[TR] Alta - S. Ridge 11/25/2007

[K^2]

Trip: Alta - S. Ridge

 

Date: 11/23/2007

 

Trip Report:

 

With the nice weather, C., L. and I decided to head out on a snowshoe this Friday. A crack of dawn start was not in the cards for me with in-laws over, and the overindulgence of food and drink that comes with the territory.

 

We met in Issaquah at 8 and headed up to the Rachel Lake TH. Not far up from the turnoff into the snow park, we hit snow, which deepened and became hard and icy in the tire ruts. We were grateful to have C's 4 wheel drive. Also, we were pleasantly surprised by the amount of snow at this elevation (well under 3000 ft), expecting bare trail at the TH and on up. Certainly you'd not guess this amount of snow based on the drive up I-90.

 

We got to Rachel Lake TH at about 9:40, and saw just one car - a subaru - which impressed us based on the deep powder at the TH. We never saw the occupants of the car, which was gone when we returned. The temps were hella cold... definitely low 20's if not colder. We all kept a jacket on, and put on snowshoes. It was foggy here although the drive in had been sunny.

 

The trail had about 6-12 inches of powder most of the way up to Rachel lake. There were a few bare spots here and there, and some nasty ice, including over two stream crossings. We saw two wonderful, partially-frozen waterfalls.

 

 

I kept snowshoes on the whole time, and winced with every scrape or creak on the intermittent bare dirt or rock. L. took off his snowshoes and found the going a bit tougher - fell once and banged his knee.

 

Rachel Lake was partially frozen. Still hella cold, but better in the sun which was hitting us now that we were above the low-lying fog layer.

 

We quickly ascended the trail to gain the ridge above Rachel lake, and broke trail through mostly deep powder upwards. After an hour we saw our objective... or so we thought. Up ahead was am obvious prominence at about the right elevation. Soon we were upon it, but a tree grove was in our way. We opted to drop down a bit on the E. side of the ridge to traverse maybe 100 meters, which was a bit exposed and nasty on snowshoes. I wished I had my ice axe out instead of trekking poles. Then we were within 60 feet of the summit. The slope was steeper and a bit icy. So we switched to crampons and ice axes and topped out. It was 2 pm.

 

 

Oops. Not the summit yet. We were at 6100 feet or so. Summit was about 1/2 mile away and 150 feet higher. Took some compass readings on Lila lakes and Hibox to verify. It was a nice spot - good views, sun up, daylight wouldn't be around much longer. I voted to stop there. C. and L. had summit fever and went on. I plopped down, ate, drank and enjoyed the views, and watched my partners tag the actual summit and return in about 1 hr and 20 min. They reported an easy ridge run with one steep nasty exposed part at the end. Don't fall. They kept their crampons on.

 

 

We quickly hauled ass down to Rachel lake to keep as much daylight as we could. After our last gear change we headed down at 4:15. It soon got dark. Headlamps on, and time for the icy parts. L. and C. wore crampons the whole way down - I just had boots and trekking poles. I kept up just fine, but slipped once, and my trekking pole broke in two (time for an exchange at REI). We got back to the car at 6:15.

 

A good way to work off the Thanksgiving glutton-fest.

 

 

Gear Notes:

ice axe, crampons, snowshoes.

 

Approach Notes:

1 foot of powder at trailhead. Nasty icy patches at several spots, including stream crossings under waterfalls.

Edited November 26, 2007 by K^2

[CascadeClimber]

Nice! Alta is a lovely place with a great view. That bit of nastiness at the end is avoidable with a little jog to the left before the notch.

[Serenity]

Cool report, and cool screen name. Good pictures!

 

That's a really overlooked area, but to those that know, the ski descents into Gold Creek are all time. Alta's a pretty big face when it gets loaded up, not as burly off the top as Alaska, and not quite as intimidating as the daddy at the valley head (never stepped up to that one on skis). Long hike out once your in, but you can tow in from the snowpark if you've got the stuff.

 

Thanks for the reminder, it's been a few years since I've gone back there.