Westlee Craig
Did you know that June became officially recognized by the US Senate as "Great Outdoors Month" on June 5th, 2019? Originating under the Clinton administration as "Great Outdoors Week", our nation's love of the great outdoors continued to grow under the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations, eventually evolving into what we now know and celebrate as a month-long ode to the great outdoors!
Great Outdoors Month urges us to "escape the indoors" and venture into the unknown as we explore the diversity of the land. Read on for our Top 10 Trip Reports from the month of June. We hope they will inspire you to explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Basic Alpine Climb - Sloan Peak/Corkscrew Route, June 2-3
"A boulder field invites you to an alpine meadow, covered in glacier lilies." - Ashley Carter
Although this route is doable in a day, the Mountaineers of this basic alpine climb enjoyed a leisurely two-day climb complete with camping, trail register poetry, blooms of wildflowers, and a plethora of smiles!
Sea Kayak - Hope Island, JUne 4
"Hope Island is home to a robust population of Raccoons." - Ron Jones
Paddlers on this sea kayak found themselves bemused as they witnessed a standoff between an eagle and raccoon! And if that were not enough excitement for the day, the paddlers enjoyed a warm summer outing that boasted minimal traffic and numerous low tide creature sightings!
Ski Mountaineering - Mt Baker Squak Glacier, June 4
"Good conditions on the way up and fun skiing on the way down." - Barton Place
Do you crave winter vibes during the summer heat? If so, this backcountry ski might just fit the bill! However, readers beware: this route is no joke as it clocks in at a whopping 12:41 hours car to car, 15.2 miles, 7900' elevation gain/loss, and crevasses a plenty!
Basic Backpacking Field Trip - Duckabush River, June 9-10
"Despite the weather, our fearless group really rose to the occasion, and brightened what would have otherwise been a rather gloomy backpack." - Louise Suhr
Equipped with their "can-do" attitudes, this awesome group of backpackers shone through an unexpectedly rainy and wet backpack up the wild Duckabush River valley.
Day Hike - Ape Caves, June 9
"Challenging, unique, and very dark." - Gabrielle Orsi
Do you enjoy long, dark cave walks that drip slime from the ceiling? If so, this is the day hike for you! Pro tip: do not underestimate the difficulty of this route. There were at least 20 rockfalls with no clear path. Bonus points: having two lights per person is key to overcoming the magnitude of the cave's darkness (and for those who want to explore in style, use glow sticks).
Whitewater Packraft - Sauk River: White Chuck River to Darrington, June 10
"Some of the swims were long with no chance for group rescue due to the continuous nature of the rapids." - Logan DeGrand
Participants of this whitewater packraft enjoyed a pushy and challenging III+ from White Chuck to Whirlpool with some big holes and breaking waves!
In-Canyon Rescue Practice - Change Creek, June 11
“A fun day of practicing rescue and advanced rigging techniques in a canyon environment.” - Becca Polglase
Participants of this in-canyon rescue practice had a full day of putting their knowledge of advanced rigging techniques into practice. Scenarios included terrain assessment, moving an injured teammate through the canyon, and direct rescue of a mock hand entrapment (complete with a Halloween hand!).
Alpine Scramble - Whistler Mountain, June 15
"360 degree views of the North Cascades!" - Chris Pribbernow
Members of this alpine scramble enjoyed a relaxing trek through the basin of open meadows and creeks before arriving at the dramatic 360-degree views of the North Cascades from the west ridge of Whistler Mountain!
Bikepack - Haney Meadow, June 17-18
"A great early summer trip with a great crew of strong ladies and one lone but strong dude." - Emma Agosta
Despite the relatively low mileage, this was not an easy bikepacking trip! In total, the group biked a scenic 35.5 miles with 4,538 feet of elevation gain over a two day span through the beautiful Haney Meadows/Tronsen Ridge area.
Aid Climb - Index Town Wall/Town Crier, June 25
"We alternated lead as we made steady progress up through the triple roof, the awkward flare pitches, and lichen covered final pitch..." - Takeo Kuraishi
Mountaineers partaking in this iconic aid climb enjoyed perfect conditions and no competition for the route. The day provided ample opportunities for rope management and long hanging belays. Luckily, the strength of the team ensured a fun, safe, and efficient ascent, complete with celebratory chips and salsa as they "toasted" a successful day in the mountains.
