Mt. Stuart 9/12/15

When the forecast is this good, it's time to get out of town and go on an adventure!  Mt. Stuart is close to home, challenging and has great views.  

 The south side was completely snow free

Having some fun on the granite blocks above the False Summit

Mark and Dan nearing the top

 Ingalls Lake

Lake Stuart

Doug, David, Jim, Joe, Dan, Mark and Pete.  We spent over an hour on the 9,415' summit enjoying the perfect weather!  

Mt. Adams, South Climb 7/11/15

 This would be the year that everyone got to climb into a cloud.

It was also a low snow year.  The ridge that we call "Widowmaker" did not have much snow on it!

 Everyone waiting for the high altitude, 3 course gourmet dinner.  The cooks did a great job!

We woke up to a small lenticular dome on the mountain.

 Climbers heading for the dome.

We had sunshine for a while.

A line of climbers coming up from Lunch Counter.

The 1918 fire lookout was melted out pretty good.

 Climbers celebrating on the summit.

Success!

 The temp was in the 40's and it was a little breezy.

You work up quite an appetite climbing a mountain.  Time to head down to the trailhead cheese dog feast, then drive to the nearest city and eat a big dessert!

Mt. Adams, North Face of the NW Ridge 7/3/15

Our plan for the weekend had been to climb a challenging new route on the big mountain.  Unfavorable conditions caused us to drop that idea and try something new on Mt. Adams instead.

You gotta love the beautiful approach on the north side of Adams!  The route starts on the far right.  You ascend the snow slopes, climbing up and left on the near side of the ridge and top out at The Pinnacle.  We would descend the North Ridge on the far left.  

Dan and David above treeline with Mt. Rainier in the background.

Equestria Lake and the Goat Rocks.

Dan and a herd of mountain goats.

Doug kicking steps in the soft snow.

Mark climbing up the steep slope.  A forest fire had just started on the west side of the mountain!  We did not know if it was going to spread to where the car was parked, strand us or what.    

We had just topped out at The Pinnacle and started down the North Ridge when it looked like the smoke might overtake us.  It ended up moving off to the south instead.

There were more mountain goats on the North Ridge.  We made it back down to the trail just before sunset and hiked out to the car in the dark.  The fire was still several miles away.  Another day that we will never forget!  

The Enchantments 6/14/15

We went up to the Enchantments, climbed a peak, spent the night and climbed another peak before heading back down to the valley below.  

Dragontail Peak reflected in Colchuck Lake.  It never disappoints!

Jim, Doug, Ron and Dan on top of 8,840' Dragontail Peak.

One of many mountain goats strolling through our camp.

Perfection Falls spilling into Perfection Lake.

Ron (and Doug) near the summit of 8,364' McClellan Peak looking down on the Snow Lakes.

Prusik Peak, The Temple and the Lower Enchantment Lakes.

Little Annapurna, Dragontail Peak and the Upper Enchantment Lakes.

Another mountain goat visiting our camp.

Granite Mountain 5/30/15

Unsettled spring weather in Oregon caused us to cancel our big climb for the weekend and do a day hike closer to home instead.  This is a popular hike, so we got up early and headed over Snoqualmie Pass.  We saw a few groups on the way up and then saw dozens of groups and an overflowing parking lot on the way down. 

 Nearing the summit on a beautiful day!

 David, Dan, Pete, Doug and Ron by the old fire lookout.

Glacier Peak and part of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

Mt. Rainier in the distance.  We could see mountain peaks all over the state from the Olympics to Mt. Adams and Mt. Stuart.

Camp Muir 2/15/15

 The weather doesn't get much better in February, so 10 of us decided to spend the day on the slopes of Mt. Rainier 

Hikers nearing Panorama Point   

Doug, Joe, Robby and Scott at Camp Muir

Mark about to ski back down to Paradise

Dan putting in some turns

 Jim with an awesome background

David S and Alan also skied down while Pete M and the 4 guys above cruised back down on foot.  We ate some BBQ, loaded up the vehicles and made it through the Longmire gate before the rangers closed it.  Another great day in the mountains!