Nasikelt Peak 8.20.07

Nasikelt Peak is located South of the Upper Mill Creek Road and just NE of Josephine Lake. Nasikelt ranks #77 on the HC/100 list and judging by the small summit register is not visited very often. I was happy to be able to drive to around the 4200ft level on the Mill Creek Road. I could have driven farther but the risk soon outweighed the reward. I parked and was off the remainder of the road to connect with the PCT. I passed one man who was lost and I set him straight. Once on the PCT it was a short traverse to Lake Susan Jane and the Junction with the Icicle Creek Trail. I stayed on the Icicle Creek trail until it starts it descent to Josephine Lake. I left the trail and made my way to the saddle at 5200ft between Nasikelt and Pt. 5463. Once on the Nasikelt's West ridge the going became more defined. I could follow a faint climber's trail until I was forced to traverse to South side for the final push to the summit. I signed the register and made my way back. The clouds rolled in and I had a hard time with route finding I erred on the way down and ended up in the small basin to the NW of Nasikelt. I felt I was flying blind because of the cloud cover and because I had misplaced my map on the way up. The clouds lifted enough to get my bearings I could see the Mill Creek Road below me but the drop was quite steep. I thought maybe I could shorten the route out by traversing at 4600ft to connect with the PCT at lake Susan Jane. Some pesky cliff bands stopped this idea and I was forced to reclimb to the ridgeline. The going was fairly easy and soon I picked up what looked like an old trail. As I climbed the trail became easier to follow even having obvious blaze marks in the trees. I passed a couple of signs for the Forest Boundary and once I went over the top of Pt. 5463 there was a benchmark affixed to a tree. I dropped down to thankfully reconnect with the Icicle Creek trail and was off for the return to the car.




Approx 7.5 miles 2800ft of climb 5:30 car to car.

Kaleetan Lake 8.14.07

With a promotion more than doubling my work week and the birth of my second daughter finding time for the trails has been challenging. After the longest summer gap between trips I was more than eager to get out. Trying to make up for lost time I wanted as many miles as I could fit into a day. I was interested by some old reports claiming that there is a old trail from Kaleetan Lake to Caroline Peak. There is no short way to Caroline's summit and this certainly wouldn't be the shortest. I had been to Kaleetan once before on a day hike and knowing the length I wasn't thrilled to have to start at the Pratt Lake trailhead instead of the shorter Talapus Lake trailhead. As usually the case I was running behind and didn't leave the car until nearly noon. Of late I have had some boot problems, either my feet have grown a half size or my boots have shrunk. I chose to wear sandles until the Kaleetan Lake Trail. I dumped pack and switched to my boots..... too bad for me they have become even worse fitting. It was obvious to me they were a no go. I just left them next to the trail and put my sandles back on. I was a little concerned about wearing sandals on a long forgotten trail but much to my surprise the trail was in great shape. I steamed into Kaleetan and had a well deserved dinner. To keep from being eaten alive by the bugs I did some scouting for the rumored trail. I didn't have any success. The area North of the outlet is very brushy so I poked around the marshy area which bypassed the worst of the brush giving me access to more open forest. With little time left it was back to the business of making my way back to the car. As I was crossing the Pratt River I heard a low flying chopper which was obviously looking for a lost hiker. It flew less than a hundred feet directly over my head. By the time I made it to the junction above Pratt Lake it was time for the headlamp. Only seeing one person the entire day I was suprised to see a flashlight heading towards me below the Ollalie Lake turn-off. I was even more suprised to see a man leading a young child and wife. It appeared to me the wife was less than pleased about not yet being at Ollalie Lake. Not too long after I again saw some headlamps making there way towards me. This time it was 3 guys making their way in to search for the missing hiker. I gave them some info and again was off in the darkness. I very gingerly made the rest of the way to the car.




22+miles 5800ft of climb 10:45 car to car





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Mason Lake 7.9.07

I had more substantial plans for today. Fellow Nwhiker Bryan and I were slated to spend some time peakbagging in the area around Robin Lakes. I was forced to bag the day's festivities due to my daughter being very ill. I do pass on my most sincere apologies to Bryan for bagging out at the last minute. Thankfully my daughter made a rapid recovery. I had small window of time in the afternoon so I was looking for something quick and easy. I had only been on the Ira Spring trail to where it starts it's descent to Mason Lake. I have been to Mason Lake many times in the past I wanted to add a third route. The weather was very warm, mostly it was just hard on the dogs. I was forced to linger in areas of shade to give the pups some relief. I however made it quickly to the Western shore where I wanted to have lunch. Too bad for me the gnats had the same idea. The bugs won out and hightailed it back to the car.




Approx 7.5 miles 2100+ft of climb 2:50 car to car

North Scatter Creek, West Tucquala Peak 7.3.07

I had some obligations on the home front so I was very late in hitting the road. Last week I had gone up the South Scatter Creek Trail and I was intrigued with the North Scatter Trail. There are very few trails that I have not been on in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness especially one with drive up access. It was nearly 5pm by the time I hit the trail. The weather was ideal and my dread about the mosquitoes blew away with the breezy weather. I hadn't done very much homework on my intended route and since the trail is not on my map I decided just to wing it. My goal was for Tucquala Peak which at 6821' is included in the Backcourt 100. The trail was in great shape with only a few blowdowns to negotiate on the lower reaches. I found the grade pleasing not too steep just enough to make the elevation go quickly. At 5700ft the trail crosses a marshy area here I left trail for the easy climbing above me. I thought the point above me was Tucquala truthfully I never really looked closely at my map. I zigzagged my way up slopes until I reached a more defined ridge which I rode to the summit. Initially I thought I was on the right summit but when I couldn't find the summit register and consulted my map I could see that the point to my East was a little taller. I was a bit disappointed but my perch still left me with some very nice views in the fading sunlight. Since it was nearly 7:30 I didn't stay long. For the descent I left the ridge on the East side and made my way down the snowy slopes to the small basin below. I made my easily down into the trees where I traversed back rejoining the trail just a few feet from where I had left it. I made it back to the car very quickly not needing my headlamp.




Approx 6miles 3400ft of climb 4:30 car to car