tvashtarkatena Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Trip: Final Peak Whoring Junket of 2009. Really. - Windy, Remmel, Apex (Pasayten Wildnerness) Date: 9/30/2009 Trip Report: TR: Windy, Remmel, Apex (Pasayten Wilderness) 9/25-29/2009 Reduced gravity descent, Apex Mountain It starts when you first look at The List and think to yourself, Hey, I’ve already done a bunch of those…wonder how many I have left…just for fun, of course. Then, you start tagging an extra peak here and there, you know, since you’re in the neighborhood and all. You break out the highlighter and a constellation of pink dots appear on your maps that seem to be conveniently grouped geographically… And down you slide until finally you’re leaving inexperienced friends and family, the very people you promised only days prior to protect from nature’s harsher impulses, alone in the wilderness to fend for themselves with nothing but their lousy choice of books and some sticks to play with while you prostitute yourself yet another time on some obscure bump with horseshoe prints on the summit for Christ’s sake and for what? You’re running up a 13 mile stretch of burned out trail even mule deer won’t take anymore as fast as you can, knees creaking like the charred lodge pole pines around you because it’s been about a century since you’ve run anything longer than a lawnmower, so as not to piss of your girlfriend too much because, let’s face it, the moment you proposed this little side trip she was already pissed, and the only person to bear the brunt of her dissatisfaction is your poor nephew who only just met her. But you climb Windy Peak anyway. Larches from Windy Peak So it went our first day in the Pasayten. By the way, there’s at least one moose running up and down the Chewuck these days. Either that or some elk has gotten into the steroids. Spotted tussock caterpillar Lophocampa maculata, Chewuch River Spotted tussock caterpillar Lophocampa maculata, ant’s eye view, Chewuch River The day after my little side trip to Windy, my nephew Theo, Beth, and I headed up to Four Point Lake, dropped our gear, and continued on to tag Remmel. Previous supplicants never seem to mention what a beautiful trip this is. Larches, white granite, expansive views, and a gently graded trail to what used to be a summit lookout. Superb jaunt. I finished out the day by dispatching a couple of trout for dinner, both of which went to Beth, who seemingly had forgotten one of her freeze dried dinners. Lichen cladonia sulphurina, Four Point Creek Lichen sp. unknown, Four Point Creek Lichen sp. unknown, Four Point Creek The trail to Remmel’s summit Windy Peak, from the Remmel trail Beth and Theo nearing Remmel’s summit Theo on Remmel’s summit Stone temple pilot, Remmel summit The following morning I convinced Beth that the bushwhack shortcut straight north from Four Point Lake really, no, I mean really, was a good idea. Theo needed no convincing. He was up for anything, even the navigation. We were all up for some kind of exercise after freezing our asses off in the previous night’s high winds. Hydnellum auriantiacum, Remmel Creek The Shortcut The meadows beneath Amphitheatre, Remmel in the background Approaching Amphitheatre Theo looking north to Canada Beth relaxes while Theo goes all direttissima on Amphitheatre Jesus Cathedral Basin was cold. There were white caps on the lake. I caught another trout but after a minor tangle in my reel I stowed it and my frozen fingers and headed for the fire. By morning it was 35 degrees out. Doing the frost trot, Cathedral Lake Cathedral Lake and Peak Yeah, it was a little chilly last night Despite it’s beauty, we were not too sad to trade Cathedral Basin’s exposed meadows for the wood stove comfort of the Tungsten Mine Cabin. With a layover on Apex’s summit, of course. Cathedral Peak portrait Amphitheatre and Cathedral, on the way to Apex Pass On Apex, Cathedral in the background Reverie high above Tungsten Lake Apex summit cheeze Theo feels the need to stand on every false summit. Apex, looking north Another Theo Sighting on Apex, Windy in the background When you first see the Tungsten Mine; it’s buildings, engines, boilers, and many tons of fractured heavy machinery, you invariably wonder: how did all this crap get up here? Well, here’s how, when, and why: http://dooger.org/posts/hiking/visiting-the-tungsten-mine-at-wolframite-mountain-pasayten-wilderness/ The Tungsten Mine and its temporary foremen Life at the Tungsten Mine. Next time, I'll use someone else's camera. Final morning from the Tungsten Cabin Watched from above with unsympathetic eyes; Douglas squirrel Tamiasciurus douglasii We hiked the 15 miles out from the cabin to beat the oncoming rain, consume some Rastafarian pizza in Winthrop, before the long, wet deep space voyage home. Along the way, Beth finally found her freeze dried dinner hiding in the hydration pocket of her new pack. Gear Notes: Castmasters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pink Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 very cool fat boi.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazz Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 SWEEEEET!! I sooo enjoy your reports!! Glad you had a grewst time! Don, Randy and I were supposed to do this trip a few weeks ago but it did not work out. Thanks for your awesome reports and incredible pics!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 ok, you're excused for missing ropeup. way to pad your lead, btw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted October 1, 2009 Author Share Posted October 1, 2009 (edited) My lead? Why, whatever are you talking about? Next time, reschedule RopeUp around my big fall trip, mkay? Edited October 1, 2009 by tvashtarkatena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Next year Ropeup will be an expedition into the heart of the NCNP. We will be bringing two kegs with us, so bring your picnic spirit as everyone will have a turn carrying the bounty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 who will bring the brownies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaskadskyjKozak Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 who will bring the brownies? You can carry my brownies... out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted October 1, 2009 Author Share Posted October 1, 2009 Next year Ropeup will be an expedition into the heart of the NCNP. We will be bringing two kegs with us, so bring your picnic spirit as everyone will have a turn carrying the bounty. Too late. Johnny Law's already destroyed that 48 million dollar ganja field near Ross Lake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainsloth Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 tvash, your trip reports are going to make me quit grad school! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvashtarkatena Posted October 2, 2009 Author Share Posted October 2, 2009 Stay in skoo, foo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainsloth Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 no worries, i know whats good for me. Thanks for allowing me to live vicariously through you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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