Placeholder Routes & Places

Trip Report    

Esmeralda Peaks

Esmeralda Peaks

  • Mon, Oct 19, 2015
  • DeRoux Creek
  • Scrambling
  • Successful
  • Road suitable for all vehicles

A successful and enjoyable scramble that disproved the rule that when it rains in Seattle it is dry and sunny in the Teanaway. Some topo maps, such as CalTopo, show two trails heading up the DeRoux valley. A main trail that stays close to the creek and a second trail that deviates from the main trail at the footbridge and runs along the northern wall of the valley, passes immediately to the north of point 5265, and meets the main trail where it crosses the head of the creek at 5040. We had planned to use this higher trail, but never found it, despite intensive searching at both ends of it. So, we had no choice but to change plans and use the main DeRoux Creek trail. We followed it to the fourth switchback at 5460, and then scrambled NE to the col between the two east summits. Not sure which is actually the highest (we'd seen conflicting claims in different sources), we climbed both (in a driving rain). Thick fog obscured our otherwise spectacular summit views.(By the way, the trail registry is full. Someone needs to bring new paper and take the old registry down.) On the descent, we took advantage of a brief lull in the rain at 5800 feet to enjoy our summit treat -- a tray of homemade brownies. Yum.

 

Add a comment

Log in to add comments.
Andy Cahn
Andy Cahn says:
May 23, 2016 11:47 AM

<p>A successful and enjoyable scramble that disproved the rule that when it rains in Seattle it is dry and sunny in the Teanaway. Some topo maps, such as CalTopo, show two trails heading up the DeRoux valley. A main trail that stays close to the creek and a second trail that deviates from the main trail at the footbridge and runs along the northern wall of the valley, passes immediately to the north of point 5265, and meets the main trail where it crosses the head of the creek at 5040. We had planned to use this higher trail, but never found it, despite intensive searching at both ends of it. So, we had no choice but to change plans and use the main DeRoux Creek trail. We followed it to the fourth switchback at 5460, and then scrambled NE to the col between the two east summits. Not sure which is actually the highest (we'd seen conflicting claims in different sources), we climbed both (in a driving rain). Thick fog obscured our otherwise spectacular summit views.(By the way, the trail registry is full. Someone needs to bring new paper and take the old registry down.) On the descent, we took advantage of a brief lull in the rain at 5800 feet to enjoy our summit treat -- a tray of homemade brownies. Yum.</p>