Cpt.Caveman Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 What are the favorites out there? Looking for fall colors, maybe a small glacier, and about 8 hours round trips with up to 5.7 scrambling, and a good view. Is Gothic Peak fitting of this? Quote
erik Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 gothic peak would work... also maybe up to blanca lk off the n fork of the sky and then you can reach the monte cristo mtns from the back side..... Quote
PONCHO&LEFTY Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 Nice topic. Sorry I don't have any suggestions, but would also like to hear some ideas. I went up there yesterday to check out the area and take pictures and whatever (only been there once on a short drive). I even took my backpack and books, but got a lazy start and ended up wandering to the ice caves-not real exciting, but cool scenery anyway. Fall colors are starting to look good right now. There were metal detector dudes on the trail and 1 impressive mullet guy wandering around also. Quote
pms Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 Ray, I quite enjoyed a traverse of the three Gothic's a few years ago. Very little 5th class but you get 3 summits. Let me know if you want to borrow a 30m rope. Quote
robertm Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 I double Jims recommendation. Gothic and the castles along with Del Campo is a good outing. Montecristo peak with a mountain bike is doable. Sheep Gap looks good but I have not done it. Sperry and Lewis are good. Quote
Paul_K Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 You usually can find some nice fall colors up along Perry Creek on the way to scrambling Mt. Forgotten. The scramble is quite easy though - with just a touch of class 3. If you have some extra time you could also scramble Stillaguamish. Quote
Marko Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 Sperry's NE Ridge is pretty cool. Some brushy climbing but not bad. Up to 5.6 say. Really cool exposure, too. A short rope is nice for a couple of the more exposed 5th class bits. No glacier though. I think it was less than 8 hrs... Quote
Alex Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 Another thumbs up for Gothic. Its cool! I know its not on the Mnt Loop, but here is a huge thumbs up for Tomyhoi, still one of my all time favs. Any another thumbs up for a long ramble through Spray Park, before they shut down the Mowich Lake road for the year! Alex Quote
klenke Posted October 1, 2003 Posted October 1, 2003 I agree with Paul K (no, he's not one of my avatars) about the Perry Creek Trail being vibrant (in the orange wavelengths). However, despite the colors, the scene isn't all that photo worthy. Mainly, the weed-like brush is what is turning color the most. Some trees changing color. This was early November last year when I was there. The upper slopes of Stillaguamish would probably be nice and red with the turning heather. I may head up that trail this weekend. I'll be sure to open my eyes to check the scene. Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted October 2, 2003 Author Posted October 2, 2003 Thanks. I'll scope it out on paper tonight. BTW I dont need to borrow 30m rope. I still need to return your other one. If work wasnt so hectic I would have already. I'm gonna plan my trip Juan I dont think you'll make the summit count this season. maybe next time. I know you are lurking and reading this Quote
roald Posted October 2, 2003 Posted October 2, 2003 Up the Mt. Loop? How about Sloan via Weden (sp?) Creek? It is a little longer than 8 hrs, and you skirt the glacier rather than climb aboard. But I bet the Weden basin is fifty shades of red right now. Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted October 2, 2003 Author Posted October 2, 2003 roald said: Up the Mt. Loop? How about Sloan via Weden (sp?) Creek? It is a little longer than 8 hrs, and you skirt the glacier rather than climb aboard. But I bet the Weden basin is fifty shades of red right now. Interesting. Thanks Quote
ILuvAliens Posted October 2, 2003 Posted October 2, 2003 Was up on Sloan this last weekend. Saw some cool fall colors. Bright reds and oranges. I think it is Bedel Creek. We went up the Cougar Creek trail. This is quite the hump though, and probably more the an 8 hour trip. Maybe with a small pack and some light boots. A cool climb all together. Sweeeeeeeet waterfall on the way up Cougar Creek. Small glacier has a safe crossing. A lot of scrambling 5.7 oportunities. Great veiws. Side note: Sheriff chopper woke us early morning. Helped them figure the overdue climbers they were looking for were ok. We passed them on our way up. They had somebody worried though. Apparently they must have stayed near the trailhead, shortly after SAR was dropped off, they wandered out of the woods. Another side note: This was the first place I had been to in Washington that had a sign about potential for Wolves in the area. Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted October 2, 2003 Author Posted October 2, 2003 Cool- speaking of aliens... Did anyone else notice how the stars were amazing this past weekend? It was easy to identify a satellite running by and no moon... I am sure the guys on the WR of Forbidden were wishing for a moon. But they made it down safe. Was that someone here? I was actually completely worried about them... But there was nothing I could do that late at night and under the circumstances. Aloha to the lad from AK that soloed the SR of Torment and thanks for the food handout. Quote
nolanr Posted October 2, 2003 Posted October 2, 2003 Don't think anyone has mentioned Columbia Peak yet. Suggest using a bike via Monte Cristo Road and then hike into Twin Lakes area. Quote
JoshK Posted October 2, 2003 Posted October 2, 2003 I thought the chiwawa and napequa (sp?) river valleys last fall had some great fall colors, FWIW. Quote
chucK Posted October 2, 2003 Posted October 2, 2003 I keep telling people to check out the N Ridge of Foggy Peak, so check it out. You'll get to schwack through some colorful bush and then you'll pop up over Ida pass and there might still be a snowfield (glacier?) on the other side. Then traverse around to the N Ridge for an airy scramble (~5.4) on granite. Up by Glacier Basin, so you'll want a bike to keep it in your 8 hour range. These two are mostly hikes and off the Suiattle River Road, so it's sorta close to Mtn. Loop. Check out Sulphur Mtn. at the end of the Suiattle River Road. There's a steep trail up to Sulphur Mtn. and you can also work your way along the ridge to more peaks if you got time. Hurricane Peak (above Boulder Lake) is a cool easy scramble too. Drive up Tenas Creek Road (off of the Suiattle River Road), there's a trail from there to Boulder Lake. Oh, and Gothic Peak is cool, but the basin up below it is a moonscape and might not contain primo Fall colors (but the hike getting there would). Quote
Alpine_Tom Posted October 2, 2003 Posted October 2, 2003 I hiked up to Vesper basin last week, and the trail up there is pretty lit up with red and yellow. I'd expect the hike up to Lake 22 is pretty nice too. Quote
catbirdseat Posted October 3, 2003 Posted October 3, 2003 Anyone been up Morning Star Peak? Is it one that is better with snow on it? Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted October 3, 2003 Author Posted October 3, 2003 (edited) catbirdseat said: Anyone been up Morning Star Peak? Is it one that is better with snow on it? Morning star peak can be 2 logical ways of quickness from the same approach to Sperry. The slabs on the East or Northeast are safer under less snow conditions in the spring or winter. I have not done that but it is obvious. The snow would sit on slabs during that time period I mentioned... Another way is to hike into the basin between Morning Star and Sperry - very short and nice and the same approach. Then ascend up and left at the head of the basin. I am not sure any of my details of MS peak would be of value from the basin from between MS and Sperry since there was new snow and low snowfall year this past January or was it December. But I would guess some nasty rock gullies would be found.. That said maybe if you went this weekend go to the slabs on the east or northeast. My bearing remarks are gaper style since I often dont have a map or compass. Edited October 3, 2003 by Cpt.Caveman Quote
nolanr Posted October 4, 2003 Posted October 4, 2003 catbirdseat said: Anyone been up Morning Star Peak? Is it one that is better with snow on it? I've done some scouting around on it, my opinion is it would be better w/ snow. In addition to Capt. Caveman's suggestions you can approach it from the valley of the headwaters of the SF Stilly, same approach as Del Campo. Several gullies you can head up, definitely better when snow filled (when avy danger is subsided, obviously). Quote
Alpine_Tom Posted October 4, 2003 Posted October 4, 2003 Mt. Pugh also has some nice fall colors this time of year. I took this picture mid-september of 2000. Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted October 5, 2003 Author Posted October 5, 2003 In all reality I did not see too many fall colors yesterday. Hall Peak may never interest me.. Bronco and I went up scrambling in Gothic Basin. Quote
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