Thunder Basin, North Cascades National Park

An unexpectedly-glorious day in the North Cascades with Sir-Hikes-a-Lot. The 80% chance of thunder storms seemed to be caught on the peaks further west and we spent the day under blue skies and a warm sun.

There are 15+ blowdowns between the trailhead and the top of the switchbacks above Skagit Queen Camp, with only three requiring any work: two very large ones which need to be climbed over and one group of four or five 12" that can be walked around.

The trail is snow free until ~4200' (at the top of the switchbacks above Skagit Queen). Expect consistent soft and melting snow from there all the way through the basin (18-24" and melting fast; lots of postholing over rocks and brush). On the way up we crossed Thunder Creek early, however we followed the trail on the west side on the way back, which probably was quicker and a little more straightforward.

Only saw one party of two near McAllister Camp on our way out. A very special place we got to enjoy...

Early on the Thunder Creek trail

Thunder Creek; pretty low flow

Thunder Creek before McAllister Camp

Always have to check out cougar scat

North ridge of Forbidden Peak from Junction Camp

Falls on the east face of Tricouni

Looking up the West Fork of Thunder Creek toward Mount Torment and the ridge running northwest to Eldorado Peak

Sir Hikes switchbacking above Skagit Queen

Light dusting on the Skagit Queen switchbacks

Upper Thunder Creek; doesn't get any more clear

Breaking trail to Thunder Basin

Sir Postholes a Lot

Point 8248' (?) on Mt. Logan

Lower Thunder Basin

Thunder Basin

East flank of Buckner Mountain (I believe the summit is not visible, behind the right high point) over Thunder Basin; Park Creek Pass in the obvious notch behind the trees in the lower left

Small slide coming down

Impressive cornices on Buckner's east ridge

One last look...I think Buckner's summit now visible in top right

Park Creek Pass and Point 7945' on the south ridge of Mount Logan; taken from the Thunder Creek ford

Postholing along Thunder Creek on the way out

The elusive "posthole-dive forward" move

Skagit Queen-area mining relics

The Boston Glacier and Ripsaw Ridge, from Junction Camp

Back at the same bridge crossing Thunder Creek just before sunset

Yakima Skyline 50k - 2015

From freezing fog and mud in January to Saturday's sun and warm spring temperatures (high of 78), Yakima seems to throw an extra element in there. Collective suffering seemed to be the prevalent theme of the day...

Thank you to the whole crew of running buds I got to run or at least spend time with (Dave, Kevin, Ethan, Richard, Matthew, Ian, Greg, Will), team Rainshadow and all the volunteers.

I'm not planning on running any races until September (at the earliest), so back to the mountains for me!

Pop-tarts, frappuccino and beer, Friday night at the Ellensburg Econo Lodge 

Ethan, me, Kelly, Kevin and Richard; Dave's photo

Start at the Umtanum Creek Recreation Area; Dave's photo

Bottom of the first descent; Will's photo

Glenn Tachiyama photo

Glenn Tachiyama photo

The spring/horse trough: hold your nose while splashing around; Dave's photo

Nice to see Dave, Mathew and Ian sweeping the course; my mile 20

The Yakima River along the course; Dave's photo

Glenn Tachiyama photo

Sweeps giving encouragement to all-smiles Greg; Dave's photo

Halfway up the opening climb/down the final descent; Dave's photo

And yes, the toughest 50k race I've done...

Pearl Izumi Trail N2, Ultra Split Short, Fly shirt, ambassador singlet, Drymax Trail Lite sock

Mad River-Sugarloaf Peak loop, southern Entiat Mountains

It is that difficult shoulder season that usually doesn't come until May: stay low and out of the snow, or go for something mid-altitude and deal with some slush and mud.

Choosing the latter, we put together a route in the southern Entiat: parking at Deer Camp we went up to Maverick Saddle, down the Mad River canyon to Pine Flats, took Mad River-Tillicum-Indian Creek roads and a steep cross-country climb up to Gold Ridge, up the ridge to Sugarloaf Peak, then Entiat Summit Road back to Maverick Saddle and down to the car.

Running almost the entirety of the Mad River Canyon was the highlight and the lower portion I hadn't done was very cool; a lot of cougar activity through there as well.

Cashmere, the tip of Stuart, Enchantment Peaks

Dropping down to the Mad River from Maverick Saddle

Mad River crossing

Ben's animation

Upper Mad River

A tree has outgrown its signs

Upper Mad River

Tyee Ridge Trail; "don't go that way!" Ben's photo

Fresh male cougar scrapes and scat

Miner's Ridge from Mad River

Cougar tracks; midway down Mad River

Balsamroot

Climb away from the river where it's a gorge...

...and dropping back down

Lower Mad River canyon

Balsamroot in Indian Creek canyon

Indian Creek FS road

Cross-country climb from Indian Creek to Gold Ridge

Pausing on an old fire road bed, halfway up the climb

Aspen grove on the old fire road bed

Second half of the climb to Gold Ridge

Sugarloaf Peak looks too far away

Reaching Gold Ridge

Where I was last weekend: Baldy Mountain center-right; Stormy (center), Four Mile Ridge and Tyee (far left)

Grouse

Shortcut toward Sugarloaf as the weather moved in

Snowing as we near Sugarloaf summit

He's just kidding...I hope...

Buddy photo at the Sugarloaf Peak lookout

Entiat Summit Road

Entiat Summit Road; Ben's photo

Looking back south toward the Chiwaukum, Cashmere-Stuart and Enchantment Peaks in the afternoon