[TR] Sunrise Peak - Dark Divide - Summer trail var

[fettster]

Trip: Sunrise Peak - Dark Divide - Summer trail variation

 

Date: 4/28/2007

 

Trip Report:

Here's a little variety for the South WA Cascades forum. This weekend I hooked up with CC'er Magellan and his buddy Brett to snowshoe up Sunrise Peak in the Gifford-Pinchot NF Dark Divide roadless area. Road 23 was in a fine shape to our spur road turnoff on 2324, but if you've checked the FS web site you've read there's a washout north of the junction with road 90 so it's not possible to get from Randle to Trout Lake that way. Fortunately we didn't have to go that far south.

 

We had to stop several times to clear trees and rocks off the road including a 20 minute stretch where Brett put his lumberjack skills to use to clear a criss-crossing of two trees. I thought the second one was too big to deal with, but he was undeterred and chopped away so that we were able to get to within a quarter mile of the goal "trailhead" when we had to stop for a pile of snow. Actually when we returned for the day we found two sets of tire tracks through the snow after it had softened enough, so I'm guessing they were able to get to the next bend at ~3600 feet before having to park. Ultimately we found there was a constant blanket of snow on the road at about 4000 feet.

 

 

Setting out on the road for about a quarter mile, we broke off with Alexei leading on an animal trail alongside a clear cut which we followed for a steep 600 feet before cresting on the road which had swung back from the north. From there we quickly gained the ridgeline and followed this generally the rest of the way. It was fun to pass the summer trailhead turnout along the way.

 

 

Summer trailhead turnout

 

View of ridge headed towards summit

 

Brief teaser view south through the clouds

 

After a cloudy start, the clouds gradually lifted and cleared during our trek offering us some great views. At the same time, the snow got softer and softer and was a real slush fest by the time we were headed down. I should'a brough some of that fruit syrup, snowcones for everyone! The final 200 feet on the south and west face of Sunrise Peak were completely melted out, so we ditched the snowshoes and made a short scramble and hike on up to the summit.

 

Here's some more pics

 

 

Magellan on lead

 

Sunrise ahead

 

Scramblin'

 

McCoy Peak

 

View back down to approach ridge

 

 

Dark Mountain (left, in the distance) and Jumbo Peak

 

 

Brett and Goat Rocks Range

 

 

Heading back, Spud Hill on the right

 

We noted one mysterious thing on the way back. On a different stretch of the forest road just west of our route we noticed a fresh track of footprints headed towards the summit which had not been there in the morning. We were surprised to have not seen or heard anyone on the day. It made a little more sense when we noticed the tire tracks back by our cars, but I wonder where all they went? Was anyone else from CC up there this weekend?

 

Mystery prints...fellow CC'er?

 

It was definitely a great spring day in the Cascades with a fantastic trio. We need to do something like that again!

 

-Fettster

 

Gear Notes:

Axe (and able bodied lumberjack!)

Ice axe (I used it very briefly on descent, not really required)

Snowshoes

Map

 

Approach Notes:

Road 2324, follow alongside a clearcut on animal trail headed up, then gain the eastern ridge line and follow the rest of the way