JasonG Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 Trip: Star, Courtney, Oval - The easiest way possible Date: 10/6/2014 Trip Report: The first week of October is known as the "Golden Week" for a very good reason. The larches in the alpine are typically at their peak, and often the window is narrow between peak colors and fall storms. This year, everything aligned (on a weekend no less!) and a few of us Skagitonians had the Fish Creek Pass area mostly to ourselves (save Joe? from Ballard on Star). Summits were obtained, whiskey and chocolate consumed, fuel loads reduced, and far too many photos taken. Fall perfection in the North Cascades. Gear Notes: Halen, Hunter, Hops Approach Notes: West Fork Buttermilk Trail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom_Sjolseth Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 You might think about hanging onto at least a couple of those photos.. Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfire Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 (edited) Great looking trip Jason! ..and as usual, the photos are stellar. Edited October 18, 2014 by cfire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 how come cute chicks never wanna do long trips w/ me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sepultura Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 Incredible photos J ! they say it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 world class larches!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 (edited) looks professional! good eye Edited October 20, 2014 by Stefan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonG Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 Glad that everyone is enjoying the photos! Believe it or not, they actually don't do the larches justice. They were stunning, maybe some of the most intense color I've seen. Also, I forgot to mention that an added bit of interest on this trip are the rock glaciers in the vicinity. There is a photo of the one on Oval, a few images from the bottom. I believe there is also one on Star that you can see from the summit of Oval. Cool landforms that I'm not sure I've seen before, at least up close. Ivan- they've read too many of your TR's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Thanks for the beautiful trip report! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainsloth Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Jason, your TRa always impress and inspire. I seem to step away from every one of your reports and think "I need to go there." Way to keep ticking off those summits and. Enjoying every step of the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattp Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Thank you for the fabulous pictures. The mention of a rock glacier reminds me of the one time I was on what I am guessing was a rock glacier below the Palisades NE of Sunrise at Mount Rainier. There is the most unstable rockpile in the basin below the Palisades that I have ever walked on, or maybe the second-most. It is clearly moving but there is no ice in sight. I've never heard it identified as a rock glacier but it must be something like that. Anyway, the Sawtooth Range of Washington is a very nice area, often overlooked. Thanks again for reminding me of this place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaskadskyjKozak Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Nice! I was hoping to get some colors like this on Windy Peak this weekend, but nothing came close to what your camera captured (we got some nice larch views on the drive out from the TH only) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPS Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Wow, this trip report had a bit of everything: photos of firey larches, posing pikas, sweeping ridge lines, serene lakes, and pretty girls. It all reminds me why September and early October are my favorite months to climb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kukuzka1 Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 nice fotos, can almost smell the mountain air looking at them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trumpetsailor Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Awesome. The photos, esp #16, are winners. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshK Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 I was in this area early in the summer (during that awkward few weeks between summer climbing and spring skiing) and did scramble peaks. I knew there was a ton of larch and returning in fall would be worthwhile, but I am now 100% committed to do so. Incredibly beautiful, and your pictures are fantastic!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBo6 Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 It's looking pretty snowy up there right now. I wish I'd made it while the larches were in full color. I've never seen larches as large as the ones around West Oval lake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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