Sippy Cup hike, not a recliner, Whittier Ridge 8.16.14

[Eric Peterson]

Finally got out to Whittier Ridge



Bosterson took me on a tour starting from South Coldwater Lake TH, turning left at Lakes Trail
losing EG then heading up to Snow Lake and turning onto the Whittier Ridge Trail shortly there after.

We returned via the Boundary Trail passing Mount Margaret and Coldwater Peak and hiked down
the Coldwater Trail back to the TH.






Gale force winds

The day started out rather misty, something about that upper level low.


The usual garbage


Me, Minnie and Willow's bandanna


Bridge over Coldwater Creek


Coldwater Creek




One of Bos's special stopping places




More eye candy, no not my hat silly!


Okay, real eye candy this time






Coldwater Valley


EP returns Willow's rescued bandanna!




Snow Lake


Snow Lake environs




Pack backers discussing the merits of Bos and I hiking the 'closed' Whittier Ridge Trail with tiny little sippy cup day packs


Shovel Lake


Hikers doing a longer loop going the other direction than us, we passed them again towards the end of our hike, they had a long ways to go yet!


Some other lake from Whittier Ridge




Dudes, where's the skevey trail at brah?


Lakes area campers goofing around off trail


View after view on this hike, Coldwater Valley


Goats on the ridge


Sippy cup Bos recreating a shot from another Whittier TR


I was supposed to go out onto this thing but I was way to beat up from this ridge, I frail bailed


Gendarmes, getting closer to Sippy Cup Ledge


The trail wraps around 3 gendarmes, I guess this is where hikers get skeved out


Close up of No Margin Sippy Cup Ledge




Mount T-Roy






Looking twards St. Helens Lake and a hidden Coldwater Peak


Bos had enough energy to bag Mount Margaret, I did not, my sippy bladder was draining fast


Spirit Lake and T-Roy up on the summit of Helens


Real trail runner Bryan Mulanney with real fake saggy power sippy cupper shuffle nubber EP


Free trail food


Looking back at whence we came, seems so far and unbelievable


Fake air bump to avoid spreading giardia

Sippy Stats = 22 miles and 6500'

http://gpsfly.org/a/3559

[Don Nelsen]

Nice report and pics! Bos looks right at home in the video, too. Great job - I've got to get up there and check that out - thanks for the TR.

dn

[Guy]

Good to see you get out on a loony hike again EP!

[Roy]

The sippy cup ledge I can handle but if I tried to keep up with you two I would need a bottle and binky. Thanks for repairing the sign I feel safer for my next visit.

[Sean Thomas]

Ep just dusts it off for another loony hike like it was nothing. You guys are awesome!


I must getting behind on the terminology, so we've got:


Loony
Sippy
Recliner
Sagg(what i do)
DeathMarch

[Bosterson]

Ep just dusts it off for another loony hike like it was nothing. You guys are awesome!


I must getting behind on the terminology

EP decided to call it a "sippy cup" hike cause he was all skeved out and crying like a baby on the Whittier ridge.

[hikerbot]

Thanks for another awesome TR. We probably just missed you. We were on Mt. Margaret and Coldwater Peak (where we ran into Bryan Mulanney) on Saturday. Hiked the Lake Basin and Whittier Traverse Sunday.

[Eric Peterson]

Sean, you forgot the one I usually perform - Power Sagg.

This 'hike' was more of a stressed out 'power sippy cup' as I was trying to beat my wifes curfew,
which we did, even with all of Bosterson's sun bathing breaks

No joke though as far as my whining, I wouldn't shut up from around Snow Lake after realizing the
highest thing around was 5800' not 4800'

Honestly this hike was tough as nails, a real bastard of a hike to rush through in open terrain
even with a lot of over cast cover. For once I almost ran out of fluids. Virtually no running water
on the return leg of this one, unless anyone wanted to take the effort to OT down to St. Helens
Lake or something.

Hikerbot, I think we saw you jogging with Bryan for a distance coming down CW Peak, looked like 2
runners.

Thanks for all the comments folks!

[Peder]

Great loop - this one is "Bostersonized" to get extra EG! Any sane person will do this loop starting along the north shore of Coldwater Lake... So EP, did you get sippy cupped?

[BryanRunner]

Great to meet everyone out there. One of my favorite areas. Happy trails!