Posing Pikas and a old friend MSH summit via Butte Camp 8/15

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Roy
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Posing Pikas and a old friend MSH summit via Butte Camp 8/15

Post by Roy » August 16th, 2014, 8:48 am

Thousands of people every summer will follow the Monitor ridge trail to the top of MSH. Thousands more will visit the mountain in winter and spring from the Marble Mountain snopark. But only a hand full of people will venture over to the west side of the mountain and use the pre eruption South side route to the summit. Only the foolish will show up in August to climb the nasty loose, rubble strewn slopes to the summit. I recommend one climb this route in early summer taking advantage of the snow and enjoying the glissades.

I had been up this route several times in winter and spring but never when the snows were all gone. So when a friend of friend gave me a single permit for Friday I decided to give it a go. I know Karl and I had planed to do this route but it fell through a couple of weeks ago. Sorry Karl I had to go.

The day was grey but dry and half of the mountain was showing so I took the four mile trail to the Loowit intersection.

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These trees reminded a Dr Suess book and I expected the Cat In The Hat and the Waif to arrive.

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Showers were moving across the hills.

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A light rain started when I arrived at the Loowit so I decided to pull out my parka and have a snack.

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And someone showed up.

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And started licking a water off the rock.

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Now your just showing off.

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Who me?

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This is the only post marking this route (and it has a sign saying you need a climbing permit)
dont let the faint trail fool you it ends at the post. No cairns, no beaten paths like Adams, Monitor
ridge and the South Sister to follow.

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Its pretty easy going at first not to steep but it soon gets down to business.

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Wire strung up the mountain for the old lookout.

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The clouds began to clear and I finally could see some of my results.

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Finally a good long snowfield, I made good time and my legs relaxed.


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The top was was in sight.

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I had come through fog and was right at the true summit.

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The trail on along the rim.

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View in to the crater.

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I sat down and I could here voices over towards Monitor ridge my only human
contact all day. It was warm and not a breath of wind. Sitting there I felt like I
was in a old friends home the kind where you kick back a put you feet up on the couch.

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Going down the soft scree was a joy like plunge steeping in snow.

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The rubble not so fun.

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This was fun.

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My progress was slowed the last few miles by snacking on berries.

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I recorded over thirteen miles with over five thousand ft eg and 900 ft lost elevation. Did I slide back that much in that loose scree? :lol: Its a harder and longer than Monitor ridge but much more of an adventure.

The climb aside the Butte camp trail to the Loowit trail is a very nice hike. The west side is not heavily used so it offers a great choice when all the other places are crowded. The road access is really good and I saw lots of berries and there were no bugs at all.

The weather could have been better but I have seen the views before it was still good to visit a old friend.
Last edited by Roy on August 17th, 2014, 4:24 am, edited 2 times in total.
The downhill of the mind is harder than the uphill of the body. - Yuichiro Miura

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Grannyhiker
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Re: Posing Pikas and a old friend MSH summit via Butte Camp

Post by Grannyhiker » August 16th, 2014, 10:04 am

Love the pika pictures! They sure are cute little critters. Since they are grass eaters, they don't snatch stuff out of your pack or hands like chipmunks (the other contender for cutest critters).

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Boozeman
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Re: Posing Pikas and a old friend MSH summit via Butte Camp

Post by Boozeman » August 16th, 2014, 10:34 pm

That looks like quite an adventure. Plus you got to see a "waskawy wock wabbit" to boot. :D

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Guy
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Re: Posing Pikas and a old friend MSH summit via Butte Camp

Post by Guy » August 17th, 2014, 7:41 am

Great report Roy,

I didn't know about that route, going to have to give it a go now!
hiking log & photos.
Ad monte summa aut mors

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sprengers4jc
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Re: Posing Pikas and a old friend MSH summit via Butte Camp

Post by sprengers4jc » August 17th, 2014, 12:16 pm

Great job, Tom! So glad that your knee has obviously recovered well enough for this sort of difficult hike. I loved the pika pics, too :).
'We travel not to escape life but for life to not escape us.'
-Unknown

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Don Nelsen
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Re: Posing Pikas and a old friend MSH summit via Butte Camp

Post by Don Nelsen » August 18th, 2014, 7:18 am

Thanks for the TR on a rout I didn't know was the "old" way up the mountain. I'm with Guy - have to give it a go, too.

dn
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly

"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller

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-Q-
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Re: Posing Pikas and a old friend MSH summit via Butte Camp

Post by -Q- » August 18th, 2014, 11:44 am

Love the west side of MSH.
Empty and awesome :P

hiker4fun
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Re: Posing Pikas and a old friend MSH summit via Butte Camp

Post by hiker4fun » August 18th, 2014, 12:33 pm

Fantastic report (effort). I get scared when I see clouds much above the mountain's top itself. :roll:

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bobcat
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Re: Posing Pikas and a old friend MSH summit via Butte Camp

Post by bobcat » August 18th, 2014, 3:59 pm

It's a great route. I did it last year and saw no human tracks. I didn't get to commune with a pika, though.

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Guy
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Re: Posing Pikas and a old friend MSH summit via Butte Camp

Post by Guy » August 18th, 2014, 5:54 pm

Hey Roy,

If the weather cooperates this fall after permit season maybe a few of us can get together & do that route!
hiking log & photos.
Ad monte summa aut mors

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