[Opus]

What's black and white and red all over? Red Mountain (Salmon La Sac) on a cloudy day! Okay so we had some blue thrown in there too. What better peak for Valentines day than Red mountain? After securing a Snopark pass (we didn't know if we needed or not but better to be safe) we parked on the shoulder of the highway across the Cooper lake bridge and set out down the groomed snowmobile trail. After about 1.5 miles we came to the Red Mountain trailhead and started up the hill. Snowshoes went on right away and stayed most of the trip. Snow conditions varied wildly over the day from hard pack icy crust to deep fluffy powder and a slidey layer on top of an old crust. The climbing was pretty steep through the trees and the heel elevator bars of the snowshoes helped greatly. We were especially nice and let Barry do most of the work, even though he had no gaiters. In the open areas of deeper steep snow Barry and Suzanne floated up quickly while Jim and I floundered, too heavy to make solid steps in the slidey snow. We all eventually regrouped below a short steep section above the trees to remove snowshoes. Out came the ice axes and Microspikes. Thankfully it was short and higher we were again on soft snow. Back on with the snowshoes. Nearing the top we swichbacked up a steep slope towards the final section. I took one step forward and immediately slid 12 feet back. After some tiring short switchbacks Jim and I caught up. We ate our lunch surveying the last steep slope to the top before again trading snowshoes for Microspikes and ice axes. Barry led the way while Suzanne and I kicked deeper steps for our descent. Views from the top were limited but still pretty with the billowing clouds and snowy trees. Across the valley towards Jolly Mountain the sky began to clear. We'd hoped to traverse over to the middle summit but it was already 2pm, 4.5 hours since leaving the car. Snow conditions were not so good so we opted to just descend. The snow was much better going down, great for plunge stepping. I managed a very short glissade before the deep powdery snow stopped my fun. Aside from a brief encounter with a tree hole we made it back down to the groomed road in blistering time. Stepping through the little ditch along the road and onto its surface Jim was hit with severe leg and arm cramps, trapping him in the ditch. We of course had a deadline to get this report published so we pushed on. If anyone is heading up there in the near future pack an extra sandwich for him. While we didn't set a speed record with our 4.5 hour ascent the snow conditions we made it down in less than 2 hours! Pretty good I think for the difficult snow conditions. Great Valentines day out in the mountains with friends, especially lacking a valentine myself. Click here for all the photos.

GPS tracks

Steep

Climbing higher

Steep slope

Tired Gusto

Second wind

Snow shapes

Looking back

Sunbreak

Summit

Going up

V for Valentine

Cloudy tree

Ridge

Heading down

Sunny summit

Edge of the world

Summit panorama

[GeoTom]

Like "Edge of the World'

[TrailPair]

You guys had to work hard for tha summit...good job! And Jim, don't make fun of Bob's cramps

[JimK]

Hmm.... reading that report and looking at the pictures it sounds like I didn't make the summit. Oh, and I have a lousy Internet connection down in this ditch. Bob, I will never make fun of your cramps. Seriously painful.

[John Morrow]

One of my favorite skis in the right conditions. Jake and I almost headed there instead heading for near Snoqualmie pass where we thought the new snow would be a bit deeper on Humpback Mtn. http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=12301.0 Would have been great to have just "run into" you all up there! Glad you had a fun one. Love the view from the top and that pretty basin! John

[Middle E]

It was a good trip, but I would have enjoyed it more if I had not forgotten those gaiters! Fortunately it was not too cold, and the exertion kept the feet warm (mostly)...

Road crossing

Summit ridge in the distance

Suzanne on the ridge

Last bit to the summit of Red

Clouds lightening

Ridgeline

Here's a photo of JimK showing he was close to the summit.

Lunch below the summit

Gee, that one looks a little higher

Cooper Lake from Red Mtn.

Other Teanaway peaks in the clouds

[Sadie's Driver]

[EastKing]

Great TR and photos!!! Is the road clear to head to Jolly Mountain. That will be my destination next week to finish off what I started in December.

[gone]

"Red, White and Blue!" That really is a steep little hill. Wandered around the bottom of it last fall, will have to climb it for sure this summer. Can't imagine kicking up it with snowshoes through that much snow and that much steep, though. Nice work!

[JimK]

Yeah, it's a bit steep. The first 1 1/2 miles of road gains 300'. From there it's only 2 miles to the summit gaining 3200'.

[Opus]

[tigermn]

[Opus]

[Highwalker's Daughter]

Fantastic pictures - looks like a great trip even for the tired doggy.

[Sadie's Driver]