Chocodove
01-30-2012, 08:47 PM
This is slightly overdue, but I finally have some time to myself. Please excuse first couple of blurry pics, etc.!
We arrived at the Garden in darkness around 6:40am. After trying to figure out whether or not we had to pay and fiddling with gear for a bit, we were on the trail in micro spikes shortly after 7am. The plan was to take the South Side trail to the junction with the Ore Bed, follow that until we had to cut off, climb the slide, hit the summit, and then back down via the Ore Bed.
After turning left for the South Side trail, we soon realized that there was no way across the brook!
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics006.jpg
I probably should have done more research for the beginning of the hike, but as so often happens prior I was more focused on what I thought would be the most difficult part (finding the slide) as opposed to the little details of actually getting there. Rather than head right back to the regular trail, I let my companions convince me to follow the stream for a bit until I had had enough of wasting energy and suggested we bushwack north to the trail proper. 5 minutes later and we were on the trail.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics009.jpg
The rest of the way to the Interior Outpost was uneventful other than getting a good look at the glorious slide on LWJ and informing a large group coming out as to who had won the previous weekend's NFL playoff games. Incidentally, these would be the last humans we saw until the post-hike dinner.
Once on the Ore Bed the snow cover was maybe 2-3 inches, but still firm and we were making good time with the spikes, so we stuck to them. We arrived at the lean-to and rested a bit, and then began to look out for the "large boulder to the right" that would signify we would be approaching the drainage of Gothics North Face soon. Sure enough, we soon passed a giant boulder and not long after came to the drainage.
The drainage was way too unstable to walk directly on. I had expected it to be frozen solid when planning this trip months ago. After changing into snowshoes, we crossed the brook and started heading into the woods on the western bank. From the pictures I had seen, I thought we had to eventually cross back to the left bank. In hindsight, that might not have been necessary, but regardless we did. This is when the going got really tough.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics019.jpg
It was an easy 2-3 feet of soft snow and whenever we had to be on the stream proper we would break through. There were a couple of times it went up to my ankle, but luckily I was protected by boot and gaiters. We continued at a relatively slow pace at the North Face came into view.
As we approached, the ground started to firm up a bit and the grade steepened. At this point we decided to turn off and try and find the slide.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics021.jpg
The first 20 feet in the woods was thick, but as luck would have it we popped right on the slide. Snow depth remained at about 2-3 feet and soft, which meant that as we went up we would eventually break through to the ground, which made that first part of the slide agonizing. I'd take four steps up and slide back down three. Very frustrating and tiring.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics022.jpg
After a while, things started to get slightly firmer and we came to a slight rock outcrop that looked icy. We switched to crampons and negotiated up carefully. It was right before this that as I planted my pole and leaned forward to move up, my left foot postholed (in the snowshoe) all the way down to the base and my chest landed directly on the pointy grip of my pole. It was quite a scary moment, as I thought I broke my rib. Turns out that it was only bruised, but not exactly what you want to happen up there!
We slowly made our way up the slide and into the clouds. The slide was firm and icy in some spots, soft in others. Very enjoyable for the most part. As we made our way up, the large rock outcrop loomed above. The winds picked up, the sky got darker, and eventually we reached it. The rocks barely had any snow cover whatsoever, so we opted to hug the trees and deal with the torturous spruce traps as a result. As we crested the bulge, it was a true "no fall zone".
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics026.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics031.jpg
Short video cresting the ridge here - http://vimeo.com/35924101
Once we hit the ridge and saw the summit, we switched to snowshoes and were up on top in no time. Very windy with somewhat limited views, but well worth the effort. We stayed on the summit for a short while and then took a nice long break in the cover of some trees.
No summit pics since my camera decided to stop working!!
One the way down to the col, we knew the last difficulty would be the cables, and they did not disappoint. We had to descend backwards on the short stretch right above them, and then once we reached them we switched back to crampons. Pics from my then newly rejuvenated camera speak for themselves.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics035.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics038.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics040.jpg
After that, the long slog began, interrupted only by that beautiful slide coming down Saddleback. I was really hurting from JBL to the Garden, which we arrived at around 6:30. Feasting at the Noonmark afterwards never tasted so good.
Lessons learned:
1. Hydrate more the night before. I started really slowly on the trail due to the escapades of the evening prior.
2. Never underestimate how slow breaking trail is.
3. Bring more sausage and cheese. Totally brought my spirits up and something to look forward to.
We arrived at the Garden in darkness around 6:40am. After trying to figure out whether or not we had to pay and fiddling with gear for a bit, we were on the trail in micro spikes shortly after 7am. The plan was to take the South Side trail to the junction with the Ore Bed, follow that until we had to cut off, climb the slide, hit the summit, and then back down via the Ore Bed.
After turning left for the South Side trail, we soon realized that there was no way across the brook!
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics006.jpg
I probably should have done more research for the beginning of the hike, but as so often happens prior I was more focused on what I thought would be the most difficult part (finding the slide) as opposed to the little details of actually getting there. Rather than head right back to the regular trail, I let my companions convince me to follow the stream for a bit until I had had enough of wasting energy and suggested we bushwack north to the trail proper. 5 minutes later and we were on the trail.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics009.jpg
The rest of the way to the Interior Outpost was uneventful other than getting a good look at the glorious slide on LWJ and informing a large group coming out as to who had won the previous weekend's NFL playoff games. Incidentally, these would be the last humans we saw until the post-hike dinner.
Once on the Ore Bed the snow cover was maybe 2-3 inches, but still firm and we were making good time with the spikes, so we stuck to them. We arrived at the lean-to and rested a bit, and then began to look out for the "large boulder to the right" that would signify we would be approaching the drainage of Gothics North Face soon. Sure enough, we soon passed a giant boulder and not long after came to the drainage.
The drainage was way too unstable to walk directly on. I had expected it to be frozen solid when planning this trip months ago. After changing into snowshoes, we crossed the brook and started heading into the woods on the western bank. From the pictures I had seen, I thought we had to eventually cross back to the left bank. In hindsight, that might not have been necessary, but regardless we did. This is when the going got really tough.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics019.jpg
It was an easy 2-3 feet of soft snow and whenever we had to be on the stream proper we would break through. There were a couple of times it went up to my ankle, but luckily I was protected by boot and gaiters. We continued at a relatively slow pace at the North Face came into view.
As we approached, the ground started to firm up a bit and the grade steepened. At this point we decided to turn off and try and find the slide.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics021.jpg
The first 20 feet in the woods was thick, but as luck would have it we popped right on the slide. Snow depth remained at about 2-3 feet and soft, which meant that as we went up we would eventually break through to the ground, which made that first part of the slide agonizing. I'd take four steps up and slide back down three. Very frustrating and tiring.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics022.jpg
After a while, things started to get slightly firmer and we came to a slight rock outcrop that looked icy. We switched to crampons and negotiated up carefully. It was right before this that as I planted my pole and leaned forward to move up, my left foot postholed (in the snowshoe) all the way down to the base and my chest landed directly on the pointy grip of my pole. It was quite a scary moment, as I thought I broke my rib. Turns out that it was only bruised, but not exactly what you want to happen up there!
We slowly made our way up the slide and into the clouds. The slide was firm and icy in some spots, soft in others. Very enjoyable for the most part. As we made our way up, the large rock outcrop loomed above. The winds picked up, the sky got darker, and eventually we reached it. The rocks barely had any snow cover whatsoever, so we opted to hug the trees and deal with the torturous spruce traps as a result. As we crested the bulge, it was a true "no fall zone".
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics026.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics031.jpg
Short video cresting the ridge here - http://vimeo.com/35924101
Once we hit the ridge and saw the summit, we switched to snowshoes and were up on top in no time. Very windy with somewhat limited views, but well worth the effort. We stayed on the summit for a short while and then took a nice long break in the cover of some trees.
No summit pics since my camera decided to stop working!!
One the way down to the col, we knew the last difficulty would be the cables, and they did not disappoint. We had to descend backwards on the short stretch right above them, and then once we reached them we switched back to crampons. Pics from my then newly rejuvenated camera speak for themselves.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics035.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics038.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f151/tlotcpeich/Gothics%201-24-12/Gothics040.jpg
After that, the long slog began, interrupted only by that beautiful slide coming down Saddleback. I was really hurting from JBL to the Garden, which we arrived at around 6:30. Feasting at the Noonmark afterwards never tasted so good.
Lessons learned:
1. Hydrate more the night before. I started really slowly on the trail due to the escapades of the evening prior.
2. Never underestimate how slow breaking trail is.
3. Bring more sausage and cheese. Totally brought my spirits up and something to look forward to.