Another week, another climb! This week’s outing focused on navigation skills. The students had to come up with a trip plan, and execute it using only a map and compass. Youssef, Pae, Ian, Lukrative, and I met at 5:30am to carpool, met up with the rest of the team at Snoqualmie Pass, and then hit the trails at the standard time of 6:59am. We traveled a mile or so with some other teams, and then we split; towards each of our objectives.

^a lovely winter waterfall

After a few hours, our objective, Red Mountain, came into view!

A snow bridge!

Once we got to the base, we harnessed up, and started our ascent!

Devin looks happy. Luke looks like he just got his chimney swept…

Things got steeper and steeper…

Daily chemtrail missions

It got a lil steeper… and we had nice views of Lundin Peak from here (last year’s climb!)

Getting closer to the top!

On the ridge SW of the summit!

The mountain is red due to the rock

Hot dogs or legs?! am I doing it right?!

A few hundred feet away from the summit, we spotted some skiers at the top. As we made our way up, they started their descent

The summit block was bare, so we didn’t set any snow anchors up. We traversed from the last tree to the summit block, staying below some other piles of rocks. The snow to the left of the students was part of a large cornice. It appears the skiers went to explore, and thankfully, it stayed put…

Alex and his summit snack pose!

Ain’t no picnic like a summit picnic!

Little T and Big T! and Guye Peak!

Looking NE, towards Mt. Thomson, and what I think is Huckleberry Mountain (to the right, and behind of Mt. Thomson)

Group shot!

On the descent, the snow had softened up quite a bit, so the students got to practice plunge stepping here. Also, it made for excellent self-arrest practice 😛

dat shroom shelf!