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Now I Fly
Member
Joined: 07 Jun 2018
Posts: 474 | TRs | Pics
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Wanted to sneak in a trip before the weather changed. I've done Painted Mountain in the summer, and always wanted to try it with a bit of snow. Yesterday was my chance.
Got a bit of a late start, leaving Kirkland at 6:30. Hwy 530, between Arlington and Darrington, was icy, delaying me further (I'm a wuss driving on frost & ice). Didn't gain any time heading south on the Mountain Loop Hwy. It's in about regular beat-up shape. Same with FS 4900, about average shape, and no snow all the way to the North Fork Sauk TH.
Started up the Red Mountain trail a little past nine. The first 3/4 mile is especially nice, traveling through some outstanding old growth.
At one mile you reach the old lookout site and get a few views of the valley. From there a lesser trail continues up to the high country. It's fairly easy to follow, but occasionally gets hidden by blowdown. Might be tricky in the dark. I had a track on my GAIA.
The trail is steep and eventually the pine needles froze, and mixed with crunchy ice, so I put on mircospikes.
Near 5,700 I switched to crampons, they got me the top.
Here I need to point out that there had recently been traffic on the route, and I used their track as much as I could. Without it I wouldn't have made the summit before my turn around time (1:30). So, a huge shoutout the it's maker! Thank you!
Painted has a wonderful summit! Wished I could have hung around a while longer, but I was passed my turn around time, so it was time to boogie. The trip down was uneventful and I made the truck with a bit of daylight.
Sprinkled as I drove home. I felt lucky to get this one in. 
Cheers B!
 contour5, jaysway, Tom, MistyMountainHop, John Mac, Gimpilator, Prosit, RichP, mbravenboer, zimmertr, BarbE, rubywrangler, jstern, Kascadia, ejain, Schroder, Lightning_bug, Snowdog, Nancyann, Opus, runup, raising3hikers, shane w
contour5, jaysway, Tom, MistyMountainHop, John Mac, Gimpilator, Prosit, RichP, mbravenboer, zimmertr, BarbE, rubywrangler, jstern, Kascadia, ejain, Schroder, Lightning_bug, Snowdog, Nancyann, Opus, runup, raising3hikers, shane w |
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zephyr
aka friendly hiker
Joined: 21 Jun 2009
Posts: 3370 | TRs | Pics
Location: West Seattle |
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zephyr
aka friendly hiker
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 Thu Nov 30, 2023 6:33 pm |
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Another great report. Would this be Sloan Peak? ~z
Now I Fly
Now I Fly |
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Now I Fly
Member
Joined: 07 Jun 2018
Posts: 474 | TRs | Pics
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| zephyr wrote: | | Would this be Sloan Peak? |
Yes indeed! I still need to get Sloan under my belt. Such a beautiful peak!
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RichP
Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2006
Posts: 5634 | TRs | Pics
Location: here |
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RichP
Member
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Thu Nov 30, 2023 7:36 pm |
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You sure got that one in at the last minute. Should be under some good snow cover tomorrow.
Now I Fly
Now I Fly |
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Now I Fly
Member
Joined: 07 Jun 2018
Posts: 474 | TRs | Pics
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| RichP wrote: | | Should be under some good snow cover tomorrow. |
Maybe the road too.
RichP
RichP |
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RichP
Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2006
Posts: 5634 | TRs | Pics
Location: here |
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RichP
Member
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Thu Nov 30, 2023 8:04 pm |
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Sloan. Maybe team up next summer. I'd love to do that one too.
Now I Fly
Now I Fly |
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Gimpilator
infinity/21M
Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 1684 | TRs | Pics
Location: Edmonds, WA |
Love that peak. Nice to see it done with some snow. 
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mbravenboer
Member
Joined: 20 Oct 2013
Posts: 1422 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle |
Very nice. I camped on that summit once and it's one of my favorite sunrise memories!
shane w, Now I Fly
shane w, Now I Fly |
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lopper
off-route
Joined: 22 Jan 2002
Posts: 845 | TRs | Pics
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lopper
off-route
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Thu Dec 07, 2023 8:03 am |
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Thanks for your report and pics.
Here is the comfort station at the lookout site in1984
Now I Fly, RichP
Now I Fly, RichP |
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timberghost
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Joined: 06 Dec 2011
Posts: 1333 | TRs | Pics
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Now I Fly
Now I Fly |
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