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[TR] Star, Courtney, Oval - The easiest way possible 10/6/2014


JasonG

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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.

 

 

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Gear Notes:

Halen, Hunter, Hops

 

Approach Notes:

West Fork Buttermilk Trail

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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 ;)

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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.

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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!!

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