Eugenian Posted June 9, 2003 Posted June 9, 2003 Keep hoping to stumble across a book that has route descriptions for Diamond Peak...but alas...being originally from WA I guess I got spoiled by the Becky guides. Does anyone have any route beta for the Westside route? (Pioneer Gulch I think...) I've emanated to piece together a route from descriptions form the Obsidians trip reports on their website, but I'm taking my wife on her first climb, and you know, I'd just like to be sure! Any help would be appreciated! ~Evan Quote
Eugenian Posted June 10, 2003 Author Posted June 10, 2003 Planning on going in on Saturday (allthough now I see the weather might crap out on me) via Oakridge and FS road 21 (I think that's the right #, I'm at work right now and don't have the map in front of me) Quote
Fejas Posted June 10, 2003 Posted June 10, 2003 Sure, the gulley... if your lookin for that kinda climb, I always take the ridge... sno or no sno.... take the trail into happy lake, and where the trail splits, goes to happy and to blue lake(?), follow the ridge, trought he trees mind you(don't traverce down hill or you miss the ridge),you'll elevate to a crest and then drop into a small gully, follow the ridge from there up to the summit... Its pretty easy, but I usually do that route, after the sno melts, which its gettin close... in the winter I usually come in via PCT do to sno on the road from the hills creek side... Have Fun... and just wing it, diamond is a great mountain for a beginer to climb, I'm sure she'll have fun... oh yeah the route I mentioned is aprox 9 mile round trip, from trail head to summit and back... Quote
Eugenian Posted June 10, 2003 Author Posted June 10, 2003 Thank you! I'll check that out on the topo and see how it looks. Much appreciated! ~Evan Quote
Anna Posted June 14, 2003 Posted June 14, 2003 oooooooo....I've been wanting to hike this for a while. I think I will attempt it this week. Those that have been up there lately...is there still snow? I'm doubtful but was wondering if I should take the snowshoes. Maybe I will fly over it and do a recon Quote
gapertimmy Posted June 14, 2003 Posted June 14, 2003 just land on the summit and save yourself the slog. Quote
Eugenian Posted June 16, 2003 Author Posted June 16, 2003 Got up to just below the south summit via the Pioneer Gulch route on saturday. My wife had forgotten the insoles to her boots but, being the trooper she is, wanted to head up anyway. Snow is consistent above 6500 ft on the faces and in the gullies. Ridges are patchy. I carried our two pairs of snowshoes up. Don't. That was dumb. Route finding was a little annoying through the trees, but a 50 degree course from the end of the Pioneer Gulch trail got us up onto the SW ridge just fine....eventually. #1 problem was the mosquitos. I expected a lower snow level...last count was 83 bites...all kinds of itchy fun! All in all though, a great day. Quote
nolanr Posted June 17, 2003 Posted June 17, 2003 Better yet Anna, fly over w/ strafing run of bug spray. Die skeeters die! Quote
Anna Posted June 17, 2003 Posted June 17, 2003 I'm gonna go tomorrow morning using your route, Eugenian.... did you use topos? I am probably gonna get the diamond peak quad in the morn at the WNF Office or REI. Thanks for the beta on the compass heading and snowshoe usage. I love land navigation...haven't used the skill since my 6 mile packout of the last fire I was on last summer, but eager to get back into it. It will probably be nicer since I won't have 95lbs on my back! Thanks! Quote
Fejas Posted June 17, 2003 Posted June 17, 2003 I just want to take the time to say you fire fighters are awsome.... 95-100 lbs on your backs and rushing up and down steep terain, into the blaze for the benifet of the hole.... THANX.... Quote
Anna Posted June 18, 2003 Posted June 18, 2003 Just got back from Diamond Peak! What a day....went to the South Summit and it was a beautfiul view. Too tired and ran out of day to make it to the real summit. Great hike! I have some pics that I will post in the gallery soon. Went up through Pioneer Gulch and then bushwacked to the main south ridge which brought me right to the south summit, it was so fun! Eugenian, I hope it wasn't you that left the pile of garbage consisting of clothes, an empty propane bottle, and tons of Mountian House meal wrappers on that main south ridge! Whoever did it...YOU SUCK. Fejas, actually we (firefighters) "packout" 95lbs on inital attack fires when it is put out and we are returning home. On the fire line we usually pack about 35lbs, but when you add a chainsaw, fuel, or tools it starts to get heavy. Many thanks for your thanks, it makes the job worthwhile! Not doing it this summer for once in the last 8 years....enjoying every minute of it! I get to bag peaks, fly, have a garden, and have days off, missing out on the money though. Quote
Eugenian Posted June 18, 2003 Author Posted June 18, 2003 Definitely wasn't me leaving garbage...actually picked up a bit...where did you see that pile of crap? And did you have fun in the trees? Quote
Anna Posted June 18, 2003 Posted June 18, 2003 Good to hear that the garbage wasn't yours, yah, I picked it all up, it was all piled up on the ridge. Lots of mosquitos in the trees, I got eaten alive....it also looked like it was raining pollen! Once I got out of the trees, the bugs weren't bad....just flies. Navigating wasn't too bad either, I took a left at the Pioneer Gulch trail intersection and headed to Corrigan Lake till I ran into that big ridge then broke off the trail. Once I got up on the ridge, I used some flagging that was on one of the trees below so that I knew when to break off to tie in with the trail on return.....then it was pretty easy from there. I was happy when I found the flagging on the way back~ Quote
Ursa_Eagle Posted June 23, 2003 Posted June 23, 2003 Nice pics! you're awesome! (you actually post pics! more than I can say for myself... ) Quote
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