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Trip: Mount Persis - Trail Trip Date: 11/29/2023 Trip Report: After such a beautiful Sunday on Gunn me and @Albuquerque Fred decided we had better play hooky and go catch the last of the high pressure system on Wednesday 11-29, but the best we could motivate ourselves for was Mount Persis. We knew the gate would be long so we took bikes and resigned ourselves to pushing uphill, a lot. This proved to be even more lousy than expected, but totally worth it for the downhill! In a previous trip report I claimed that the trail to Gunn Peak wasn't that bad, this one was THAT bad. I think purses might be the worst trail that people have ever called a trail. I've done a lot worse climber's paths, animal trails, routes, ETC, but everybody calls us a trail, it was tough. The 2,500 vertical feet of biking and pushing probably didn't help. The snow held off until the terrain eased up at about 4500 ft, then we boot packed with minimal penetration, through the forest until popping out into the open. Where the sun had been doing its work over the past week we walked on a nice firm crust seldom sinking in, all the way to the summit. It was cold, so we didn't stay long. The sun didn't materialize today, but it was worth it, plus I was getting paid for being sick. The view of the Indexes is amazing! The view of Fred is always amazing: My butt bones hurts after this: Worth it for the downhill! Gear Notes: Bikes. Approach Notes: Bike the road, as God intended. Then trail, maybe take some pruners.

Trip: Sperry Peak - Standard Trip Date: 11/25/2023 Trip Report: It was a good day to be out and stretch the legs on a classic blue-collar outing. Even better, we had the mountain to ourselves on a beautiful Saturday. There were just enough shenanigans to keep it interesting, but not so many as to detract from the fun. The yin and yang of scrapping up pointy things with a couple of good friends is an excellent reminder that the simple things in life are pretty much all you need. And whiskey. Sperry: Mile High Club: Heading up Headlee: It was solid: @Trent getting some extra work in before we found the correct start (Thanks JGAP!): Vesper and Wolf Peaks: @cfire topping out: North sides of Del Campo and Morningstar: Tahoma: Vesper (note tracks of the Saturday masses): @cfire: @Trent loves blue collar shenanigans: The boyz heading back to Headlee Pass: @Trent at Headless Pass, taking in the end of the day: Gear Notes: Helmet, axe, crampons Approach Notes: Headlee Pass trail. Road is passable by 2wd to TH. Trail snow free to basin between Mile High Club and Sperry. About 2 feet of snow on Sperry and Vesper. Flotation not needed.

Trip: Gunn Peak - Uh, south. Standard. Trip Date: 11/26/2023 Trip Report: On 11-26-23 me and @Albuquerque Fred climbed Gunn and Tailgunner peaks. It was grand fun made much easier than is typical for this season due to the long high pressure system that melted and crusted the snow. Not knowing what to expect from the conditions we brought all kinds of gear: rope, pro, axes, crampons, helmets, snowshoes. We didn't use any of the technical stuff, just axes and crampons, and helmets. The trail wasn't as bad as we expected from the reputation, but it was pretty bad. The heavy frost down low made sure the brush was dry at least. We had to use crampons to manage the log crossing at Barclay Creek. Snow began at 4300', then we broke out into the open and thanked the crust for making the walking easier. Another party in days past broke some trail that helped a bit. Yada yada yada, we donned crampons at the base of the "hidden ledge", not so hidden and definitely more of a gully than a ledge. There was some ice and since 2 climbing for a short distance. The upper snowfield was easy. The ridge crossover at 6100' was the make or break when we got our first look at the traverse ledge on the north side. I was pleased to see that the previous part left us some steps and a bit of a trough. It was a piece of cake actually, though heady. This was what we brought the pro for. You descend, then a really thin snow ledge with exposure, then ascend again. It would protect very well as the belayer is at a notch and there are several great cracks at the low point, then trees at the top on the far side. Then an easy walk to the summit. It had been very warm in the sun all day and it was positively balmy on the summit, T-shirts and lady bugs (not a euphemism). The descent was about the same, crust plodding, then up Tailgunner. Then down, down, down. Headlamps for 15 minutes. Given a high snow level to make the trail tolerable, I think this would make a fine all year summit if you bring pro for the north side (or are bold on a steep slope with exposure going both up and down and across). The route: First crux: Second crux: Summit: Frost line stayed in the valley all day: Gear Notes: Carried a lot. Used axe, crampons, helmet. Approach Notes: Trail is ok, not as bad as advertised.

I'll give you my dSLR and lenses and let's do it @geosean!

I edited to take out your Gunn photos....

I have one season on the Dynafit Blacklight 95 skis and they're a great all around ski for PNW touring. I think the PDG might be a race ski and not real fun (terrible) to ski on anything firm.