Forum Index > Trip Reports > Townsend Mountain (Wild Sky) + Eagle Lake Cabin - 7/8/2014
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Gimpilator
infinity/21M



Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 1684 | TRs | Pics
Location: Edmonds, WA
Gimpilator
infinity/21M
PostWed Jul 09, 2014 3:23 pm 
Heather and I hiked Townsend Mountain yesterday. We thought found the approach from Barclay Lake to be fun since it passed 3 lakes and involved scrambling up some slabs.
Baring looking badass
Baring looking badass
Stone Lake
Stone Lake
Townsend above
Townsend above
Merchant above Eagle Lake
Merchant above Eagle Lake
The upper lakes were buggy in the morning so we didn't linger. I lost the trail near the outlet of Eagle Lake and we bushwhacked for 10 minutes until I found it again. We scrambled up the talus slope following cairns until we reached the open slabs.
talus above Eagle Lake
talus above Eagle Lake
above Eagle Lake
above Eagle Lake
Heather on the slabs
Heather on the slabs
the slabs
the slabs
At first view the slabs looked down-sloping and intimidating. But moving in a northeast direction we were able to avoid the sections with less features and follow some natural step formations most of the way up.
Gunn
Gunn
above the slabs
above the slabs
near the ridge crest
near the ridge crest
At the ridge crest we turned east and went over the false summit to the summit where two Ravens were hanging out. The register revealed that we were the first ascent party of the year and only about 10 ascents per year.
false summit
false summit
on the west ridge
on the west ridge
the summit
the summit
Eagle Rock
Eagle Rock
panorama
panorama
nice views
nice views
Lupine and Merchant
Lupine and Merchant
This peak is surrounded with great views, perhaps even the best view I've had so far this year. We stayed on the summit for at least a half hour before retracing our steps back to Eagle Lake. We explored the cabin and then I went for a short swim to cool off. I was surprised to find the temperature of the water similar to that of a swimming pool.
back at Eagle Lake
back at Eagle Lake
in the cabin
in the cabin
cabin
cabin
floating
floating
1962 Inventory
1962 Inventory
What a day! Nothing but fun. Thanks Heather for such an awesome day.

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Revo
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Joined: 21 Jan 2014
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Location: Kirkland
Revo
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PostWed Jul 09, 2014 3:51 pm 
Awesome Trip! How long did it take you roundtrip for this one?

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Gimpilator
infinity/21M



Joined: 12 Oct 2006
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Location: Edmonds, WA
Gimpilator
infinity/21M
PostWed Jul 09, 2014 4:01 pm 
We took 11 hours, but in combination we spent more than an hour on the summit and at the cabin. So it would be reasonable to do it in 9 or 10 hours at a comfortable pace, and less than that if you're fast.

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wolffie
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PostThu Jul 10, 2014 9:39 am 
so it wasn't too brushy? I can't remember if the approach was under snow, but it must have been at least summer when I was there, because after I had to talk a bear off the ridge to let me pass, there was a stag at the summit with a rack of antlers in velvet. It did not *jump* over the summit when it saw me; it simply levitated. Boing, gone. Wow those are great views I gotta go back.

Some people have better things to do with their lives than walking the dog. Some don't.
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Gil
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Gil
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PostThu Jul 10, 2014 10:35 am 
Nice! I love that lake.

Friends help the miles go easier. Klahini
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Revo
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Joined: 21 Jan 2014
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Location: Kirkland
Revo
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PostThu Jul 10, 2014 2:29 pm 
Gimpilator wrote:
We took 11 hours, but in combination we spent more than an hour on the summit and at the cabin. So it would be reasonable to do it in 9 or 10 hours at a comfortable pace, and less than that if you're fast.
Yep thats about what I was thinking, it will be a long day! I appreciate the feedback, Townsend Mountain has been on my radar and looks like all the snow at Eagle Lake has finally melted.

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Backpacker Joe
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Joined: 16 Dec 2001
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Location: Cle Elum
Backpacker Joe
Blind Hiker
PostThu Jul 10, 2014 3:36 pm 
I love seeing trips from you guys. Just for the heck of it, you could have saved a couple hours had you parked at the short cut and approached Eagle lake from there. doh.gif

"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide." — Abraham Lincoln
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fourteen410
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PostThu Jul 10, 2014 4:08 pm 
great pics and adorable summit photo! up.gif

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Ingunn
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Ingunn
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PostThu Jul 10, 2014 5:52 pm 
Gorgeous. up.gif

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Gimpilator
infinity/21M



Joined: 12 Oct 2006
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Location: Edmonds, WA
Gimpilator
infinity/21M
PostThu Jul 10, 2014 11:18 pm 
wolffie wrote:
so it wasn't too brushy? ...there was a stag at the summit with a rack of antlers in velvet.
Very cool to see a deer so high up there. The only part of the approach that was brushy was on the northeast side of Eagle Lake. You have to be careful not to lose the trail there. It stays close to the shore of the lake. Also, between the talus slope and the slabs is slightly brushy but not bad.

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