Alpine Scramble - Vesper Peak
Sun, Oct 29, 2017
A successful scramble on a beautiful day despite an awkward amount of snow in places.
A successful scramble on a beautiful day despite an awkward amount of snow in places.
Oct. 28, 2017. No significant snow encountered, beyond patches here and there. One student earned a third summit (Rock) for his graduation summit. Co-leader's name noted in the roster notes, although the trip was not originally set up as a co-led trip. We used the Commonwealth Basin TH and road to approach the peak on a beautiful sunny clear Fall day. Left parking lot at 8:00 am; returned by 3:15 pm, with a couple of extended breaks (~15 minutes each) and lunch on the summit of ~45 minutes or so. This pleasant peak might not ordinarily count for a scramble summit in summer/fall (snow-free) conditions, since it can be done as trail/way-trail all the way. The way-trail is steep, narrow, and loose in places, however, so an argument could be made either way for scramble credit. Since our student needed a third (Rock) summit to obtain graduation credit, we deliberately veered off the way-trail on the western face and ascended via the southwest spur, spending ample time on steep rock, mixed solid and loose, for good rock scrambling experience and informal loose rock instruction.
Great day out climbing at Vantage: Sunshine Wall classics and easy sport routes at the Feathers
Weather consolation conditioner (14 miles/4000’) and cross country navigation practice with the beautiful forests and lakes of Moran State Park on Orcas Island.
Seven blowdowns across the trail could all be either stepped over or walked around. New footbridges have eliminated formerly muddy stretches of the trail.
Scrambled Pt 6549, southeast of Earl Peak, in fall conditions.
The route had much more snow than expected and we did not go as far as we had planned, but the trip was still a success.
This urban adventure was a lovely one. The timing was perfect, i.e., 6:00 pm-8:00 pm for the city of Seattle's traffic was not as busy. The walk, which included quite a number of steps, was well paced, we saw interesting sights and being in the evening, many beautiful lights. It was a great walk, thank you Peter.
Winter is here - and more is coming!
Don't know why this beautiful scramble is not offered more often.
Snow conditions were not favorable for the orignal plan (Seymour Peak), but we had a great time doing Tahtlum on a beautiful clear day.
This is a nice off-season hike, where lunch can be eaten at a picnic table.
Successful sail, though DNFed the race. Was past the time limit.
A really nice paddle on a beautiful day with lovely fall colors.
A pleasant trail to see and hear the sounds of White River, old growth forest and fall colors. Dogs and bikes are allowed on this trail but we met just one biker and two dogs.
2/3 of the Trail is on a smooth road the last 1/3 under a nice forest canopy leading to impressive George Lake. Now is the time to enjoy the fall colors!
We had dry weather before lunch, intermittent showers on the hike out and rain during the drive home.
The hike was relocated from Harry's Ridge to the Hummocks Trail and part of the Coldwater Lake trail, due to a late deterioration in the weather forecast for Harry's Ridge.