Davis Path to Crawford, Stairs and quick jaunt up Resolution

[chinooktrail]

First of all, Whoo Hoo and Happy Birthday to MEB! You really earned that Rib Eye steak today!

With beautiful weather and warm temps the 7 1/2 of us headed up the trail. It didn't take long to seperate the hikers from the hiker want to bees, namely me! This trail ALWAYS kicks my butt, and today was no exception. It is deceptively steep for the height of the mountains, Crawford at 3119, Stairs at 3463 and Resolution at 3415, but I was prepared with enough water, just not enough oxogyn!

We made it up to Crawford in good time, and talked about what a difference a year can make. Last year, on the same weekend we needed snowshoes and were sitting on snow and ice and shivering while eating our snacks. None of that today, it was shorts and one layer for some! The views were phenominal and we had a good session of 'name that peak'. In short order we were off to Stairs. I always love the section between the two peaks. For the most part it is a nice little break from the steeps, and it has the forest sort of covering over you and the feeling of protection, almost a hug from Mother Nature. In what felt like no time, we were out on the cliffs at Stairs for lunch. Little Sister surprised MEB, the BIRTHDAY GIRL, with homemade chowder and cupcakes, complete with birthday candles. What a nice surprise for her. After a few photo opps it was back down to the junction with the Mount Parker Trail, where we made the group decision to go for Mount Resolution. What a good decision it was too. As the weather started to change, more clouds and less sun, a small breeze the skys were certainly becoming photo worthy in their own right. The Heavenly Rays shining down, seperating the sunny skies to the south and the questionable weather to the north. As always, you have to stop and remember, we are merely here for a blip in time. Very humbeling.
We believe we found the true summit via a short bushwhack, and did see a small cairn.
Back down the cliffs to the Davis Path, and on down the trail with another great hike in with great people and one fuzzy little cutie!

Thanks to MEB and Little Sister for inviting me again, and great seeing Drew, Cath, Tom and Atticus and LenDawg.

Hope to be out there hiking with all of you hiking machines real soon!

 

[MEB]

Thanks everyone for a super fun day! The weather could not have been better...well, it would have been nice to see some snow. It's hard to believe another year has already passed but it sure was a good one

-MEB

ps...the steak was awesome!

 

[Nate]

ChinookTrail, thanks for the trip report. I'm really jealous of everyone who has been able to hit the mountains of late during this recent unseasonably warm weather. Yours was a particularly scenic route, so I'm really glad that you had clear conditions.

As for the true highpoint on Resolution, if the small cairn you found was on the western(ish) edge of a clearing that faces north to Stairs, then you have truly summitted Resolution. When I was there on July ninth (having come up via Mount Parker), once I reached the summit clearing on Resolution I had a dickens of a time finding the canister. The cairn at the highpoint was readily apparent, but it took me the better part of ten minutes to find that the jar was tied to a tree next to the cairn, but obscured by the evergreen branches over it (this particular register hangs rather low). The bag the register was in was in really bad shape, but unfortunately I didn't have one on me to replace it with. Hopefully since that visit someone else has dropped by that summit with an extra baggy. As it was, that peak was memorable too because on my way back to the trail I ran into a moose, which tried its darnedest to make a speedy getaway from me (as you can imagine, its progress was greatly slowed by the dense spruce).

 

[chinooktrail]

Hi Nate,
Unfortunately we didn't spot the canister, we looked around a bit, but din't see it. SOmeone in the group noted that some of them have been removed by people who don't agree with Geocaching... I guess it takes all types to make the world go round.
I am actually looking forward to cooler weather. I don't like hiking in warm weather much. And I am looking forward to needing snowshoes! I know, I am in the minority there.
Hope you get out there soon.
Christine

 

[onestep]

Jar on Resolution

The jar is still on Resolution. Yesterday Gamehiker & I found it lying on the ground and rehung it. We also replaced the baggie.

 

[LenDawg]

Well, I guess we have another reason to go back! This hike was great. The rocky ledges on Resolution where awesome!