tvashtarkatena Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 (edited) Trip: Chelan Mountains - Cardinal, Emerald, Saska, and Pinnacle Peaks Date: 7/4-8/2007 Trip Report: My wife Joanna and I took the our dogs Willi and Annie on their first backpack trip over the week of the 4th. Our route just happened to take us right past Cardinal, Emerald, Saska, and Pinnacle Peaks, which I, of course, had to bag. Starting at the Entiat River TH, we ascended Anthem Creek, then left the trail to negotiate 2 passes before dropping into the headwaters of the Entiats N fork. At first the dogs couldn’t figure out how to negotiate a simple blowdown. By the end of the trip, they were prancing across logs over rapids, fording fast moving streams, and jumping off of 4 foot high boulders. Steep snow at the first pass required some improvisation. I short roped Joanna down before going back up to drag the two dogs on a clothes line. They were, to say the least, not amused. Fetching the dogs Cruelty to animals, Part 1. Dragging the dogs down slope. Annie pulled out of her collar and ran right back up the slope, treeing herself on a small cliff. Up I went a third time. All down. Finally. Nap time From our cowboy camp at the N fork, we ascended to Saska Pass before dropping into Snow Brushy Creek and out. I scrambled up Pinnacle from our camp in Snow Brushy Creek. Four enjoyable nights out in some really beautiful country and perfect weather. Forget something? Cruelty to Animals Part II: Annie takes the plunge Objective 1: Cardinal Peak Rainier from Cardinal Peak Objective 2: Emerald Peak. Snow Brushy Creek from Saska Peak Willi at Saska Pass Fine. You go that way and I'll go this way. Dropping into Snow Brushy Creek The burn on the approach to Borealis Pass and Pinnacle Peak. The trail is gone. Burnt hemlock. Snow Brushy Creek. Mmmmorels The Chelan mountains are Washington's best kept secret. Or, er, were anyway. Over the summer's peak weekend, we didn't see a soul until the last day (a whopping party of 2). Cowboy camps right out of Brokeback Mountain, larches, great scrambling peaks, a zoo full of wildlife, including bighorns (OK, we didn't see any, but the signs say they're there), morels, dollar Rainiers at the Ardenvoir cafe...all about 3.5 hours from Seattle. What's not to love? Gear Notes: Lite axe and aluminum crampons. Edited July 20, 2007 by tvashtarkatena Quote
Stefan Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 you been getting out some good trips in the last two weeks. you been having a lot o fun. Quote
tvashtarkatena Posted July 20, 2007 Author Posted July 20, 2007 I've heard that taking out children is illegal. Regardless of your definition. Quote
TrogdortheBurninator Posted July 20, 2007 Posted July 20, 2007 Great TR! How'd the dogs do with the side bags and what not? Quote
tvashtarkatena Posted July 20, 2007 Author Posted July 20, 2007 (edited) We got the cheapest saddlebags I could find and they worked fine. One dog got a little chafing under her front armpit, but nothing other than that. Their paws got a little raw in between their toes from 'braking' on the snow descent, but they were fine by the next day. The trails aren't very rocky, which can be cause problems, so no worries there. Dogs can carry about 20% of their weight; 8 lbs in this case. That included all of their food, water, gear, and a little bit of ours, too. Funny, our packs got lighter every day; theirs never did. For them, we took 1.5x their normal rations of food, water/food bowls, a little first aid kit (neosporine, doggy ace bandage), a foam sleeping pad, an airline blanket, leashes (OK, we forgot the leases in the car, but they would have been useful), a set of four booties in case of paw injury, and a 3/4 liter water bottle each. At first they had no clue what to do with a pack on their back. One kept running richocheting off of trees and rocks like a pinball. Within an hour or so, they had it pretty well figured out. Edited July 21, 2007 by tvashtarkatena Quote
roald Posted July 27, 2007 Posted July 27, 2007 Love that TR, especially the dog experience. At first, my dog couldn't figure out switchbacks, always turning around to go in the same (apparent) direction as me, even if it was downhill. He eventually got it, if only because I was carrying his food. Who knows where he'd be now if he had a saddlebag. Quote
tvashtarkatena Posted July 31, 2007 Author Posted July 31, 2007 Willi never did figure out switchbacks. Annie got the idea the first time around. Quote
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