Alpine Scramble - Pasayten Peak
Fri, Sep 15, 2017 - Sun, Sep 17, 2017
Trip cancelled due to area fire closure. Will relist.
Trip cancelled due to area fire closure. Will relist.
Hiked to Lake Basin, set up tents to lighten packs, continued hike to standard short glacier crossing to rock ascent notch: crampons and ice ax made 50 yard traverse safe. At 200' notch between true and false summit, set up hand line to ensure down climb safety for top 100' ft. Smoke haze significant but wonderful scramble and fun overnight camp tagging Yellow Aster while hiking out Sunday morning.
Gorgeous area in early September with the fall colors showing and ripe berries. The south face of the mountain is high end scramble on loose rock with a number of exposed traverses. Recommend small experienced parties comfortable climbing up and down on loose rock
quick and dirty route info: drive suiattle river road to the trailhead at its end. hike sulphur mt trail(in excellent shape) to old lookout, follow ridge except where covered with boulders(traverse below boulders on south side) to summit - class 2
Excellent hike, no rain until more than half-way back to the cars.
Nice day, not too hot. Bear. Beautiful sub alpine meadows. Berries. Haze but good views.
Fabulous short scramble of three peaks close to Seattle.
A fairly easy scramble combined with a classic backpacking trip in this beautiful area makes for a great combo.
An enjoyable climb with great students. We had the route to ourselves.
3 1/2 wonderful pitches of ice were found today.
A tour of 5 islands on a warm sunny Labor Day weekend with lots of wildlife and boat traffic.
quick and dirty route info: drive to mowich lake, hike to tolmie lookout and then take ridge e to tolmie peak, hike trail back down to 5800', then descend n, then nw on easy terrain to howard. head n and take moderately steep n ridge to howard/rust ridge saddle. from saddle ascend ne up rust ridge wsw ridge to summit. return to howard. head west down howard's w ridge (going up and over howard jr aka5538) and up to alki crest aka pt5255. continue nw along crest to florence peak.
The ice climb is in, at least for now.
A successful climb for a party of 12.
Nice view of Enumclaw and Buckley, which made up for the clouded-over view of Rainier itself.
Great hike for anyone who wants to improve their hiking endurance. I am a beginner-intermediate hiker and I found this to be a challenge because of the incline. The reward was the beautiful lake at the end!
We practiced navigation exercises simulating fog for the crossings.
Surreal Tokaloo Rock formations plus a great conditioner with cooler temperatures.