[cartman]

With the great forecast dicey, iron, and baddog conspired to go up into the North Cascades and see if we could run Stetattle Ridge out to the first point of prominence, Peak 6495, the South Peak. Thanks to excellent snow conditions and iron's Iron Man step-kicking, we did. Kudos to bad dog for coming up with the idea. We started ~9am. TH is at 900' at Diablo; snow starts for real at a bit over 3000'. But conditions in the trees were so good we didn't put snowshoes on until ~5000', where the route is in the open more than not. When heading up the crux bump at ~5500' we watched a point release on the lee (east) side become a real slide, and then three more before we went over the bump. Since we were on the crest we were in no danger. The interesting thing about the first point release is that it did not originate below a tree or rock, but from a blank spot on the slope. Simply walking above this apparent weakness in the snowpack was enough to trigger the slide. These shallow (less than 6" layer) slides moved downslope fairly slowly but went for a couple of hundred feet. Once we got to the top of the Stetattle-Sourdough Ridge junction we immediately turned left and traversed the numerous bumps along the ridge. Views were outstanding, visibility unlimited in all directions. Pickets, Redoubt & Mox Peaks, Logan, Buckner, Snowfield & Colonial group, Triumph--everything was unobscured by clouds. The farther we ran the ridge the better the views became, until we stood atop the 6495' high point we were aiming for. Breeze was a bit brisk at times along the traverse, but temps were mild. dicey saw an avalanche pour right down into Azure Lake. After some discussion about continuing the traverse over to the next high point, we decided against it and returned the way we came. The next point was probably obtainable but was a fair ways away with quite a large loss in elevation between, and it was 2:30. On the way back, dicey pointed out the ridge traverse they did from Glee to Rooster and suggested you could run that all the way to Davis...potential idea for a future trip. Returning to the ridge junction everyone was up for the short jaunt to Sourdough's true summit, so we did that quickly and then headed back and out. Back to the car just before 7pm. Thanks to these outstanding partners on an ideal day, especially iron for all those steps. ~12 miles, 7000' elevation gain. Best trip of the year so far! Eric J. Johnson

[dicey]

Great trip with spectacular weather and views! I fear I'm wearing out my welcome in the North Cascades this spring Here is some eye candy. Lots of pics of Iron because he was always about 1/2 mile ahead of us kicking steps!

Just getting started

tiny people on a big ridge

Iron and Snowfield group

cornice land

Iron and Luna

cornice land 2

amongst the giants

steps to the sky

true sourdough summit

Iron, Redoubt and Mox Peaks

follow the steps home

[Matt]

One of my favorite ridges. Sure looks fine.

[Dayhike Mike]

Very nice work, all!

[puzzlr]

Fantastic! What a good idea.

[TrailPair]

What a perfect day to skip work, and beautiful destination.

[wamtngal]

You guys had some really crappy weather, sorry to hear about that. Nice trip choice and great pics!

[wildernessed]

Nice. No training needed for you guys for the seasons ahead.

[Tom_Sjolseth]

Stop posting these trip reports please. It is not fair to those of us who cannot get out. Nice work.

[iron]

[BadDog]

Absolutely the best winter trip I have ever done. Being up on the ridge was the pure bliss. Great company too, especially Iron for lovin' to kick those steps.

[iron]

i whole heartedly agree that this was one heck of a trip. bad dog - serious props for picking this trip and egging me on to do it. i might lose my job because of it, but it was worth it seriously, wow. what a day. what a place. what an experience. just when i thought daytrips couldn't get much better than the one we had a few weeks ago on florence and howard, it did. sorry if there are way too many pictures here. it was tough to narrow them down. my favorite aspect of the trip was how, once on the ridge, the terrain absolutely lent itself to a meandering, roaming path, with ups and downs, side to sides, and new views with every step. it was nothing short of breathtaking for our entire time up there. and, the mileage and elevation on this trip just seemed to come so easily. this trip will likely always be on my late winter, bluebird sky to-do list, even if it jeopardizes my career.

first opening along ridge and the blue skies awaiting

untouched

departing first lunch spot

walking along the edge down to the gap

041.JPG

alright, let's play now!

whispy clouds still barely hanging on

i could stay here forever

this is the reason we do stuff like this!

shorts and gaiters = hot tanlines

the start of the runnels

i love prints

aimlessly meandering prints along the broad ridge and its little bumps

dicey heading down

shadows beneath the snowdrifts

mounds of snow

my favorite cornice of the day, mainly because of its texture (better seen in dicey's pic)

shadows are setting in just a little

snowshoe skiing, or at least an attempt

snowshoe print helix

is this postcard worthy?

baby tree island

perfection

dicey and bad dog making the sweep

but i don't want to leave!

mad skillz

heading up to sourdough

from sourdough summit

saying goodbye to sourdough

i soooo need to camp here to see these shadows at sunset

a future trip looms in the center of this pic

farewell ridge

one big meandering path

the slide zone from the gap

dicey coming down the slick ridge near the gap

how wil we ever find our way out?

special sentimental value upon seeing hwy 20 from this vantage point. i vividly recal biking this stretch with my dad on our trip across the country in 2007.

[Magellan]

Gorgeous! I'm sorry I missed this one.

[puzzlr]

Wow Iron -- that's dedication. Good luck with the job.

[Mark Griffith]

super superlative looking day out there. Love all the blue sky with the snow. This ridge is on my list.....