Mt.Pilchuck Summit

Mt. Pilchuck Summit Ascent
Dec. 30, 2001

Ken James McLeod

Mt. Pilchuck North Face © Ken James McLeod

Today, on a beautiful sunny day of extraordinary weather that we've had the last few here in late December, I set forth to capture more mountain moods with the camera.

Of course, the 4x4 Blazer of mine headed for the Pilchuck country . . . there was just no stopping it! I finally managed to turn it onto the Mt. Pilchuck road which led to the parking lot or the old ski area as it were. The road was quite a mess and lots of snow with ruts from the traffic its had recently. But onward I drove to over the slide in the road above the Heather Lake Trailhead, thence ever upward 'till I topped out at the lot where one truck had just arrived ahead of me carrying three fellows . . . already in their climbing gear. As I put on my mountain gear, we talked about the peak as they were headed to the top. Soon, we were both off, me with the camera and day pack and a few other climbing things as well, though I didn't intend on climbing the peak in winter conditions . . . I was just out for photos somewhere up the mountain, right? It was about 9:30 AM when we left and soon I was huffing and puffing my way up in the snow more or less on the North Face trail side. The other guys had chosen a more direct route, but soon I switched and began chasing them up some pretty steep stuff to the saddle where great views were had. Once there I took a short break, meanwhile the other guys climbed out of sight.

From the saddle, I dropped over the edge a bit, then continued on more snow which was mostly frozen, some pretty steep stuff where ice was encountered, as well as snow cornices. Then, I angled across a steep high slope and onto more snow cornices along the spine of the ridge. The snow cornices were immense, some the size of houses and they connected to one another coverving the entire ridge of the peak, all glistened with the shine of the bright sun . . . sunglasses were needed to prevent snow blindness. Here, the grandeur was unparalleled with views straight down a couple thousand feet or so. To the south was the magnificence of Mt. Rainier, north was to view Mt. Baker, and easterly to Three Fingers Mtn., as well as west to Puget Sound. "Simply spectacular!" And the camera clicked away. Up over a few more cornices I went carefully kicking holes until the Lookout (covered completely) was had. I crawled along the deck and managed to sneak around the side and through the door, where the other fellows had just walked in, too. Small talk was had about the day and surroundings, and I signed the summit register at 11:23 AM. Two fellows said at different times, "you decided to bag the peak, anyway, eh?"

"One thing led to another," I replied. "I am not sure I would have attempted it if you guys hadn't have been here, bad soles on my boots ya know!"

They grinned, and one guy said, "you seemed to do pretty good on that steep stuff with those old Raichle full-leather boots and that wood staff of yours."

Not wanting to hang around inside too long, I set off back down the mountain from whence I'd came. In the back of my mind, I wanted to keep my concentration level high for some of the steep stuff along the more icy slope where I had to kick footholds on the way up. So needless to say any further, I didn't dally on top of the peak.

Back at the saddle I felt real good by the accomplishment and even the bad knee felt pretty strong. There, I had a bit to eat, some water, and took more photos. Downward I went slowly not wanting to fall until the northern slope settled where some glissading occurred. Soon, the other fellows caught me, and down the mountain we went, more or less together, arriving back at the lot at 12:30 PM . . . though we had a pretty good clip going down, similar to going like the wind. Come to think about it, I didn't take too many breaks the whole time up or down, except to talk to a few snowshoer/climbers wanting to bag the peak, too. I wished them well, though some had a pretty late start as I saw it.

And now I sit and reflect on the winter summit climb of Mt. Pilchuck I just made, the first real test since tearing ligaments in my right knee coming off Three Fingers in Oct. "What a reflection it be!" Funny how a mountain can make a person really feel alive, as well as allowing one to focus on what's at hand, forgetting everything else, to include those nasty aches and pains of the body. So, here I sit with beer in hand writing this story. Lastly, it just doesn't get any better, how sublime it be. . ."one with the mountain top, today."

PS. Steak and crab legs for dinner tonight!

KJM

(McPilchuck)