JonParker Posted August 7, 2022 Share Posted August 7, 2022 (edited) Trip: Cruiser - StandardTrip Date: 08/05/2022Trip Report: I rarely consider the Olympics but on Friday I was unable to find a partner and didn’t want to waste the good weather. I saw something about a “5.3” route on Cruiser so I decided it was time to check out some pillow basalt. The miles flew by to this aptly named peak (21 miles round trip with a few side missions, more like 20 without). The trail is never steep. I jogged a few portions. At the basin the steep snow finger was bulletproof and I didn’t want to put my light axe and strap on crampons to the test. I was afraid I might have to hang out until it softened but then I noticed I could skirt around the snow on the left along class 3 slabs all the way to the notch, bypassing all the snow. In my brief research of the route I came across a TR that mentioned scratching up the dirt gully when the snow melted out. This is completely unnecessary. Maybe in early season the snow could force you into a couple of tricky spots higher up on the slab, but I found easy and secure travel at the lower end up the slab, near the moat. Continued N from the notch up and over beta. There was only really one steep loose gully to descend to reach Cruiser. A few awkward exposed 4th moves above a cave led to a higher notch. I ascended right on the face to reach the base of the face/spine leading to the summit. A couple reachy moves off the deck led to some fun stemming then easier moves to the anchor. A narrow ledge scramble leads to the summit. Upon returning to the anchor I decided to do one rap (hard to read the route from above) back to the bottom of the face. I descended the other way here, going through a narrow class 2 chimney for variety and less exposure. I spiced it up on the way back up the steep loose gully when I noticed a 12 foot tall splitter fist/lie back just off the trail (5.7?). I couldn’t resist the spire just S of the notch above the snow because it tapers to a summit just a few square feet wide. Looked like a fun perch. Lichen crinkled underneath me, but I didn’t come across anything too dubious. The summit horn is slung, but it seemed like exposed class 4, maybe 5.0 on the way up, so I just downclimbed. A few hours had passed but the snow hadn’t seen much sun. I didn’t even bother trying it and descended the slab bypass, but when I stepped on flat snow at the bottom it was soft. So I probably could have saved some time taking the snow down. Back at the lake I went for an icy swim and re-enacted King Kong with countless big obnoxious biting flies. The trail isn’t too exciting below flap jack but gets fun again when it reaches N Fork Skokomish. Beautiful river and lots of huge old trees. Gear Notes: Approach shoes, 60m for rap Axe and crampons not usedApproach Notes: Mellow trail from Staircase to the basin west of sawtooth ridge Edited August 7, 2022 by JonParker 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 Was just up on the other side this weekend on a fishing trip. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 It’s 4.6 miles up to the upper Mildred Lake. It’s a pretty steep trail in parts. That is how pax and I approached when we climbed Cruiser. Never been up to Flap Jack lakes, so that must just be a more pleasant hike in or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisse Posted August 8, 2022 Share Posted August 8, 2022 (edited) 10 hours ago, JonParker said: re-enacted King Kong with countless big obnoxious biting flies. 🤣 I think that rock you're holding looks like a dinosaur tooth. Edited August 8, 2022 by Alisse 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonParker Posted August 8, 2022 Author Share Posted August 8, 2022 14 hours ago, olyclimber said: It’s 4.6 miles up to the upper Mildred Lake. It’s a pretty steep trail in parts. That is how pax and I approached when we climbed Cruiser. Never been up to Flap Jack lakes, so that must just be a more pleasant hike in or something? Yeah, longer but very mellow 11 hours ago, Alisse said: 🤣 I think that rock you're holding looks like a dinosaur tooth. Strange rock abounds 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trent Posted August 11, 2022 Share Posted August 11, 2022 Neat area. Thanks for the TR. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emilio taiveaho pelaez Posted August 15, 2022 Share Posted August 15, 2022 Really love this area! Very stoked to read this TR. I went up Cruiser a couple times in July, both times approaching via Flapjack (such a good place to camp! Would definitely recommend if you're not doing it in a day). There was more snow on my first summit (June16), which made the approach to gain the ridge through Needle Pass feel easy and secure. Ten days later, Needle Pass was a bit more exposed, so Sawtooth Pass (next to the Horn) felt like the more comfortable option to gain the ridge (it was also quicker; getting to Needle Pass required a little bushwhacking, but that's probably because it was early season and the trail wasn't defined). Both times I was amazed at the amazing opportunities along the ridge--I hope to see more reports on the sawtooths! To share some stoke, here's a photo of Cruiser peeping out through the fog: & an image of the Horn (someone really oughtta climb the beautiful NE line along the ridge....): 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanstaafl Posted August 15, 2022 Share Posted August 15, 2022 Emilio, check this out: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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