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IBEXtrax.com - Cascade Mountains of Washington StateAlpine Lakes Wilderness, Wenatchee Forest |
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05 083 Mt Stuart in the clouds (145k)
In the north central Cascade Range east of the crest, Mount Stuart with its massive granite bulk, dominates the land from many distant points. Yet the mighty Stuart bows to the weather with its wind and rain and snow. Over the eons of time, the elements of the weather will slowly chip away at the mountain until all that remains is a powdery dust. Not Stuart; but the weather rules the mountains. And the sun drives the weather.
05 087 Little Annapurna and Pennant Peak. (145k)
05 088 Rudi nears the Witches Tower (207k)
At 8520+feet The Witches Tower is a steep, rounded rock crag that stands to the north of the Dragontail Plateau and splits the small dwindling fragments of the Snow Creek Glaciers. The slow growing, hardy plant that darkens the light colored granite is called Lichen. It takes hundreds of years for a palm size patch of Lichen to grow. As seen here from the lack of Lichen, the Snow Creek Glaciers are into a century of retreat. 77
05 090 Warren Rudi M John P Witchs Tower. (192k)
05 091 John P Rappels S Face Little Annapurna. (202k)
05 093 John P Leads S Face Little Annapurna (207k)
05 094 Zig zag on S face of Little Annapurna (192k)
On the final pitch of Little Annapurna, the climbers weave a line up the South Face. This unique climb started from the top with three 150 foot rappels and the courage to pull the rope through.
05 095 Warren lead Prusik Pk S face route. (129k)
05 096 Beckey Davis Prusik Pk Rudi M. (223k)
05 097 Rudi M on upper W ridge of Prusik. (294k)
05 098 Rudi M on Prusik Pk with Little Annapurna (188k)
On the familiar West Ridge route of Prusik Pk, the climbers feel more & more at home as they scamper around the sharp granite towers and casually scoff at the threatening vertical walls.
05 099 Rudi M & John P at Camp near Gnome Tarn (294k)
The climbers pack their gear to move camp from this picturesque spot near Gnome Tarn to an equally amazing camp near Tamarack Meadow. The true wonder of the Enchantment Lakes Basin is the complexity of detail. Everywhere you turn is a surprising little nook with dwarf trees and bright clumps of miniature flowers. These inviting personal spaces are bordered with white rock walls and soft floors of crystal-like sand.
05 100 Prusik Pk S face from Gnome Tarnv (301k)
The signature view of Prusik Pk's south face from Gnome Tarn, shown here in full sun light, is the most popular image that graces the pages of numerous guide and travel books. Two main routes climb the south face: Beckey-Davis and Burgner-Stanley. Our overly confident climbers were thwarted on the Beckey and Davis Route and were humbled enough to retreat by rappel from a high point within 100 feet of the summit.
05 101 McClellan Chessmen from near Lk Viviane (299k)
Located on the southern rim of the Enchantment Lakes Basin is McClellan Peak. 8364ft. Named for Captain George B. McClellan, U.S. Army, who with his troop of talented cartographers, explored and mapped much of the central Cascade Range. The first maps, compiled mostly in 1853 and 1854, are renowned for there accuracy, and abundant use of native American names; though few remain on current maps of today.
05 102 Tamarack Trees Shield Lk John P. (284k)
05 103 John P in Tamarack Meadows The High Priest (259k)
Tamarack Meadows are located on the back side of Temple Ridge. This secluded parkland near Nada Pass has many fine camps with access to the easy class five routes along Temple Ridge.
05 104 3 Musketeers Ridge Tamarack meadows. (104k)
05 108 Warren belay on N face High Priest (329k)
THE CASCADE ALPINE GUIDE Climbing and high routes: Fred Becky; First edition 1974; the route description reads: THE HIGH PRIEST est. 8240' (W Pk of Mt Temple) North Face Route: First ascent by Richard McGowan, Don (Claunch) Gordon, and two others in 1954. Begin directly above Tamarack Meadows, where there is a rock rib from the face. The route is on broken, sound rock; Class 4 with several protection pitons.
05 109 Rudi M watches John P rappel High Priest (277k)
In 1856 George Otis Smith described the Wenatchee Mountains in U.S.G.S. Professional Paper No. 19 as "…a secondary range in the general trend of the Cascades, but are characterized by the same rugged topography. The mountains crests are deeply carved into spires and crags, while precipitous slopes descend into glacial amphitheaters where remnants of glaciers still persist." Alpine Lks Wilderness; Enchantments
05 110 McClellan Ridge Little Annapurna from Temple Ridge. (205k)
05 111 Tamarack Meadows below The High Priest. (241k)
05 112 Musky Pass Temple Ridge John P. (238k)
05 113 Rudi M and John P near Musky Pass Temple Ridge (277k)
Our alpine travelers poise in a miniature bumpy meadow near a place called Musky Pass. The seldom visited pass is named due to its close proximity to the west end of Three Musketeers Ridge. As the climbers head home out the Toketie High Route, the peaks on Temple ridge can be seen on the skyline. From left to right: Lighthouse Tower; Razorback Spire; The Temple; Stack Crag; The High Priest and Hepzibah Blop.
05 114 looking down the Toketie Pond route. (240k)
05 115 Toketie Lk Three Musketeers Tower. (192k)
03 109m Enchantment Basin Map. (940k)
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