Mission Interrupted 10.27.09

I had hoped to get out and stretch the legs today and on that front, mission accomplished. I was excited to hear the predicted heavy snows in the mountains and hoped to see it first hand. As I made my way over Snoqualmie Pass it was really coming down and the plows were out in full force, so far so good. As I made my way to 97 the weather was clear, this was a surprise to me. I was hoping to use the Mission Ridge Trail to summit the ridge high point which is included in the Back Court 100. Since I had never been in Cashmere before it took an extra minute to locate the Mission Creek Road. Once on the road I was startled to find the multitude of broken down cars and trailers that litter a portion of the road. There was a man surrounded by 7 small dogs that looked scary enough for me to consider turning around and going home. To make matters worse I wasn't able to find the trailhead that I was looking for. I soon realized after backtracking a few times that the road is closed just past the junk piles which doesn't allow access to my trailhead. After thankfully passing Mr Mass Murder for the third time safetly I was forced to use the Sand Creek trailhead which thankfully separated by a few miles uphill from my source of uneasiness. I parked frequently looking over my shoulder as I suited up. My only consolation that somenone looking like that would never get away with anything that I was imaging. There was a trail going to my intended target but adding another 10 miles roundtrip on top of the 12 miles I was already planning I knew I had to make a change. There was a branch trail going to Red Hill, a named summit! Seemed like a worthy backup plan. The trail is graded for mountain bike riders and is lacking in steepness. Portions of the trail are muddy and extremely slick, but I managed to stay upright for the entire day. Since the grade was so easy it seemed like an eternity before I reached the first junction at 4.2 miles. Since I had no map I was unclear which direction to proceed. I hung a left, North, and climbed to a nice viewing spot that I assumed was Red Hill. My altimeter didn't match the right elevation so I checked it with my GPS. I was dismayed to find my perch to be lower than Red Hill's summit. I was able to get a cell signal which I was able to confirm that I was not on Red Hill. I backtracked to the junction and continued South and crested another higher point. I still felt 100 feet short but the next bump was quite a ways off and I didn't want continue any further without knowing for sure where I was. The way back seemed endless but I made it back to my car still in the shape I left it. I thankully passed by the junk yard for the last time without incident.




Approx 11miles 2400ft of climb 4:15 car to car.

Bear and Deer Lakes 10.05.09

After missing last week I was overjoyed to see a nice weather forecast for this week. After struggling to get out of the house and being stuck behind a street line painting truck I staggered into the Dorothy parking lot. After seeing the sign that the bridge was out over the inlet I was starting to feel like any summit was not in the cards. I pushed on and made outstanding time to the inlet and crossed without getting my feet wet. The climb to the saddle above Bear Lake also went much quicker than expected. I had hoped to leave the trail below the saddle and head South to Little Bulger 5111' but the North Side of the ridge was drenched and immensely slippery. I decided to continue on to the trail to the campsites between Bear and Deer. I was surprised that there was a work crew camped at the first two sites. It looked like they are either staying for quite some time or have been there for awhile judging by the amount of stuff laying around. I continued past the sites and crossed the creek linking the two lakes. I considered just hanging out in the glorious sun. But soon my itch to keep moving overwhelmed me. I found a decent path continuing on along Deer's shoreline. The path ended in a nice secluded campsite. I decided to see how it would go if I kept on towards the day's goal. I crested a ridge between the two lakes and spied a nice open meadowy area below that I quickly dropped to. The way from there looked like it would go but I bet it would be much easier with all the brush covered in snow. I decided now it would be shorter to just continue with the circumnavigation of the lake instead of returning the way I had come. I crested another small ridge and dropped to another more open area that was in full sun. I dropped pack and enjoyed a sun filled lunch. This area being more open looked like it would be easier to access the rockslides that grant acess to the upper slopes. I decided to climb towards the ridgeline and traverse back to the trail which went fairly easily. Back on trail I pounded out the mileage in the waning sun back to the car. It was nice to steal another sunny day and I now have a much better idea of reaching Little Bulger from the North.




Approx 10 miles 2300' of climb 5:45 Car to Car

Tonga Ridge 9.22.10

After last week's goose egg in the area I was eager to make it BACK. Last week's effort was cut short because of some substantial back pain. After giving it a day to heal with no results I went to the ER before my drive to Southern Oregon. Other than getting "you are getting old" there wasn't much of a diagnosis. I was given an embarrassing amount of pills to help with the situation.




After having long drive to Oregon I had the pleasure of spending a second day in the ER. This time it was my youngest daughter who I had tried to pick up but her hand slipped out of my hand leaving her hanging by one arm. I heard a nice pop and she was in some serious pain. Needless to say I was upset to cause my daughter so much pain. Thankfully the fix was quick and easy and the little one had no residual pain and soon forgot all about it. Thankfully the rest of the trip went well and we had a wonderful time.





My back was making slow progress but was getting better. I had one day left of my vacation and with the perfect weather I thought I would at least give it a go. I took too long getting out of the house and I didn't reach the end of the Tonga Ridge Road until 12:30. I quickly made it area I had scoped out last week. The plan for today was to go to Mary and Judy Lakes but with the back feeling fine I thought I would add a summit. The first part was somewhat brushy but not at all troublesome. I found plenty of small trails that I followed until I reached the open slopes below my goal of the high point of Tonga Ridge 5596'. I could see what I thought was the summit far to the East so I traversed the heathery slopes and easily made my way to the top. I believe the true summit is actually North of the rocky point through some trees. Just to be sure I touched every and anything that might be taller. I lounged in the nice warm sun in sheltered spot out of the stiff breeze. For the descent I ran the ridge West to avoid as much traversing as possible and easily made my way back to the Tonga Ridge trail.



Approx 5.5miles 2000' of climb 3 hours car to car

Ptarmagin Lakes 9.14.09

Since I have some extra time I thought a nice overnighter was in order. While I was out I thought I could do some crossing out on some lists. I had been to Ptarmagin and Terrace Lakes back in my lake bagging days and thought some of the area peaks needed to be climbed. Sunday night left me with a serious head cold making my head fell like an orange on a toothpick. I hoped a good night's sleep would cure that. When I woke in the morning I felt even worse. Not wanting to spend my first day of vacation lounging around the house I forced myself out the door. The dreary weather evaportated into to some nice sunny weather burning away some of my cold in the process. I couldnt't decided which route to use and since I hadn't been on the portion of the Tonga Ridge Trail that head West from the end of the road I decided that was reason enough. After packing up I made my way up the good trail to the meadows above. When I reached the point where the trail starts to drop I stopped to survey the terrian and decided this would be a good spot on the way out to tackle The Tonga Ridge High point. I soon was in a flat area made my way through the campsite and the trail heading South. As I made my way to Fisher Lake I kept thinking to myself that it wasn't the way I had remembered the trail. I remember a rough rocky muddy and rotty trail and this wasn't much of any of those. Since it was going the direction I wanted to go I didn't give it much thought. I quickly made my way past


Fisher Lake and passed a small tent at the outlet. I crossed the outlet and followed the Fisherman's trail to Lower Ptarmagin. The trail is good but does require some focus. I slowly made my way along the West shore boulderfield mindful of the loose rocks. As I made my way up Upper Ptarmagin I thought about what I would do if the only campsite was taken. Which of course it was, undaunted I pressed on with the intent of camping at Terrace Lakes. As I made my way I found a SMALL area that would suit my bivy sack. I did some minor landscaping and set up camp. I lounged awhile and noticed that my back was becoming increasingly more pained. Puzzled since I hadn't done anything that would induce such a reaction, I thought it would pass. I scouted the way for the next day and it was just as I had remembered, easy. I went back to camp and relaxed. The night went well, although the dogs awoke me a couple of times in the night, once to run out something and once when the beagle decided that he was going to burrow into my sleeping bag no matter what. During the night I was jolted out of sleep by some sort of call that I hadn't heard before. I am guessing it was an owl even though it didn't sound like any owl I had ever heard. I have to admit I was a bit unnerved but as the call stopped I drifted back to sleep. When I awoke I was barely able to stand and it took me quite some time before I was even mobile. I was somewhat confident that my malady would subside once I started walking but I didn't want to find out I was wrong being even farther away from the car. I packed up and made my way back to the trail. As I reached the campsite the campers were gone giving me some thought to hanging out. I decided I better see how my back was going to go before do anything. After reaching the lower lake I decided that since I brought my fly rod I should probably use it. I managed 3 fat feisty Cutthroat's in the short time I fished. The last one I was sight fishing and involved a left handed sidearm cast that I had never tried before. I managed to put the fly right where I wanted and true to form the nice 15" Cutt hit it and provided a more than adequate fight. I repacked and was on my way home. The trail out was much more the way I remember it on the way out and I soon realized that there are two branches of the Fisher Lake trail and by far the East version is the nicer of the two. Since my back was still giving me issues I nixed any ideas of any further climbing and quickly made my way back to the car.