Anyone done the Mt. Helen to Father Dyer traverse lately? I am wondering how hard it is to find your way to the top of Mt. Helen in order to do the class 3+ traverse over to Father Dyer. Also wondering if it is a pretty quick walk over to Crystal from Father Dyer.
Going to do this tomorrow (Sunday, September 26th).
Thanks!
Michelle
Mt. Helen/Father Dyer Traverse
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mmarison
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Jesse Peterson
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Re: Mt. Helen/Father Dyer Traverse
Michelle-
Finding your way to the top of Mt. Helen is pretty straighforward, depending on where you park. There is a gated road which turns off the Spruce creek road to the right, a mile or two past the lower Spruce Creek trailhead. Head up that (gated) road for a few hundred yards and then head left and go straight uphill. The key is finding the gully beneath Helen's east face. If you don't find it, no big deal, just head up-- but it's not as steep through the trees if you find the gully.
From Father Dyer to Crystal is pretty quick, less than an hour at a quick pace.
Have fun! That's one of my favorite ridge runs.
Jesse
Finding your way to the top of Mt. Helen is pretty straighforward, depending on where you park. There is a gated road which turns off the Spruce creek road to the right, a mile or two past the lower Spruce Creek trailhead. Head up that (gated) road for a few hundred yards and then head left and go straight uphill. The key is finding the gully beneath Helen's east face. If you don't find it, no big deal, just head up-- but it's not as steep through the trees if you find the gully.
From Father Dyer to Crystal is pretty quick, less than an hour at a quick pace.
Have fun! That's one of my favorite ridge runs.
Jesse
"As for mountains, there are mountains hidden in jewels, there are mountains hidden in marshes, mountains hidden in the sky; there are mountains hidden in mountains. There is a study of mountains hidden in hiddenness." Dogen Kigen , Mountains and Rivers Sutra
Re: Mt. Helen/Father Dyer Traverse
Michelle:
Jesse is right; it is obvious once you are on the broad, grassy slope. Finding the right place to start climbing isn't as obvious, but in reality, regardless of where you start you will eventually end up on the broad slope. Jesse's directions for the gully will get you there; we did find the gully when we did the traverse.
The traverse is really fun; a bit of exposure at places, and one "step-over" where the ridge narrows to about 3 feet or so. Dyer to Crystal is pretty simple, and under an hour is a good estimate.
Have fun and be safe!
Jesse is right; it is obvious once you are on the broad, grassy slope. Finding the right place to start climbing isn't as obvious, but in reality, regardless of where you start you will eventually end up on the broad slope. Jesse's directions for the gully will get you there; we did find the gully when we did the traverse.
The traverse is really fun; a bit of exposure at places, and one "step-over" where the ridge narrows to about 3 feet or so. Dyer to Crystal is pretty simple, and under an hour is a good estimate.
Have fun and be safe!
Phil
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Re: Mt. Helen/Father Dyer Traverse
Park in the lot where the Spruce Creek TH is (if your vehic can make it). Then go back 30 ft to the road with the brown gate at the end. It has a CMC sticker on it. Go a few hundred yards until you see a log sticking out on the left and look for the Wheeler Trail sign. Head up the trail for a few hundred feet, you can actually start climbing up here, but for an easier climb up the gully, hike another 5 minutes or so until you see a pile of grey dead trees on your right. You will see a standing dead tree on your left. This is where I would start climbing up the gully. After a few hours, you should be at the summit and see the ridge you want to scramble across:
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mmarison
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Re: Mt. Helen/Father Dyer Traverse
Awesome - thanks guys!
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JeffR
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Re: Mt. Helen/Father Dyer Traverse
Happen to have a condition report for the Helen/FD traverse?mmarison wrote:Anyone done the Mt. Helen to Father Dyer traverse lately? I am wondering how hard it is to find your way to the top of Mt. Helen in order to do the class 3+ traverse over to Father Dyer. Also wondering if it is a pretty quick walk over to Crystal from Father Dyer.
Going to do this tomorrow (Sunday, September 26th).
Thanks!
Michelle
To recognize the beauty in sadness, without playing host to the pain...
- Under the Sun, "Reflections"
- Under the Sun, "Reflections"
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mmarison
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Re: Mt. Helen/Father Dyer Traverse
We ended up not doing the traverse because of time limitations, we just did Mt. Helen. Conditions were awesome though. Now is the time to do it.
If you want specific directions on how to get there, let me know - I took detailed photos of where the trail for Mt. Helen is where you need to begin to do the traverse.
Michelle
If you want specific directions on how to get there, let me know - I took detailed photos of where the trail for Mt. Helen is where you need to begin to do the traverse.
Michelle
