Bombadil
Active member
7.31.11
This one was on my to-do list for awhile but I never seemed to be able to get around to it. But with gorgeous weather forecasted and Isolation as one of my last few peaks needed for my summer 48 list I came up with a fun way to get both done. Carmen and Jonathan (Blaze) joined me for the ascent of Washington; you can see Jonathan's more extensive and skilled photos under his Trail Conditions post for the hike http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=41376
The three of us made good time up to the fan where each of us elected different routes. This section was a nice playground for those that enjoy trails like Cathedral and Dudley up at Baxter or perhaps King Ravine. You can pick an easy or hard route depending on what you're seeking. As we worked our way up we stopped to watch several groups of climbers ascend via Pinnacle Buttress (thanks to Chip for his post in bikehikeskifish's report pointing out the routes) a short distance away. One nice thing about the fan is the way it funnels the various routes together at the top so everybody joins up just below the notorious slab section. After seeing so many pictures of this section I was curious if it would be as hard as it looked. With that nice crack along the climbers right, I found the slab to be MUCH easier than expected. Granted, if the rock were damp that would change the game a bit. Upon reaching the top I was somewhat disappointed it wasn't longer or more difficult but there's always next time to try out the technical routes...
Above the slab we got into a nice rhythm where we encountered short pitches of easy to moderate scrambling, generally with excellent hand- and foot-holds. It seemed after every couple of these pitches there's a sheltered section of level ground which mentally made the climb pretty easy (and I'm a tad afraid of heights). Eventually we reached the top, took Nelson Crag to the summit, and had a quick bite to eat in the zoo before parting ways at the Crawford Path/Davis Path junction. Carmen's back was acting up and Jonathan didn't want a late return to the cars so they elected to do Monroe/Eisenhower. I was a tad jealous and perhaps next time I'll go over that way and take the Dry River out. But Isolation was my goal (well and to visit some smaller peaks I haven't been to before--Davis, Stairs, Resolution, Crawford)...
Off on my own I lingered in the sun above tucks/ glen boulder as much as one really can with a 14+ mile hike out to the car in front of them so eventually I hit treeline and turned it on. I quickly reached Isolation and took a quick pit stop at the top before pushing onto Davis. I was pleasantly surprised to find Davis has 360 degree views which trump Isolation's.
I didn't care much for the 4+ mile section between Davis and Stairs, I had my eyes towards Crawford but at least Stairs has a nice sunny and airy ledge for hanging out in the late afternoon sun. I picked up the pace again so I could make it to Crawford in short time but I may have stopped a few times to pluck handfulls of blueberries that are quite abundant and very much in season between Resolution and Crawford. I made the quick climb up Crawford and must say for a 3100 foot peak it has a heck of a view! I recharged a bit and talked with a few friendly hikers on a meetup hike doing Isolation via an out and back on Davis. I'd been playing leapfrog with them after Isolation since I was going up the spur trails and they were sticking to Davis. It's always a pleasure to meet people that can make a (relatively) straightforward peak like Isolation a bit more of an adventure.
A quick descent and plunge in the river by the trailhead capped a fantastic July hike, doing numerous trails and mountains for the first time. Thanks Carmen and Jonathan for the entertaining company up Huntington--I'm looking forward to the next one!
All in all it was a fine day; I highly recommend Huntington for those that haven't experienced it. I know I'll be back there soon.
Pat
pcushing21 at yahoo.com
pics:
climbers ascending Pinnacle Buttress
Jonathan working his way up the fan, adjacent to Pinnacle Gully
The notorious slab
Carmen and Jonathan with the northerns in back
"the fadeaway" part one: Washington from near the top of Boott Spur
part two: Washington and co. from Isolation
part three: Washington and co. from Davis
view to the east from Stairs
Stairs from Crawford
part four: Washington and co. from Crawford
This one was on my to-do list for awhile but I never seemed to be able to get around to it. But with gorgeous weather forecasted and Isolation as one of my last few peaks needed for my summer 48 list I came up with a fun way to get both done. Carmen and Jonathan (Blaze) joined me for the ascent of Washington; you can see Jonathan's more extensive and skilled photos under his Trail Conditions post for the hike http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=41376
The three of us made good time up to the fan where each of us elected different routes. This section was a nice playground for those that enjoy trails like Cathedral and Dudley up at Baxter or perhaps King Ravine. You can pick an easy or hard route depending on what you're seeking. As we worked our way up we stopped to watch several groups of climbers ascend via Pinnacle Buttress (thanks to Chip for his post in bikehikeskifish's report pointing out the routes) a short distance away. One nice thing about the fan is the way it funnels the various routes together at the top so everybody joins up just below the notorious slab section. After seeing so many pictures of this section I was curious if it would be as hard as it looked. With that nice crack along the climbers right, I found the slab to be MUCH easier than expected. Granted, if the rock were damp that would change the game a bit. Upon reaching the top I was somewhat disappointed it wasn't longer or more difficult but there's always next time to try out the technical routes...
Above the slab we got into a nice rhythm where we encountered short pitches of easy to moderate scrambling, generally with excellent hand- and foot-holds. It seemed after every couple of these pitches there's a sheltered section of level ground which mentally made the climb pretty easy (and I'm a tad afraid of heights). Eventually we reached the top, took Nelson Crag to the summit, and had a quick bite to eat in the zoo before parting ways at the Crawford Path/Davis Path junction. Carmen's back was acting up and Jonathan didn't want a late return to the cars so they elected to do Monroe/Eisenhower. I was a tad jealous and perhaps next time I'll go over that way and take the Dry River out. But Isolation was my goal (well and to visit some smaller peaks I haven't been to before--Davis, Stairs, Resolution, Crawford)...
Off on my own I lingered in the sun above tucks/ glen boulder as much as one really can with a 14+ mile hike out to the car in front of them so eventually I hit treeline and turned it on. I quickly reached Isolation and took a quick pit stop at the top before pushing onto Davis. I was pleasantly surprised to find Davis has 360 degree views which trump Isolation's.
I didn't care much for the 4+ mile section between Davis and Stairs, I had my eyes towards Crawford but at least Stairs has a nice sunny and airy ledge for hanging out in the late afternoon sun. I picked up the pace again so I could make it to Crawford in short time but I may have stopped a few times to pluck handfulls of blueberries that are quite abundant and very much in season between Resolution and Crawford. I made the quick climb up Crawford and must say for a 3100 foot peak it has a heck of a view! I recharged a bit and talked with a few friendly hikers on a meetup hike doing Isolation via an out and back on Davis. I'd been playing leapfrog with them after Isolation since I was going up the spur trails and they were sticking to Davis. It's always a pleasure to meet people that can make a (relatively) straightforward peak like Isolation a bit more of an adventure.
A quick descent and plunge in the river by the trailhead capped a fantastic July hike, doing numerous trails and mountains for the first time. Thanks Carmen and Jonathan for the entertaining company up Huntington--I'm looking forward to the next one!
All in all it was a fine day; I highly recommend Huntington for those that haven't experienced it. I know I'll be back there soon.
Pat
pcushing21 at yahoo.com
pics:
climbers ascending Pinnacle Buttress
Jonathan working his way up the fan, adjacent to Pinnacle Gully
The notorious slab
Carmen and Jonathan with the northerns in back
"the fadeaway" part one: Washington from near the top of Boott Spur
part two: Washington and co. from Isolation
part three: Washington and co. from Davis
view to the east from Stairs
Stairs from Crawford
part four: Washington and co. from Crawford
