OTHER Trip Report 09/15/2011

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	Trappers Peak - 5964
Date Posted	09/15/2011
Date Climbed	09/02/2011
Author	Aubrey

Trappers Pk, North Cascades, WA
Summit Elevation: 5,964 Date Climbed: 9/2/11 Round-trip Distance: 10.6 miles Total Elevation Gain (including some ups and downs): about 3,500 feet I have only been climbing mountains in the North Cascades for about a year now, after moving to Bellingham from Colorado last year, but the more I experience the range, the more I love it. It's much more rugged, remote and diverse than I had ever expected. On Sept. 2, my wife (Jen) and I got another delicious taste of what it has to offer. I think the entire drive to the Trappers Peak trailhead, including the 5-mile-long gravel road, took us about two hours from Bellingham. There was only one other car (from Canada) at the trailhead when we got there. The trail starts off with a gentle grade on a decommissioned logging road. But it isn't long until it turns into a classic, Pacific Northwest trail that's covered with roots and rocks. And the occasional water crossing, of course. Jen crossing a stream: Just as the trail started to steepen even more, we ran into a couple guys from British Columbia who had camped at Thornton Lakes the night before. After a short chat with them, one of the guys told us, "This is where the grinders start." Were there going to be delicious sandwiches on this trail? I wondered. The term "grinders" was not in my mountain vernacular, but as my wife and I huffed and puffed up the trail, we figured it meant a steep section of switchbacks. As in, "it's a real grind." Correct me if I'm wrong, though. Regardless, it gave us a good laugh, and it reminded us of the first time we heard the term "ducks" while hiking in Glacier National Park many years ago. Some Canadian guy was describing a route to us, and he said, "When you see the ducks, take a left." I walked away thinking he was a whack job. (We later learned that ducks = cairns.) As we pushed up the mountainside toward the pass, the views started to open up. Trailside lupine in full bloom: Sometimes the best views in the mountains are up close: Once we gained the saddle, I was blown away by the view of the Thornton Lakes, the slabby cirques across the way, and the formidable-looking Trappers Peak. Its nearly vertical southwest face shoots up about 1,400 feet above the lake, and just looking at it made my palms sweat. The swirling clouds made it seem even more menacing. But it was still beautiful. Here's a three-photo pan of Thornton Lakes, Mount Triumph and Trappers Peak, viewed from the saddle: I expected to encounter some scrambling, but I was surprised by the Class 2 dirt scramble we had to endure through a thicket of bushes. Fortunately, it wasn't long before we got to real rock. Some of it was loose, though, so we had to climb cautiously so as not to kick rocks on each other. Here's Jen starting up the first steep section: For the most part, there was a good trail (or braided trails) to follow, but whenever it became unclear, we just stayed high on the ridge. I'm just fine on exposed, solid rock, but I'm not the biggest fan of steep dirt/grass trails that are right above cliffs. There were a couple sections like this and they got my heart pumping a little, but none of it was that bad. Multi-photo pan of the route before us: The trail got a little narrow in some spots, but none of it was overly difficult or overly scary, so long as you watch your steps. To our surprise, there was one airy section, which had what I'd call a "butter knife" edge. Even though it had a little exposure, the rock was totally solid and it wasn't very difficult to cross. Pan of the final stretch to the top (Jen can be seen in the middle): On a few occasions, the mountain appeared to be unclimbable. But each time, as we continued to hike, a doable route would slowly present itself. Did I mention the wildflowers were raging? After hiking and scampering for 3 hours, we finally gained the summit. Even though it was a little cloudy, the views were spectacular. Having climbed so many mountains in so many places, it takes a lot to get me really excited. But I'll admit, I was excited on this summit. Jen on the summit: McMillan Spires (in the Pickets): Me on the summit: Summit-view pan (Triumph left; McMillan right): The deep valley between Trappers and the Pickets: The view in the opposite direction was just as amazing. Here's a zoomed-in shot of some mountains and a glacier to the south-southeast (I'm guessing Pinnacle Peak, Paul Bunyons Stump and Colonial Peak to the left and the Needle and Snowfield Peak to the right; not sure of the name of the glacier): Another shot, zoomed back out, with Hwy 20 and Newhalem in view, which were almost 5,500 vertical feet below us: After enjoying the summit all to ourselves for a while, we decided to cruise back down before the clouds swallowed us up. As I mentioned earlier, I don't like steep dirt/grass trails that traverse just above cliffs, so I had to descend this section carefully: Once back on solid rock, I was back in my comfort zone. Here are a couple shots of Jen scrambling back across the rock: About two and a half hours later, we were back at the trailhead. Trappers Peak was much better than I expected, but our drive to Winthrop (where we stayed for the weekend) also had some awesome views. So I thought I'd throw in some photos from the rest of our day ... Diablo Lake: Slivers of Ruby Arm and Ross Lake with Jack Mountain upper-right: This view of Snagtooth Ridge got me so excited that I almost drove off the road: Pan of Kangaroo Ridge off Washington Pass: Early Winters Spires in the Liberty Bell Group: The western town of Winthrop, WA: View from our hotel room balcony: And no hike/climb day is complete without beer! Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Trappers Pk, North Cascades, WA

Summit Elevation: 5,964
Date Climbed: 9/2/11
Round-trip Distance: 10.6 miles
Total Elevation Gain (including some ups and downs): about 3,500 feet

I have only been climbing mountains in the North Cascades for about a year now, after moving to Bellingham from Colorado last year, but the more I experience the range, the more I love it. It's much more rugged, remote and diverse than I had ever expected.

On Sept. 2, my wife (Jen) and I got another delicious taste of what it has to offer.

I think the entire drive to the Trappers Peak trailhead, including the 5-mile-long gravel road, took us about two hours from Bellingham. There was only one other car (from Canada) at the trailhead when we got there.

The trail starts off with a gentle grade on a decommissioned logging road. But it isn't long until it turns into a classic, Pacific Northwest trail that's covered with roots and rocks. And the occasional water crossing, of course.

Jen crossing a stream:

Just as the trail started to steepen even more, we ran into a couple guys from British Columbia who had camped at Thornton Lakes the night before. After a short chat with them, one of the guys told us, "This is where the grinders start."

Were there going to be delicious sandwiches on this trail? I wondered.

The term "grinders" was not in my mountain vernacular, but as my wife and I huffed and puffed up the trail, we figured it meant a steep section of switchbacks. As in, "it's a real grind." Correct me if I'm wrong, though.

Regardless, it gave us a good laugh, and it reminded us of the first time we heard the term "ducks" while hiking in Glacier National Park many years ago. Some Canadian guy was describing a route to us, and he said, "When you see the ducks, take a left." I walked away thinking he was a whack job. (We later learned that ducks = cairns.)

As we pushed up the mountainside toward the pass, the views started to open up.

Trailside lupine in full bloom:

Sometimes the best views in the mountains are up close:

Once we gained the saddle, I was blown away by the view of the Thornton Lakes, the slabby cirques across the way, and the formidable-looking Trappers Peak. Its nearly vertical southwest face shoots up about 1,400 feet above the lake, and just looking at it made my palms sweat. The swirling clouds made it seem even more menacing. But it was still beautiful.

Here's a three-photo pan of Thornton Lakes, Mount Triumph and Trappers Peak, viewed from the saddle:

I expected to encounter some scrambling, but I was surprised by the Class 2 dirt scramble we had to endure through a thicket of bushes. Fortunately, it wasn't long before we got to real rock. Some of it was loose, though, so we had to climb cautiously so as not to kick rocks on each other.

Here's Jen starting up the first steep section:

For the most part, there was a good trail (or braided trails) to follow, but whenever it became unclear, we just stayed high on the ridge.

I'm just fine on exposed, solid rock, but I'm not the biggest fan of steep dirt/grass trails that are right above cliffs. There were a couple sections like this and they got my heart pumping a little, but none of it was that bad.

Multi-photo pan of the route before us:

The trail got a little narrow in some spots, but none of it was overly difficult or overly scary, so long as you watch your steps.

To our surprise, there was one airy section, which had what I'd call a "butter knife" edge. Even though it had a little exposure, the rock was totally solid and it wasn't very difficult to cross.

Pan of the final stretch to the top (Jen can be seen in the middle):

On a few occasions, the mountain appeared to be unclimbable. But each time, as we continued to hike, a doable route would slowly present itself.

Did I mention the wildflowers were raging?

After hiking and scampering for 3 hours, we finally gained the summit. Even though it was a little cloudy, the views were spectacular. Having climbed so many mountains in so many places, it takes a lot to get me really excited. But I'll admit, I was excited on this summit.

Jen on the summit:

McMillan Spires (in the Pickets):

Me on the summit:

Summit-view pan (Triumph left; McMillan right):

The deep valley between Trappers and the Pickets:

The view in the opposite direction was just as amazing.

Here's a zoomed-in shot of some mountains and a glacier to the south-southeast (I'm guessing Pinnacle Peak, Paul Bunyons Stump and Colonial Peak to the left and the Needle and Snowfield Peak to the right; not sure of the name of the glacier):

Another shot, zoomed back out, with Hwy 20 and Newhalem in view, which were almost 5,500 vertical feet below us:

After enjoying the summit all to ourselves for a while, we decided to cruise back down before the clouds swallowed us up.

As I mentioned earlier, I don't like steep dirt/grass trails that traverse just above cliffs, so I had to descend this section carefully:

Once back on solid rock, I was back in my comfort zone. Here are a couple shots of Jen scrambling back across the rock:

About two and a half hours later, we were back at the trailhead.

Trappers Peak was much better than I expected, but our drive to Winthrop (where we stayed for the weekend) also had some awesome views. So I thought I'd throw in some photos from the rest of our day ...

Diablo Lake:

Slivers of Ruby Arm and Ross Lake with Jack Mountain upper-right:

This view of Snagtooth Ridge got me so excited that I almost drove off the road:

Pan of Kangaroo Ridge off Washington Pass:

Early Winters Spires in the Liberty Bell Group:

The western town of Winthrop, WA:

View from our hotel room balcony:

And no hike/climb day is complete without beer!

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

Matt	Butter Knife Edge 9/15/2011 5:53pm Man, Aubrey, your trip reports are missed around here (well, you and Jen, too!). I can't believe it's been a year... You captured the beauty around you so well--both large and small scale. Thanks mucho for posting!
Floyd	Thanks Aubrey 9/15/2011 6:43pm If my wife ever talks me into moving back to the PNW, I'll have a library of climbs waiting for me.
greenhorn1	Wow 9/15/2011 9:03pm Those pics and report are amazing! Definately opened my eyes to that region of the country. I have to see Diablo Lake for myself now. Thanks for the report. :)
MtnHub	Beautiful! 9/15/2011 9:44pm Some of those shots with the clouds are simply amazing! Thanks for the trip!! :D
Presto	Ahhh ... 9/15/2011 10:00pm Love the North Cascades. Nice to see you getting out in that area ... look forward to more trip reports. And, that's a pretty d*mn good looking trail for that area ... heck, even having a ”trail” is nice. Let the 'schwacking begin. :wink: Thanks for posting. Happy ”trails”. :D
wooderson	Rare treats... 9/16/2011 4:36pm ...that's what your trip reports are to me. I always drop everything when one pops up because I know it'll be a worthwhile read and a glimpse of something really different. The PNW peaks seem so diverse in terms of the scenery you encounter along the routes. All that lush greenery down below, only to emerge into glaciated alpine. Great report and photos!
Aubrey	You're all too nice 9/16/2011 8:58pm Thanks everyone for the kind words. I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much after moving up here, but I've been completely blown away by how remote and rugged it is. Most big mountains up here may only top out around 6-10k, but they more than make up for it with prominence and vertical relief (for example, being 5,500' directly above that valley on just a 6,000-foot mtn), and they're just as challenging as anything I've climbed before, if not more. Truly humbling. I'll be posting more ...
Aubrey	Presto 9/16/2011 9:04pm Presto, so true, and I can't believe we're STILL encountering snow at just 5,000 feet. And we spent all spring hiking off trail in snow just to get to ridges and summits. Needless to say, I've been honing my ”schwacking” and routefinding skills. The other challenge is just finding the damn trailheads! One guidebook I have dedicated an entire page on getting to the trailhead, and the route description was just two vague sentences.
Gene913	Familiar with North Cascades 9/17/2011 12:23am Lived outside Seattle from 1990-1997 and know well the delight you are experiencing. The Cascades, North Cascades, and Olympic ranges do not take a back seat to any other range. When you are making plans for next summer, you and Jen should spend some extended time exploring the Enchantments in the North Cascades. It is everything and more that the name denotes. Thanks for posting reports that bring back great memories.
Chinook	Crestone Peak and Needle? 9/19/2011 4:32am Is it just me or does image #27 look eerily like Crestone Peak and Needle? North Cascades are absolutely beautiful! Thanks for posting.

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