South Sister

The destination looms

Ken had a permit for the South Sister so Maria and I went along.  It was a beautiful day - haze in the distance, but locally very clear and crisp.  The permit system may be limiting the hoards a bit, but there were still plenty of people up there.  It was a surprisingly easy 5,000' of elevation gain and very pleasant.  I was amazed at how little ice remains, particularly on the summit crater.  The summit ice was melting rapidly into a stream that pours into a moulin - a vertical hole in the ice, much like a mini Greenland ice sheet feature. 

 

Tarn below Lewis Glacier

View from the summit looking north

 

Park Meadows and Golden Lake

Spring fed stream above Golden Lake

I got out for a day hike to Park Meadows and on to Golden Lake, exploring the meadows above the lake last Sunday.  An early start on a cool, perfect August day made for a quiet and enjoyable walk in.  I had the Golden Lake Basin to myself.  There is much exploring to be done here, save for a future date.  The 2012 Pole Creek fire burned through the area covered by the first few miles of trail from park Meadows trailhead.  This makes for a pleasant, open hike on a cool day such as this.  It is interesting to observe how the area is changing post fire - and the views are great.

Golden Lake and N/M Sisters

Park Meadows

Golden lake and Broken Top

 

A Week in the Pasayten Wilderness

Jackita Peak

I am recently back from the annual weeklong backpacking trip.  This time it was in the Pasayten Wilderness of Washington.  We started with a boat ride up Ross Lake and were dropped off just shy of the Canada border.  First two days were wet and cool, middle days perfect, and the last few days were hot and smoky.  Great ridge rambling and exploring were had during all of those days.

Across from Woody Pass

North Cascade views

Ridgetop Rambling

Toward Big Face Basin

Freezeout Lake

Hozomeen Lake

 

Climbing Mt Baker

Lots of blue ice - not much snow on Baker

My son and I attempted to climb Mt Baker at the end of July.  As hot and dry as it has been, we oddly were thwarted by rain and bad conditions.  The heat dome in June and blown up the mountain's snow cover, leaving a situation on the Deming Glacier that was unfamiliar to the guides and treacherous.  We made it to 8,700' before turning back.  Even without a summit, it was an interesting and rewarding outing for Will and I.

Climbing camp

Up the railroad grade trail

The destination