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Winter Scramble - First Top & Point 4795 Loop

Great plan B Scrambles combo in Olympics: First Top and Point 4795.

Rodica Manole Rodica Manole
February 17, 2020
  • Road suitable for all vehicles

  • Heather Park Trail was snow free the first 1500 ft up. After we gained 2000 ft we decided to put microspikes on to speed up things on the icy sections of the trail. Scrambling the SSW ridge to First Top was straight forward just with a few steep sections up and over some boulders up high to gain the final ridge to the summit. All participants but one (who used snowshoes) kept the microspikes on, snow pack being pretty consolidated with just a few inches of fresh snow and no major post-holing  problems. 

    The scramble from Heather Park Trail 3300 ft switchback SE to gain Lake Angeles Trail was uneventful (following a 120 bearing worked great and we hit the trail as planned, before the bridge crossing over Ennis Creek).

    The Scramble from Lake Angeles trail W / SW to gain the ridge to the 4795 was also manageable  in microspikes without any major post-holing  problems. 

     

Party of 8  found a reasonable weather window on Sunday 2/16/20 for First Top and Point 4795 scrambles combo. We had partial clear skies  while on the trails or scrambling between Heather Park and Lake Angeles trails but snowy / cold summit pushes with limited views on both peaks. We were happy though it didn't rain on us the whole day.

Started from TH at 9:25 AM and made it back 9:35 hours later, after 14 miles of travel with 6100 ft elevation gain. We made it back in Kingston for 9:10 pm Ferry with enough time to grab some well earned crepes for dinner.