Horse Lake Mt 3.17.09

Horse lake Mt is just West of Wenatchee and only holds interest because it ranks 99th on the backcourt 100. I had been sick last week but felt much better. I am still holding on quite a cough that I can't seem to shake. I felt with all the new snow and increased avy danger something less taxing was in order. I had some trouble finding Canyon 2 Road but my phone rescued me, you just have to love technology! The gravel road ends around 2300' where I parked. The road continues without snow but is very sloppy with mud. As I suited up I was pelted with a nice graupel shower that quickly passed, leaving bright sunshine. Just as I started I was wracked with a coughing fit. Frequently this makes me throw up which today was no diiferent. After collecting myself I was off. The road continued to be muddy for the first .75 miles until it switched to solid snow. There is a nice packed track so the goingbwas quick and easy. The bright sunshine felt good and spurred me on. Around the 1.5 mile mark I had another coughing episode with the same result. At approximately 3800' I left the road for a more direct line. Mostly it was easy going with the exception one short area that I forced to swim in the deep powder. Picking out the right highpoint was the hardest part of the finish. Soon I was on the true summit to christen it with another coughing fit. I quickly retraced my steps back to the car for the long drive home. It was another memorable day in the hills only marred by a serious head ache from my brain rattling in my head.




Approx 7 miles 2400' of climb 3:30 car to car

Loch Katrine 3.4.09

I have looking to do more on the North Fork of the Snoqualmie because mainly I see the peaks every day I work. I had an idea to try Twin Peaks via a route that I had no data on. I had emailed out to some Nwhikers about some trips that no reports were submitted. They gave me what is probably the easiest route via Lake Phillipa. Many thanks for the great trip report and pictures, I am sure to put them to use in the future. This was not the day for an attempt of Twin Peak. I had a morning appointment and and evening one as well. I had just enought time in between to scout my idea in person. I was able to drive to just past the Wagoner Bridge before I was blocked by a truck and a grader. They didn't seem to want to let me by so I backtracked a short ways and parked. The washout that had the road closed has been fixed and they were almost finished with the second blockage. I chit chatted with the workers for a short time. The idea was to use the ridge just East of Loch Katrine which looks farily benign on the map. I hoped to follow the ridge to access the upper lake and then the easier slopes to Twin Peaks summit. I made good time for the two miles to the gate guarding Lake Phillipa Road. I jumped the gate and followed the road until it split, I took the left fork and started climbing. There was patchy snow but not enough to warrant snowshoes. The road is fairly steep so I wouldn't reccommend a mountain bike for this route. I chose to switch to snowshoes to soon and had to take them off again. I wouldn't bother putting them on until the 3 mile mark approx 2800'. Soon the grade flattened out and I made it to the big bend in the road. I left the road here and it is only a short ways to the campsite near the shore. The lake is frozen but seems to be thawing some out about 20' from shore. It appears that one could walk to far end of the lake it you stayed near shore. I did try to walk a short ways without issue. Tanner tried to go out further and it sounded quite sloppy. My intended route look doable until the near the end where the ridge ends abrubtly. Since I had to be back I didn't linger long. The route out was quick and I had enough time to walk to the Lake Phillipa Road a little further. The road is mess of mud further along. A torrent of muck overrode the road. The muck was frozen solid so it made for surprisingly great walking. After another half mile I decided that I needed to get back, soon I was back to the car.




Approx 12 miles 1800' of climb 5:30 car to car.

Hancock's Comb 2.23.09

have made some half hearted attempts at his peak and the past. I just couldn't stand to look at this blob from work any longer. I wasn't too enthused with the weather forecast so a long road walk seemed like a sensible choice. I was hoping to leave much earlier but so goes being a Father/Husband! I still had most of the day and with the road walk I knew I could be able to make it via headlamp. I decided to ride a mountain bike to try to save some time. I wasn't too crazy about doing much climbing on the bike so I dumped it just after crossing the North Fork Bridge. I tried to cut some distance by cutting through the clearcuts which did save time. Too bad for me I slipped on a log and was held upright by brambles that had shackled my leg. Since the weather was so warm I was wearing shorts which I was excited about. My leg was a bloody mess but no serious damage was done. I felt pretty well so I made good time to just passed the 4 mile mark where I left the Hancock Lake Road and began climbing in earnest. I put snowshoes on at the 6 mile mark. I was quite surprised to see a party of three had been this way in the recent past. To be honest I would bet a large sum of money against anyone climbing this peak in winter. Since the way was obvious I just had to follow the footprints I had quite some time to ponder the wonders of life. Finally by objective came into view still looking very far off. Just past the Nine mile mark the prints split with one set climbing and the second set descending. I gave some thought to following the the descent tracks but decided to stick to my approach plans and followed the group's uptrack. Views opened up with Bessemer Mt stealing the show. I had thought the high point was closer to South Bessemer. From this vantage it was clearly the most Northern Spire that is the highest. I dumped pack and snowhoes and broke out the ice axe for extra insurance. The snow was very variable but for the most part held my steps. I merely followed the snowshoe tracks up and then East to reach the East ridge which I followed and finished the summit off from the North. With the extensive tree cover I wasn't able to see much of anything. I didn't stay long because I still had a VERY long way to go. The descent back to my stowed belongings was much easier than expected. I had a quick bite and then restrapped the snowshoes and made my way back. I was very pleased with my pace and made it back to car well before dark.




Approx 20miles Approx 4000' of climb 7:45 car to car

Miller River Road 2.17.09

Not much here other than the road conditions. I had hoped the road would be plowed to the Miller River Campground, which was true. However the road is closed about a mile before the campground because of a washout. The road itself is an ice rink making very slow and tedious travel. After the campground there is a well worn snowshoe track that I followed until I reached the West Fork Road. My intent was to walk that for .25 miles and then use the subtle ridge to reach the main ridge of Cleveland Peak. I had a very long work week and have been feeling under the weather for most of the week. I couldn't bring myself to commit to the long climb. I instead walked Miller river Road for another couple miles until I reached another washout. This washout was rather large and looks to be an involved fix. I turned back and quickly made my way back to the car. It was a nice day to be out!




Approx 6 miles 3 hours car to car 600ft of climb.