Basic Alpine Climb - White Chuck Mountain/Northwest Route
Sun, Jul 30, 2023
Easy and fun trip on a less visited peak
Easy and fun trip on a less visited peak
Tl;dr: at this time of year it makes more sense to go on the left to scramble on the rock field to the summit
Spectacular, easy-going 4-day Glacier Peak climb in late July (but felt more like late August).
Great location to stroll the old forest road and view/photograph several species of local butterflies! The road is mostly flat and easy for all hikers.
We're looking for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow at Comet Falls. It's not just shenanigans with friends, you too can help another great non-profit, Washington Trails Association with a donation to the annual hike-a-thon. Support Team "Tacoma Hiking and Backpacking" in the link below.
We hiked to scenic Lake Susan Jane , and Josephine Lake. The trip included the PCT and Icicle Creek Trail .
Good weather for a hike after work to a viewpoint.
Launched from Swantown Marina, paddled into Squaxin Park bay, then to Percival’s Landing, before returning to Swantown Marina.
Best 5.9 in the state
A full value climb of Mount Triumph's Northeast Ridge. The snow levels on the approach were significantly lower for this time of year and required navigating around a quickly growing moat.
Very much appreciated Mr. Prescott's report from July 14th. Conditions near the top of the Snow Dome continue to deteriorate. Our party used the lower route Mr. Prescott described both ascending and descending and a running belay with pickets was absolutely essential for parts of it. We left 3-4 pickets behind placed on the route because I did not want to add retrieving them to the difficulty we experienced on that section. At the intersection of what is described as the upper and lower options (somewhere between 6400 and 6600 feet) there may be a third option to explore. If time permits it may be wise for a party to explore contouring north and slightly west at the elevation of the intersection and exploring whether the north side of the snow dome offers an easier route up to the bench like area at 6,800 feet. I can't guarantee you'll find easier access to the bench at the top of the snow dome that way, but it is possible because the contour lines on topographic maps make it look like the slope angle there is less severe. If I had to do this route again I would allow time to explore this "north end" access. The two current ways up from 6400 feet require what approaches intermediate hard snow / ice level of skill.
A beautiful day and a great time on the Kendall Katwalk.
Successful summit of an aesthetic and complex peak in the Olympics.
A lazy class II float popular with family boaters. Cold water as it comes out of a dam from the bottom of reservoirs. Most of the run is class I.
A quick afternoon run down the "Cle ELum Racetrack". Flow was 3,600 CFS and our moving speed was 6 MPH so we were only on the water 1 hour.
Rocky, rooty, steep and dangerous in places, this is more of a scramble than a hike for a significant part of the route.
Successful trip ascending Eagle, Chutla, and Wahpenayo in nine hours car-to-car from Longmire.
Moderately strong winds, warm air, warm water and a great group made for a fine day on the river. A pleasure to play on the waves in shorts and shirt!
A glorious blue-sky day with panoramic views to Rainier, south to Hood, east over Chinook Pass and north to Crystal mountain and beyond. The trail was easy (manicured!) up past Owyhigh Lakes, the turnoff to Tamanos was obvious, and though the tread up to Tamanos was a very steep trench most of the way to the saddle it wasn't as slippery to come down as many scree slopes (dirt with larger rocks). We went up to the first 'peak' but the crossing to the main peak was too much of a scramble for us to attempt as a hike (some of the group members checked it out).
Short, steep, pleasant, and pretty legit scramble within a short driving distance.