It's Ryan. I'm almost carrying my weight with the blogging now...almost. This installation features our final alpine scrambling field trip with the Mountaineers. But don't let the "field trip" nomenclature fool you, this was pretty much just a normal scramble. As our instructors told us "we're just here to check your skills and criticize you as necessary..." Brad did really say that, but he was joking. Brad accompanied his wife Gay as a leader this time - Gay was our leader on the snow field trip and we really enjoyed her. It was on Gay's demonstration that Katie made the trash compacter glissading pants! We also had the pleasure of grouping up with some new friends Cynthia and Will, who we have met and hiked with throughout the course.
The hike was up the Teanaway River north of Cle Elum, bracketing to the south "The Enchantments" area, which we had previously bracketed to the north during our rock field trip off Icicle Creek near Leavenworth. This was the first trip up the Teanaway for both Katie and I, and it was about time. After about a 2.5 hour drive we reached the trailhead, chock-full of eager Mountaineers. Our destination as we would only discover a moment before leaving was "Bean Peak." Interestingly enough, Bean Peak is unnamed on both Green Trails and USGS maps, but luckily our instructors filled us in on the summit altitude, so we were off at 8:45AM.
After only about a mile up Bean Creek Trail we were forced to perform a stream crossing. For both Katie and I, this was (surprisingly, I think) the first time either of us had been forced to remove our boots to cross a stream. Nobody was particularly psyched about this, and as we found out, appropriately so - because man it was cold!!!
But once on the other side after some clean up, the boots were back on and we were on our way. The weather was crystal clear, at least to start the day, and temps were just perfect - crisp in the sunshine about 50 degrees. About two miles in we had to finally break trail and actually begin "scrambling" towards Bean Peak.
It was largely a group effort in route-finding, but we also did a good job of rotating folks through the leader role. At about 11AM we finally hit the snow, and it was time to show off our snow skills.
The terrain continued to to its steepest pitch just before gaining the ridge where we caught our first glimpse of the Stuart Range (The Enchantments).
From this point all that was left was about 500 feet elevation of real-deal rock scrambling to the top. This is the stuff that really truly requires all 4 appendages and an honest answer to the self-addressed question "can I get down this safely?" For me I was in my element, this is the type of "hiking" I've done repeatedly in Colorado while hiking "14ers". I took what I thought was a bit more of a sketchy route but I slipped right up to the summit in no time and got right to business - eating, and taking in the incredible view! A few minutes later Katie joined me at the top and we got a great picture with Mt Stuart in the background.
It was about 1:15PM now, and still a gorgeous mostly sunny day. You could even see Rainier - but only partially cloaked in fair-weather cumulous clouds.
The way down the peak's rocky top was very slow going and I tried my best to stay right with Katie and help her down over those big gaps. But of course she had no trouble, and before you knew it we had reached the snow field. Time for self arrests! I love self arrests, but alas most folks - like Katie - aren't thrilled with it. To get it over with we started with the craziest fall situation - head first on your back! A total of 6 trips down and back up - and it was finally time for something everyone could agree was a good time - glissading! We probably got in a good 500' of solid glissading before it was back to a bit of bushwacking, and finally back on trail, and then back at the creek. With no hesitation Katie deftly slipped across the creek without removing her boots, as planned, while I had second thoughts about rolling the last mile of the trail in soaked boots. Ultimately I said to heck with it and followed in Katie's footsteps.
Back to the parking lot it was about 5PM.
Round Trip: 8 miles
Vertical Climb: 3,300'
Best part of the trip was the amazing views of The Enchantments.
Mountaineers Alpine Scrambling Field Trips: Complete!
This Sunday we'll be heading to Camp Muir (10,060ft) on Mt. Rainier with The Climb for Clean Air team, then the following weekend we'll make an attempt at Mt Adams. The weekend after that, we'll do our night hike on Mt. Rainier followed up by another hike to Camp Muir the next day. That'll take us through the end of June. Stay tuned for the stories and the pictures.
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