East Peak 03/27/2013

A two day adventure to claim East Peak.  A lot of my co-workers said I should hike up to East Peak which is on the other side of the ski resort.  The ski patrols were bombing regularly so that seemed like  a good idea.  Monday I tried for East Peak but I didn't get started until noon.

The snow was iffy at best.  I really should have gotten out more early but everyday is differnt as far as consoildation, sun, tempature so I guess it's good I make mistakes and then learn from them.  This time I was trying to reach Pacific Crest Trail and I went up the gully above Gold Hill.  I would have done it in the morning but by the time I got there the snow was knee deep and it didn't change with elevation so as the slope got stepper I wasn't going anywhere.  Maybe that's an abandoned chair lift, I don't know because I never got to the top.

The same day I next tried a route that was a bit steeper but shorter close by the other gully leading me towards Crown Point.  The same thing happened only worse as I believe I was crossing a stream and waterfall that had been frozen over.  No dice, so I went back home feeling unfulfilled

My chef told me that there was a trail to East Peak from the road that led to Gold Hill community but in  my ignorance I had decided to route find and it cost me a day.  The road is the white line to the bottom right, the trail I took was right before it switched back.  It connects with the PCT which is the white line to the left going vertically.  It was a round about way of getting there but it worked.

Here is the sign from Gold Hills Road.  I've actually been up that way before but hadn't made the connection that this would lead to East Peak.

I got off to an earlier start leaving Alpine Inn before 8 AM.  I could immediately tell the deference, as I really didn't need snowshoes at this point.  The views of the ski resort were cool form this angle.

There were many side trails and off chutes but I had my trusty logs that someone put there to show my that I was on the right path.

Some of the East Peak cliffs with wet snow avalanche derby.

Another view of the ski resort where you can really see the lines.

Here's I believe Crown Point on the left and Pickhandle Point cut off to the right.

Here's where I could see that if the snow was more consolidated that I could have made up on Monday. The snow was only ankle high, and some wet snow avalanches from one or two days ago.

I decided to go to East Peak first because there was almost a white out fog.  There was a cross I believe for a ski patrol dog.  I descended soon after as I could take any pictures and now have a whole world to explore.

Northway 03/23/2013

Saturday I hiked up to Northway as training as climbing season will soon be upon us.  I decided to wear crampons from the start and left my snowshoes behind as we had a clear day.  I went up Kelly's Gap road again but chose some steep sections a cramponed up.  

I went up Ottobahn route and before I always took the road but this time I crampons up, the top way steep and exciting  for the last 20 yards I front pointed.

Mount Rainier had a lenticular cloud forming.  I decided to stay at Grubstake Point for a while taking pictures as it out of the wind a little bit and I got some sun.

Silver Queen Summit 03/18/2013

I got off today at noon, and decided to rest and stretch before going out and I had to wait until 4PM anyways because of skier hazards.  

So I went the other way from Kelly's Gap Road and took Skid Road to Downhill and I admit that that took me to far over but I was sort of scouting it out.  

There was a freestyle area of the resort almost like a skate park. 

It was a short hike up to Campbell Basin which is a ski lodge open during the day. From that point I knew that I would have to  backtrack a little if I was going to go to the Summit House.  But it was already a new adventure so I decided to trek up to Silver Queen instead.  

We've seen pictures of Silver Queen from my trip to the Summit House.  It is still part of the resort but the two routes are double black diamond so they were way less defined.  It was not snowing at the moment but it had been snowing for three days with more coming.  I had taken off my snowshoes and put crampons on for the up climb but the snow was knee deep at some places.  I decided my best choice was to take the ridge up.

The route on the ridge was a bit less snowy.  The summit of Silver Queen stood 7,002 ft. and there was a little rock formation that was not snow covered.  The summit was pretty snowy though and I post holed a couple times.  I spent my time taking pictures of Mt. Rainier at sunset and Crystal Mountain and the Summit House until I had to put on layers and decided to get going.

I was a little disappointed that I didn't take the ridge to The Throne and Silver King, but I was so snowy I had to watch out for cornices and I wanted to get down before dark.  But next time.

Here is the ridge which I didn't go on from Silver Queen to The Throne and then to Silver King.

Crystal Mountain Summit

A few days into my stay I set off to summit Crystal Mountain (North).  The chair lifts and gondola (the only one in Washington) start at 9 AM and end at 4 PM so I have to go before of after.  I went before all three times I've gone.

 The three times went on the Kelly's Gap Road which I think people ski on but in is wide enough for a snow cat.  It makes like ten switchbacks the first six are ho-hum but the seventh you have to traverse over steep slop and the it hit the area of high avalanches for eighth as well.  The ninth is very up and you have to make a ridge up and to the right than the after  the tenth you are at Green Valley an area with a ski lift to the Summit House.

Beautiful views of Mt. Rainier  are atop the summit which stands at 6,872 ft.

As well as views of Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams if you know where to look.  Silver Queen is directly in front and then Silver King.  Mt. Adams is farthest away behind Silver King and Mt. St. Helens is to the right.

Crystal Mountain

I got a temporary job in the kitchen at Crystal Mountain in Washington right outside the Mount Rainier National Park to end the ski season.   This sign no longer stands above the footbridge, but maintenance is looking a restoring it.

Crystal Mountain is Washington's  best ski resort, although resort is cutting it a little close it's mainly for the best place to ski and have lodging for hard core Washingtonians much like Mt. Hood or Mt. Bachelor to us Oregonians.  It is not like Vail, or Lake Tahoe as far as ammonites but there is a plan and it is growing.

The ski season ends late April and that is perfect timing for me to jump into to climbing season and maybe have a vehicle.  I live above the Snorting Elk Cellar and Restaurant where I also work it is a kind of dorm setting but I luckily got my own room.  On the weekends there are musical gigs in the bar and it can be quite noisy.  Ear plugs are a must if you want to get some rest.



Some off these pics where taken off of the web and copyright rules apply