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.

SE Wright Mountain 9.4.09

Not looking for an overly challenging day I thought something benign was in order. When I woke to glorious sunshine I knew I had made the right choice. I parked at the very popular Snow Lakes Trailhead and leashed the Shepard. I knew that seeing many people meant seeing many dogs and I liked my chances better with the larger dog leashed. Thankfully the beagle's new found freedom didn't translate into him taking flight. Not really pushing the issue I made descent time to Gem Lake. Since I had already climbed Wright Mt. I thought the sister summit would be worthy. Since some non conforming summits had been added to the Home Court 100 page on Peakbagger.com it at least gave me something to cross off. I used the trail that heads to the privy and left it before actually seeing it. I crested a small knoll and dropped to a meadowy area dotted with a couple small tarns. From there it was a short boulder field to the summit. While the view to the North are blocked by Wright Mt. the views elsewhere are something to behold. With the clear sunny weather paired with the fresh snow on the higher summits made for some dramatic sights. I stayed on the summit just soaking both the warm sun and great views. For the descent I followed my uptrack to the meadowy area where I entered a nice gully that dropped me onto a loose talus field directly above the trail. The drop was somewhat loose but went well and soon I was on the trail. There were many people to negotiate as I made my way to the car but I managed to make great time.






Approx 10 miles 2500' of climb 5:30 car to car

North Guye, Cave Ridge 9.1.09

With the expectation to be at work late on my day off for inventory my expectations were pared back for this day. I was able to scoot out much earlier than expected with my new found skill of delegagting. In the past the adage "if you want something done right, do it yourself" has come into play heavily. We shall see. Too bad for me my caffeine regimen was set up for a much longer night and I wasn't able to go straight to bed. I slept reasonably well and futzed around the house before finally hitting the road. There were the usual larger amount of cars at the Snow Lake Trailhead which didn't concern me since I didn't think too many were heading my way. The trail was still where it was the last time I was there and it is still easy to follow albeit steepish. It sure but my fitness level under scrutiny and showed I am woefully below my usual standards. Undaunted I pushed on stopping long enough to let a party of five descend. Soon I reached the junction for Guye Saddle and I was on new ground. The trail grade backs off as it makes it to the saddle. Upon reaching the saddle I was surprised it was a 4 way intersection and not the 3 way I was hoping for. I decided to go for Guye first and I thankfully reached a small pond for the dogs to drink and cool off. The beagle who is only7 seems to be having more issues each time out. I am starting to think I may have to leave him home. The scramble to the summit goes easily and I was surprised the amount of exposure to the West. It's a long way down to the car below. The 3 summits are much closer together than what I expected, and I was unable to determine which was the highest. I spied the gully that opens up the route to the two other summits but after doing a Google Search on which summit was the highest I decided that the South Summit would be better attempted with a partner. I have to admit having the technology to access the unlimited info of the internet gave me one more reason not to continue, just what I need. I snapped a few pictures through the hazy skies, before making my way back to the pond. After the dog's again drank their fill I continued North. The path was good and soon I was at another junction. I took the right fork which I had hoped went to the Cave Ridge High Point 5270'. The trail was good and soon I found myself on the summit. The views were just as hazy so I didn't stay long. On my way up Guye I decided to alter my exit strategy and continue East into Commonwealth Basin. Since I was able to get a hold of my wife to let her know I felt like it would be a good way to avoid the knee crunching descent to my car. I half expected the trail to peter out but it stays mostly well defined all the way to the Crossing of Commonwealth Creek. Now it was just easy trail to the PCT parking lot and the 1.5 mile road walk back to the car.




Approx 8 miles 2700' of climb 4:45 car to car

Bentrim Hill 8.25.09

I have never viewed life as a race and as such I am not in a big hurry to finish the Back Court 100. I do however like to take the time to savor a meaningful summit. Bentrim Hill is nothing special and if wasn't such long ways to reach in Winter I would have saved it for some wintery day. I had hoped to stay West of the crest but when I awoke to a drizzly marine layer I knew a change was in order.




I had read R&R's great trip report but I didn't do a good job of transcribing the directions on to my used envelope. I parked where I thought I should but to be sure I took a reading with my GPS and was too far from my intended target. Unable to make much sense of the maze of roads on my map I was most confused. I decided to keep driving in the direction I needed to go and hope for the best. I soon came into some recognizable territory and in fact I ended up at the trailhead I had planned on using before reading R&R's report. I parked and didn't even bother in changing into my regular footwear on clothing. I put some liquid in my daypack and hit the Old Ellensburgh Trail. The trail is in good shape and is heavily used by horsemen so the going is quite dusty. I soon crested beneath Mount Lillian and began the descent to the Howard Creek Trail. As dry as it has been there is running water everywhere, which is a product of the many springs that dot the area. After reaching the intersection with the Grouse Springs Trail I resumed climbing. Soon I was in a nice meadowy area beneath the summit where I left the trail and made my way easily to Bentrim's summit. The views were nice to the West and East but there isn't much to see to the South and North is blocked by trees. There is an immense summit cairn where I wasn't able to find a register. For the descent I chose to drop in a much more direct line to my trail below. I tried to head in Southern direction to make sure I didn't over run my trail. There were numerous game trail that looked like they were manmade. I again reached a meadowy area and I felt like I was North of my trail I started to worry that I had come down too far offline. Thankfully the trail finally emerged right on a spot where I had seen some recent flagging. I thought it odd since it was the only flagging I had seen and coming out in that exact spot game me reason to chuckle. I soon recrossed Howard Creek and began climbing my way back up to the car. I am curious why there is so much deadfall just above Haney Meadows. There are no avalanche slopes to provide that level of destruction. I can only surmise that there was some huge wind event or that the forest was purposely thinned.



Approx 7 miles 2000ft of climb 3 hours car to car