, with me wanting to take Courtney's SW ridge and Julia preferring to stay on the trail longer and climb straight up to the Courtney-Gray saddle. It was a race that I won easily, because after climbing ~400' up the ridge, I found up a good trail coming from Star lake that continued all the way to the saddle. The Middle/East Oval lake basin looked very enticing from here, even though the larches were looking sad - definitely adding it to my list for a future trip.
morning light at finney tarn sunrise surprise finney/upper lake from camp lower finney lake larches lower finney reflection finney and larches from lower lake looking back to finney star - baldy col in the distance more pretty meadows star lake basin from courtney sw ridge courtney & buttermilk hp middle/east oval lakes basin middle oval lk entiat peaks and glacier disappearing crescent creek burn (2018)
Our trail continued to NE ridge of Gray, and from there we retraced our route back through the Oval creek valley to the car. After car beers and snacks, Julia hit the road for Seattle and I wandered into Winthrop in search of real food. There are not a lot of options on Monday night! OSB was closed even though their website, facebook page, and google said otherwise... and this is not the first time that has happened to me I ended up at MEZA (my friend's husband's prom date's sister's new place, lol) which was quite delicious although slammed and very slow - oh well, to be expected when there's only one game in town!
Totals: 31 mi, ~10,700' of gain
DWB27, Brushbuffalo, GeoTom, Gabep, ozzy, jaysway, geyer, neek, raising3hikers, freddyfredpants, zimmertr, fffej50, HitTheTrail, Now I Fly, Prosit, brewermd, RichP, Tom Lindsay, GaliWalker
DWB27, Brushbuffalo, GeoTom, Gabep, ozzy, jaysway, geyer, neek, raising3hikers, freddyfredpants, zimmertr, fffej50, HitTheTrail, Now I Fly, Prosit, brewermd, RichP, Tom Lindsay, GaliWalker
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Prosit Member
Joined: 08 May 2011 Posts: 128 | TRs | Pics
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Prosit
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Sat Oct 22, 2022 12:29 pm
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I slept out on the crest of Bigelow’s south ridge the night of the 16th, and had a large, loud flock of geese fly right past me in the dark. They sounded so close I thought I could almost reach out and touch them, and they were there for a long time, so it must have been a long line of birds. I heard them coming for a while, and the doppler effect was exhilarating. Their calls also faded away for a long time. It felt magical.
I also saw lots of shooting meteors, and more geese that night and on succeeding nights, just as you did. Great time to be out, even with the larches past prime. Finney Lakes is a wonderful place.
Brushbuffalo, rubywrangler
Brushbuffalo, rubywrangler
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Get Out and Go Member
Joined: 13 Nov 2004 Posts: 2127 | TRs | Pics Location: Leavenworth |
That's a great area to hang out in; a few places to camp where you could definitely find solitude.
"These are the places you will find me hiding'...These are the places I will always go."
(Down in the Valley by The Head and The Heart)
"Sometimes you're happy. Sometimes you cry.
Half of me is ocean. Half of me is sky."
(Thanks, Tom Petty)
Brushbuffalo, rubywrangler
"These are the places you will find me hiding'...These are the places I will always go."
(Down in the Valley by The Head and The Heart)
"Sometimes you're happy. Sometimes you cry.
Half of me is ocean. Half of me is sky."
(Thanks, Tom Petty)
Brushbuffalo, rubywrangler
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nickmtn Member
Joined: 04 Jun 2014 Posts: 105 | TRs | Pics Location: Kirkland, wa |
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nickmtn
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Mon Oct 24, 2022 6:47 am
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rubywrangler wrote: | sunset |
Love this shot of Clark!
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rubywrangler Member
Joined: 04 Aug 2015 Posts: 509 | TRs | Pics
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I'll probably regret questioning your peak naming prowess, but I'm pretty sure clark is not visible in this photo
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nickmtn Member
Joined: 04 Jun 2014 Posts: 105 | TRs | Pics Location: Kirkland, wa |
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nickmtn
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Mon Oct 24, 2022 9:49 am
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Eek hope I am right on this one:
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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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Mon Oct 24, 2022 10:19 am
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Seems about where it would be? Maude and 7FJ on the right; South Spec left.
Great area, great pics.
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rubywrangler Member
Joined: 04 Aug 2015 Posts: 509 | TRs | Pics
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I think that’s buck
And Clark is behind the ridge left of s spectacle
Brushbuffalo, neek
Brushbuffalo, neek
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nickmtn Member
Joined: 04 Jun 2014 Posts: 105 | TRs | Pics Location: Kirkland, wa |
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nickmtn
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Mon Oct 24, 2022 11:01 am
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Darn it! Back to the shadows for me...until next time wrangler!
I think I confused these two sub summits:
Brushbuffalo
Brushbuffalo
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