The Peak Bagging Bragging Threar

“I've been told if the weather is crappy, do cliff. You won't miss anything.”

“Besides, it'll help ya toward catching up to Bobo -- unless, of course, he comes along too

[rubs hands together mischeviously]”

“Maybe we should take the Mossy Cascade Brook Trail off of Hopkins. I found this info:

Mossy Cascade Brook Trail
The trails starts out following the east branch of the Ausable River, then swings onto an old tote road before reaching the bank of Mossy Cascade Brook. Be sure to look out for a side path leading to the base of Mossy Cascade Brook Falls, an impressive 50-foot high waterfall. This is a good spot for a shower on the return trip!
The trail climbs along the brook through hemlock forest to the first open lookout at 1.5 miles. The route descends into a col then climbs again to another ledge before continuing along a granite ridge to the junction of the Ranney Trail. It enters a ravine and criss-crosses a stream before reaching another junction leading over Green Mountain to Giant Mountain.
The final approach to the bare rock summit is a short, steep pitch. The summit looks over the Great Range and in season, there are many blueberries to snack on.

The trailhead for the Mossy Cascade Brook approach to Hopkins Mountain is off route 73, 0.4 miles west of the entrance to the Ausable Club in St-Huberts.”

“Shenandoah

North Marshall Mtn
Old Rag
Hawkesbill

Smokies

LeConte
Myrtle Pt
Hightop
Clifftop
Inspiration Pt
Clingmans Dome

The Black Mtns, NC

Mt. Mitchell
Mt. Craig
Big Tom
Balsam Cone
Cattail Pk
Potato Hill
Winterstar
Gibbs Mtn
Celo Knob

Catskills

Indian Head
Twin
Sugar Loaf
Plateau Mtn

Cumberland Mtns, TN

Ravens Pt. (Fiery Gizzard)

Whites, NH

Mt. Washington

PA

Pinnacle
Pulpit Rock
Red Rock Mtn”

“Pulpit Rock?
- You're stretching it there!

Red Rock Mtn?
- You drove to the top???”

“lo, Pulpit is a stretch, On Red Rock Mn, I hiked to the top, through the glen and then past the ranger station and up to the fire tower.”

“Just got back from doing some high peaks this weekend. 22 miles, 4 peaks over 4000', and 9837' elevation gain.”

“dang dude. Bag any peaks you need for the 46er club?”

“I had climbed every one before, so no additions to my list.”

“I actually had a deer come up and sniff me when I was in Shenandoah this weekend. It was really cool. The deer there are too friendly, trusting.”

“California Peak I've done:


Mount Wilson
Twin Peaks
Ontario Peak
Mount San Antonio
Timber Mountain
Cucamonga Peak
Bertha Peak
San Bernardino Peak
Anderson Peak
San Gorgonio Peak
Jepson Peak
Grinnell Mountain
Lake Peak
Quail Mountain
Queen Mountain
Ryan Mountain
Warren Point
San Jacinto Peak
Suicide Rock
Tahquitz Peak
Red Tahquitz
South Peak
Apache Peak
Palm View Peak
Pyramid Peak
Bernard Peak
Little Berdoo Peak
Mt. Baden-Powell
Mt. Burnham
Throop Peak
Morton Peak
Cram Peak
San Ysidro
Big Horn Peak
Shields Peak
Strawberry Peak
Telegraph Peak
Dobbs Peak
San Bernardino East Peak
Corkscrew Peak
Eagle Peak
Pilot Knob
Lone Pine Peak
Kearsarge Peak
Cirque Peak
Mount Gould
Mount Langley
Mount Whitney
Mount Bago
Olancha Peak”

“oops, forgot White Mountain”

“quite an impressive list there, Wingding..”

“oops, forgot Telescope Peak and Wild Rose Peak”

“Looks like you are heading north into the Sierra Nevada, wingding04. Whats the next peak planned?”

“I'm going to do Mount Lamark this weekend. Then Whitney next weekend for the 3rd time.”

“I just limped in from climbing Mt. Borah, at 12,662' the highest in Idaho. It was 4.5 miles in distance from the car, with about 5600' of elevation gain. Quite a bit of it is on a rough trail, but some was scrambling over a ridge that was exposed on both sides. That ridge is called chickenout ridge, for good reason. After the ridge, you have to downclimb about 20 feet of steep rock to a 30 feet long horizontal snow ridge, with steep dropoffs down snow fields on both sides. I was going pretty steady to 12,000' then really slowed down. I was taking rests every 20 feet or so. On the way down, my knees were really tired, and I really used my hiking poles for stepping down from rock to rock. Anybody else ever do Borah?”

“~STANDING OVATION~”

“I want to do Borah much bado!!

I added a peak this weekend. Spruce Knob, high point of West Virginia, 4,863 feet. Only about 2000 feet of gain in 14 miles. Beautiful hike though.”

“Idaho Bob-
Congratulations on a very tough climb! Borah is no piece of cake.

There's an outside chance I'll be going there next month. Some questions - What was the snow bridge like? Did you need crampons and ice axe? Any other useful information you can share?”

“yeah, congrats IB! did you get any pics?”

“Pics to come, if I can figure out how to post them.

'tater, here is what I experienced. The snow ridge was no big deal. I carried an ice axe, and didn't even use it. The top of the ridge had fairly deep footprints and snow was not icy, so you just walked across. If you started sliding down the snow slopes, it would not be pretty, but just don't get started.

I really liked my hiking poles, and this was the first time I have ever used them. I took 3 liters of water, drank liberally all day, and was out of water about an hour from the car on the way down.

It got hot, and if the weather goes bad, it could get very cold very quickly, so dress accordingly.

When you reach chickenout ridge, the trail basically dead ends at a rock wall. YOu think, "what the ...? Where did the trail go?" I was tempted to angle to the right at that point, and found that was not the way. I had to climb straight up a steep headwall. (of course in that situation you can't just go back, as that would confirm that you had made a routefinding mistake)

Instead, at the first cliff, go straight up it, then weave in and out on the ridge that follows. It is a bit exposed, but the rock is solid, the handholds plentiful, and just keep 3 points of contact at all times. Its scary enough that you are fully concentrating, and not likely to make slips ups.

When the way is blocked by insurrmountable rocks, go around them to the left. That happens twice. When you get to the last little cliff before the snow ridge, you just have to downclimb it. Its steep, but has good handholds if you go slow and find them. One guy was there with his kids, and he belayed them down. I would with my kids too.

Other than the ridge, its a rough trail. It is punishing and exhausting though. It was 4 hours up and 4.5 hours down for me. You need to leave the cars by 6am or 7am at the latest.

The views are great, and its very doable if you are in good shape. Go for it! Good luck!”

“that sounds exciting. would u call it a class 3 or 4?”

“congrats bob!

I did Mount Lamarck (13,417') in the Sierra this past weekend. Going to day hike Whitney this coming Sunday for the 3rd time. Whitney is great, but I those xcountry excursions to peak are much more fun.”

“SIERRA PEAKS
Olancha Pk 12,123'
Cirque Pk 12,900'
Mt Langley 12,026' (twice in '03)
Mt Muir 14,012' (twice)
Mt Whitney 14,491' (yearly)
Thor Peak 12,306'
Lone Pine Pk 12,943'
Keeler Needle 14,240'
Mt Tyndall 14,019'
Mt Gould 13,005'
Mt Bago 11,870'
Split Mtn 14,058' (3 times, twice in one day)
Mt Agassiz 13,893'
Mt Goode 13,085'
Cloudripper 13,525'
Cloudripper Jr 13,356'
Mt Lamarck 13,417'
Mt Tom 13,652'
Mt Abbot 13,704'
Red Slate Mtn 13,123'
Laurel Mtn 11,812'
Mammoth Mtn 11,053' (every weekend, does it count?)
Mt Ritter 13,143'
Banner Peak 12,936'
Half Dome 8,836'
Clouds Rest 9,926'
Mt Tallac 9,735'
Chocolate Peak 11,658'

DESERT PEAKS
Telescope Peak (3 times?)
Wildrose Peak
Corkscrew Peak
Manly Beacon (does it count?)
Thimble Peak
Ubehebe Peak
Pyramid Peak
Eagle Mtn #2
Boundary Peak

LOCAL PEAKS
San Gorgonio (4 times?), San Bernardino Peak, Jepson Peak, can't remember the names
San Jacinto (several time), Jean Peak, forget names
Marion Mountain, Tahquitz Peak (3 times?) in Idyllwild
Mt Baldy (lots of times)
- hiked most of the peaks in the San Gabriels
- hiked a few in the Santa Monica Mtns
- Indianhead and Pyramid Pk in Anza Borrego

CANADA
Kerr Peak
Mt Field

2004 PEAKS SO FAR

5/15/04 Mt Gould (13,005') 2nd time
6/6/04 Lone Pine Peak (12,944') 2nd time
6/20/04 Mt Starr (12,867')
6/27/04 White Mtn (14,246') 3rd highest peak in CA

7/5/04 Trojan Peak (13,950')
7/6/04 Mt Williamson (14,375') 2nd highest peak in CA
7/8/04 Mt Barnard (13,990') Highest 13er in CA
Camped at Tulainyo Lake 12,802' (highest lake in the contiguous US)
7/10/04 Tunnabora Pk (13,655')
7/10/04 Mt Carillon (13,552')
7/10/04 Mt Russell (only got to 13,916', chickened out on knife edge ridge)
7/11/04 Thor Peak (12,300')
7/12/04 Mt Whitney (14,497') Highest peak in contiguous US
7/12/04 Mt Muir (14,012') 3rd time
7/18/04 Mt Morgan (13,748')”

“Wow, SN, that's quite a list. Isn't Williamson a huge monster? If you looked, you might have found my name in the registers of a lot of those peaks. I loved Russell.

Looks like you've had quite a season in 2004 already.”

“Crash Bang, to answer your question, I'd call Borah class 3, with one pitch that might be class 4 because its more exposed than the others.”

“I can't wait to see the pics IB. Man I want to climb that mountain.”

“So how was Spruce Knob? 2000' is a good workout, but 14 miles would kill my feet. That is two way or one way? Pretty scenery?”

“one way. Parked a car at the top. It wasn't too hard of a hike. Very pretty. I'd do it again in a second. pics:http://community.webshots.com/album/164616214ONPKhr”

“IB,
Unfortunately, a lot of the peaks are missing registers! Barnard had signatures of the late Galen Rowell, and a lot of signatures of famous people from the 20s & 30s (I think) that I was looking forward to seeing. I was REALLY disappointed when we found a rusty tin can with a piece of paper from the guys before us. They didn't find the register either. Williamson didn't have one either, not even a can. Trojan Peak had a film canister tied to a rock, signed by the same guys that did Barnard. Tunnabora had a empty cylinder, but nothing to sign. When we climbed Muir, I picked up the ammo can (broken hinge) and the bottom (and all its contents) fell, but I caught it so it didn't fall off the peak. Maybe that's how they disappear? Morgan was supposed to have something from 1949, but we didn't see it. So sad.”

“SNk, I'm sad to hear that. I remember when we climbed Tunnabora we found an old Norman Clyde signature, and his account of climbing the peak on skiis in the winter. On Russel we read the account of a ranger looking for a lost hiker, and a later entry that he was found dead lower on the peak. I always tell people that Idaho summit registers are just trashy scraps of paper compared to the nice registes on Sierra Nevada peaks, with metal covers, and hard bound books. Maybe the people who take care of the registers down there have changed.”

“that's so sad about the registers SN.”

“That reminds me of when they removed the canisters on top of all the trailless high peaks in the Adirondacks. They did it as a LNT thing. Now a lot of the summits are trampled as a result of hikes trying to find the “true” summit. It’s too bad because I enjoyed reading about the hikers before me.

On a different note, I don’t want to jinx it but I’m going to be doing perhaps one of the most difficult backpacks I’ve done to date this weekend. I’m going to traverse the Adirondack Great Range. The trail has over 9000’ of elevation gain and about 6000’ loss over the first 13 miles. I can’t wait.”

“So Lumberzac, how did the traverse of the Adirondack Great Range go? Did you survive?”

“EarthNshy, is your photo under Nashville Hiker? Phil just posted a bunch of pics, and I didn't see one under EarthNsky. Waht gives?”

“I survived and better yet the weather was about as perfect as you can get in July in the Adirondacks. Sunny, light breeze, and highs around the mid 60's. TR is partially up. Look for the Adirondack Great Range Traverse thread.”

“yeah, he said he was putting it up under my nashville hiker moniker”

“SIERRA PEAKS
Olancha Pk 12,123'
Cirque Pk 12,900'
Mt Langley 12,026' (twice in '03)
Mt Muir 14,012' (3 times)
Mt Whitney 14,497' (yearly)
Thor Peak 12,306'
Lone Pine Pk 12,943'
Keeler Needle 14,240'
Mt Tyndall 14,019'
Mt Gould 13,005'
Mt Bago 11,870' (twice in one day)
Split Mtn 14,058' (3 times, twice in one day)
Mt Agassiz 13,893'
Mt Goode 13,085'
Cloudripper 13,525'
Cloudripper Jr 13,356'
Mt Lamarck 13,417'
Mt Tom 13,652'
Mt Abbot 13,704'
Red Slate Mtn 13,123'
Laurel Mtn 11,812'
Mammoth Mtn 11,053' (hiked up w/snowboards)
Mt Ritter 13,143'
Banner Peak 12,936'
Half Dome 8,836'
Clouds Rest 9,926'
Mt Tallac 9,735'
Chocolate Peak 11,658'

DESERT PEAKS
Telescope Peak (3 times?)
Wildrose Peak
Corkscrew Peak
Manly Beacon (does it count?)
Thimble Peak
Ubehebe Peak
Pyramid Peak
Eagle Mtn #2
Boundary Peak

LOCAL PEAKS
San Gorgonio (4 times?), San Bernardino Peak, Jepson Peak, can't remember the names
San Jacinto (several time), Jean Peak, forget names
Marion Mountain, Tahquitz Peak (3 times?) in Idyllwild
Mt Baldy (lots of times)
- hiked most of the peaks in the San Gabriels
- hiked a few in the Santa Monica Mtns
- Indianhead and Pyramid Pk in Anza Borrego

CANADA
Mt Kerr
Mt Field

2004 PEAKS SO FAR

5/15/04 Mt Gould (13,005') 2nd time
6/6/04 Lone Pine Peak (12,944') 2nd time
6/20/04 Mt Starr (12,867')
6/27/04 White Mtn (14,246') 3rd highest peak in CA

7/5/04 Trojan Peak (13,950')
7/6/04 Mt Williamson (14,375') 2nd highest peak in CA
7/8/04 Mt Barnard (13,990') Highest 13er in CA
Camped at Tulainyo Lake 12,802' (highest lake in the contiguous US)
7/10/04 Tunnabora Pk (13,655')
7/10/04 Mt Carillon (13,552')
7/10/04 Mt Russell (only got to 13,916', chickened out on knife edge ridge)
7/11/04 Thor Peak (12,300')
7/12/04 Mt Whitney (14,497') Highest peak in contiguous US
7/12/04 Mt Muir (14,012') 3rd time
7/18/04 Mt Morgan (13,748')
7/25/04 Vogelsang Pk (11,516') This was Bison's first Sierra Peak! Congratulations!”

“good going Bison!!”

“Earth - You gotta go out west, peak bagging takes on a whole new meaning out there. The view from Vogelsang was outstanding.”

“it's going to happen soon I tellya.”

“8/1/04 Mt Morisson (12,268')”

“Way to go Snow! Add to my list Mt. Shasta, 14,162. Three of us climbed the peak in late season conditions (little snow). We hiked 3000' to Helen Lake, then starting at 4AM the next morning, did another 4000 to the peak. We went to the right of the "heart", an area of rock with snow chutes on either side. At the red bands, we went through the first snow gulley, which was pretty steep in places. One place was a 6' climb up a snow wall, using my ice ax pick for a pull up. Another place required using the ice ax pick for purchase for about 10'. We were on the top by 10:30 AM, and hurried off to avoid building clouds. I got to glissade about 3000 feet in deeply incised glassade runs made by many previous climbers. Man was that fun! We were at the car at 4:30PM, pretty wiped out!”

“Shenandoah

North Marshall Mtn
Old Rag
Hawksbill

Smokies

LeConte
Myrtle Pt
Hightop
Clifftop
Inspiration Pt
Clingmans Dome
Jumpoff
Mt. Kephart

The Black Mtns, NC

Mt. Mitchell
Mt. Craig
Big Tom
Balsam Cone
Cattail Pk
Potato Hill
Winterstar
Gibbs Mtn
Celo Knob

Catskills

Indian Head
Twin
Sugar Loaf
Plateau Mtn

Cumberland Mtns, TN

Ravens Pt. (Fiery Gizzard)

Whites, NH

Mt. Washington

PA

Pinnacle
High Knob
Upper Alpine
Red Rock Mtn
North Lookout

WV

Spruce Knob”

“SIERRA PEAKS
Olancha Pk 12,123'
Cirque Pk 12,900'
Mt Langley 12,026' (twice in '03)
Mt Muir 14,012' (3 times)
Mt Whitney 14,497' (yearly)
Thor Peak 12,306'
Lone Pine Pk 12,943'
Keeler Needle 14,240'
Mt Tyndall 14,019'
Mt Gould 13,005'
Mt Bago 11,870' (twice in one day)
Split Mtn 14,058' (3 times, twice in one day)
Mt Agassiz 13,893'
Mt Goode 13,085'
Cloudripper 13,525'
Cloudripper Jr 13,356'
Mt Lamarck 13,417'
Mt Tom 13,652'
Mt Abbot 13,704'
Red Slate Mtn 13,123'
Laurel Mtn 11,812'
Mammoth Mtn 11,053' (hiked up w/snowboards)
Mt Ritter 13,143'
Banner Peak 12,936'
Half Dome 8,836'
Clouds Rest 9,926'
Mt Tallac 9,735'
Chocolate Peak 11,658'

DESERT PEAKS
Telescope Peak (3 times?)
Wildrose Peak
Corkscrew Peak
Manly Beacon (does it count?)
Thimble Peak
Ubehebe Peak
Pyramid Peak
Eagle Mtn #2
Boundary Peak

LOCAL PEAKS
San Gorgonio (4 times?), San Bernardino Peak, Jepson Peak, can't remember the names
San Jacinto (several time), Jean Peak, forget names
Marion Mountain, Tahquitz Peak (3 times?) in Idyllwild
Mt Baldy (lots of times)
- hiked most of the peaks in the San Gabriels
- hiked a few in the Santa Monica Mtns
- Indianhead and Pyramid Pk in Anza Borrego

CANADA
Mt Kerr
Mt Field

2004 PEAKS SO FAR

5/15/04 Mt Gould (13,005') 2nd time
6/6/04 Lone Pine Peak (12,944') 2nd time
6/20/04 Mt Starr (12,867')
6/27/04 White Mtn (14,246') 3rd highest peak in CA

7/5/04 Trojan Peak (13,950')
7/6/04 Mt Williamson (14,375') 2nd highest peak in CA
7/8/04 Mt Barnard (13,990') Highest 13er in CA
Camped at Tulainyo Lake 12,802' (highest lake in the contiguous US)
7/10/04 Tunnabora Pk (13,655')
7/10/04 Mt Carillon (13,552')
7/10/04 Mt Russell (only got to 13,916', chickened out on knife edge ridge)
7/11/04 Thor Peak (12,300')
7/12/04 Mt Whitney (14,497') Highest peak in contiguous US
7/12/04 Mt Muir (14,012') 3rd time
7/18/04 Mt Morgan (13,748')
7/25/04 Vogelsang Pk (11,516') 8/1/04 Mt Morrison (12,268')
adding:
8/8/04 Mt Whitney (via Mountaineer's Route)
8/15/04 Mt Stanford (12,838')
8/21/04 Mt Conness (12,590') and
White Mtn (12,057')
8/22/04 Mt Dana (13,057')”

“Split Mtn 14,058' (3 times, twice in one day)

Don't you hate it when you leave your car keys on the top of a peak?”

“"Mt Bago 11,870' (twice in one day)"

I'll never learn . . .”

“Adirondack 46er peaks
Marcy 5344’ (2x’s)
Algonquin 5114’
Haystack 4960’ (2x’s)
Skylight 4926’
Whiteface 4867’
Dix 4857’
Gray 4840’
Iroquois 4840’
Basin 4827’
The Gothics 4736’ (2x’s)
Giant of the Valley 4620 (3x’s)
Nippletop 4620’ (2x’s)
Santanoni 4607’
Wright 4580’
Saddleback 4515’
Rocky Peak Ridge 4420’ (3x’s)
Armstrong 4400’ (2x’s)
Seward 4361’
Marshall 4360’
Big Slide 4240’
Esther 4240’
Upper Wolfjaw 4185’ (2x’s)
Lower Wolfjaw 4175’ (2x’s)
Donaldson 4140’
Seymour 4120’
Sawteeth 4100’
Cascade 4098’ (2x’s)
Porter 4059’ (2x’s)
Colvin 4057’
Emmons 4040’
Dial 4020’ (2x’s)
East Dix 4012’
Blake 3960’
Couchsachraga 3820’
McNaughton 4000’ (not on of the 46ers)

Catskills
Slide 4180’
Cornell 3860’
Wittenberg 3780’”

“Maine
Katahdin, Baxter Peak 5268’ (2x’s)
Katahdin, Hamlin Peak 4756’
Bigelow, West Peak 4145’
Bigelow, Avery Peak 4090’”