[TR] Ruby Mountain - South side 7/6/2011

[Jimhamster]

Trip: Ruby Mountain - South side

 

Date: 7/6/2011

 

Trip Report:

Ruby has always intrigued me. I figured that any peak the NPS wanted to build a tram on must have a killer view. Ruby did not disappoint.

 

Headed up to Fourth of July Pass to spend the night before tackling the abandoned trail to Ruby. Campsite has one of the better views for such a low elevation. Water available above the two upper sites. Amazing there were NO BUGS the entire 3 days we were there, an experience I've never had in 40 years of backcountry traveling.

 

Previous postings detail finding the "abandoned trail" sign so I'll concentrate on what happens after that point. We hit a big blowdown about 30 minutes in and lost the trail. Barged ahead and found some orange tape near the stream. Another bit of tape lead across the stream as well as one going up to the left. Big mistake. We should have gone left and uphill BEFORE we hit the creek.

 

A previous TR spoke of staying slightly west of the ridge crest to avoid small cliffs. Maybe I errored on the word slightly, because an hour later saw us too far west below some cliffy territority in the Thunder Creek side of the valley. A short class 3 scramble and cedar schwack got us back on the crest. We hit snow at about 5,000'. The macro direction of where to go wasn't in doubt, it was the micro ie which route is most open

was the only problem. Finally left the trees behind (they extend waaaay up it seems). Trudged up the final snow slope. Hit the first peak and called it good. Concern over the route down pulled us off after a 30 min stare around at every peak you can imagine. Hozomeen was the most impressive, but from Baker to Glacier the mountain gods were out in the brilliant blue. As a side note trailess Panther Creek looked super cool and wild.

 

Headed down, stayed in the middle of the crest which bends towards Panther Creek. Stumbled across the trail right after we got off snow. Followed it down as it makes horse gradiant switchbacks all the way back and forth across the crest. Funny how you can begin to anticipate the trail builders method and "feel" where he put in the next switchback. Hit the campsite at 9pm.

 

Gear Notes:

Hiking sticks. Photos aren't on the interweb tubes, someday I'll figure it all out, or not.

 

Approach Notes:

Yeah we're slow.