Shelby Olson
Apparently, midsummer means mosquitos, mountain goats, and a whole lot of Mountaineer spirit! Read on, dear friends, for some of the best trip reports from this July, with more alpine lakes, wildflowers, and creatures of legend than you could ask for.
Intermediate Alpine Climb - Ptarmigan Traverse - 7/3-7/6
“4 day IGC Experience climb of the Ptarmigan Traverse.” -Rose Slater, Ryan Pearlman, Sarah MacGillivray, Alexander Whitlow
Mountain goats and mountaineers alike hopped from peak to peak and lake to lake in this four-day adventure. Read on for a celebration of technical prowess in this North Cascades traverse.
Basic Glacier Climb - Mount Rainier/Emmons Glacier - 7/4-7/6
“This trip was a little Mount Rainier magic to conclude an amazing first chapter of next generation's mountaineers.” -Joshua Walther
This Intermediate Climbing graduation climb is bursting with sunset colors and snowbridges. Read on to learn how this small instructional group worked like a well oiled machine to climb Washington’s largest volcano, and ended the journey in the “ultimate glissade.”
Basic Glacier Climb - Ruth Mountain & Icy Peak Traverse - 7/5-7/6
“Terrific two-day first mentored lead of Ruth Mountain and Icy Peak.” -Nathan Rutz
These Basic Climbing students completed a phenomenal summit of Icy Peak, navigating steep gulleys and choss with no small amount of finesse. Read on for a detailed summary of the skills demonstrated, good camp hygiene included!
Warning: Sasquatch Sightings Start Here at Ape Caves (Lower) - 7/10
“A trip that mixed fact and fiction maybe. Sasquatch sightings start here.” -Lisa Elliott
A visit to a two thousand year old cave blended both geology and legend for these hikers. Read on for the origin story of the “Ape Man,” which would later become the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic cryptid. (Should this trip report convince you to visit the caves, be sure to record any squatch sightings!)
Cascade Pass & Sahale Arm - 7/12-7/14
“Private two-night backpacking trip to Pelton Basin with a day hike to Sahale Arm and Doubtful Lake.” -McKenzie Campbell Davies
This fantastic trip report celebrates the many advantages of taking things slower, including stopping to witness the wildlife. Read on for mule deer, mosquitos, mountain goats, and a mama bear!
Global Adventure - Dayhike Newfoundland with a Naturalist and Culture Focus - 7/12-7/26
“We visited both coasts of this big island.” -Roseanne Lorenzana
This trip report is filled with the beautiful coastlines and rich history of Newfoundland. Read on for some lessons in indigenous foodways, what it takes to become an honorary Newfoundlander, and even a “moose” (of sorts.)
Intermediate Alpine Climb - Forbidden Peak/West Ridge - 7/16
“Great teamwork and collaboration led to an efficient 15 hr c2c ascent of this classic route up Forbidden Peak.” -Isley Gao
These climbers said goodbye to the last vestiges of snow, and – like many others this month – hello to some friendly goats. Read on to see how, despite its name, these seasoned climbers made it to Forbidden Peak with ease.
Alpine Scramble - Baldy, East Baldy, Peak B, Tyler Peak- 7/19-20
“An exploratory scramble traverse of Baldy, East Baldy, Peak B, and Tyler Peak and then down to a beautiful blue tarn to camp.” -Sherrie Trecker
Six scramblers summitted six summits in the summer - say that six times fast! Just because you can fit a trip into one day doesn’t always mean you should. This trip report, with its photos of a tarn from out of a storybook, exemplifies the virtue of exploration and enjoyment.
Backpack - Devils Dome/Jackita Ridge - 7/17-20
“4 glorious days surrounded by wildflowers, sunrises, sunsets, and peaks of the Pasayten Wilderness.” -Colin Chapman
This trip report treats us to gorgeous views of Jack Mountain, Ross Lake, Devil’s pass and Shull Mountain. These backpackers certainly took the cake for the best campsite, replete with killer sunsets and rises, and enough Paintbrush to paint the landscapes pictured here.
Alpine Scramble - The Palisades & Marcus Peak - 7/27
“We reached Marcus’s summit just after 12:30 PM, enjoying a luxurious 30 minutes of lunch, photos, map work, and Rainier 100 peak ID.” -Michelle Peterson
The bugs were minimal on this scramble – with the exception of a brush with a wasp nest, of course. Read on for details of this group’s narrow escape, and drool over snapshots of the Palisades’ wildflowers, meadows, lakes, and even some amphibians.
Want to see more top trip reports? Check out our Top Trip Reports Library to get ideas for next week, next month, or next year!
