Tatoosh Traverse 2004
I took this trip, the called Tatoosh Traverse, in the summer of 2004 and should take one full and long day. However, as in most plans in the mountains, sometimes we underestimate the enormity of the trip or things change for a variety of reasons. I ventured out on three successive weekends. The first was an official Mountaineer trip, and the next two I went alone to complete the Traverse. The first attempt began with an unsuccessful try of The Castle. This was extremely hot day with route-finding challenges, and we chose to turn around below Wahpenayo. I tried attempt #2 the following week (no pics) from Longmire, and made it to the summit of Chutla on a very wet and rainy day. On the third try, I was alone once again, and completed the Traverse from Reflection Lakes to Longmire, but omitted the peaks we claimed previously. Unfortunately, another route misdirection at the Chutla-Wahpenayo saddle, put me at the main trail, and well below Eagle and Chutla. Since I was hot, tired and ready to go home -- I did!
 Just before heading up Lane is a nice flat area with an outstanding view of Rainier between Lane and Denman. |
 Here, Corby and Phil are returning from taking alook down the steep snow gully (when there is snow in there!). |
 Flowers were in bloom the entire way. I wish I knew the names of them all. The pink appear to be heather. |
 The scramble to Lane consisted of crumbling rock and hand holds that could not be trusted. It was very steep and on the way down, we used a hand line at one point. |
 Corby and Phil, enjoying a much seserved rest on the summit of Lane, with Wahpenayo in the background. |
 From Lane, we can see what we hcve climbed so far. Pinnacle, Denman, Plummer and in the distance, Unicorn Peak. |
 This is nearing the end of the descent. When we safely down, we all agreed, though we didn't say so as we climbed, that we were very concerned about falling while climbing down. |
 From the hot and crumbling rock, to the green vally floor, we head for the trees, some shade and a rest. |
 On the other side of this grove of trees, is where we head next, and to a very, very long traverse. |
 In the book "75 Scrambles', the route reads: "Scramble SW ascending talus and scree to a 5800-foot saddle between Wahpenayo and and unnamed satelite peak." Our mistake was thinking it was between this peak and the next. Oops! |
 There were no real paths to follow, and the traverse was made more challenging by the constant uneven footing, first up the wrong gully, then again, back down. We launched a few large rocks into the basin in the process. |
 On my solo trip and thrird try, I took a rest at the same place Phil, Corby and I rested two weeks befor. I found only one other shady spot the rest of the day, until I was off Wahpenayo. |
 More flowers such as this Indian Paintbrush amid the brush. |
 Like a scene of the Shire, from the Hobbit, the deep green slopes and quiet stillness seem to usher a sense of peace and tranquility. |
 Corby and Phil take a breather after we had taken a wrong path, began up a new one and then decided to turn around to go back. This is at the small tarn at the base of the cliffs. |
 Behind Corby is the ill-fated wrong gully system. It was a 45 to 50 degree slope, and when we reached to top, it lead nowhere! Only steep cliffs and dropoffs. |
 These flowers could be wild tiger lillies. They were thigh deep and the petals curved to display the stamens. |
 Looking back toward Lane Peak and the traverse already traveled. This slope does not relent until at the notch at the ridge to Wahpenayo. |
 At the notch and looking back. I came around the corner, along the scree at about mid picture. This took me over 30 minutes to accomplish. Next time, I would stay low, below the worst of the scree, past a couple tarns, then up to the notch. Steep... |
 This is from along the ridge looking toward Wahpenayo's summit ridge. I thought I may have to go around to the left, along the grassy slopes shown here, but the route acutally goes dierctly to the rocks on the right, then traverses under the tree gr... |
 The summit of Wahpenayo. (I had the unpleasant company of hundreds of flying ants that also seemed to love being at the topmost section of the peak!) |
 After several falied attempts to descend Wahpenayo, I ventured past the ants and found the nasty trail leading to the bottom. From here, I'll cross over the snow patch to the notch at the base of Chutla's ridge. |
 Halfway down Wahpenayo, and looking away from Chulta is, once again, Mt. Rainier. |
 This self-photo was tough to take. I'm on a small shelf and in the first shade I've seen in hours. If I lean too far back, I'll be rolling for a few hundred feet. Gotta be careful! |
 This is the Wahpenayo-Chulta saddle. At this point, we can follow a faint path until it meets the ridge line. In the summer a distinct left-or-right choice becomes apparent. For the Traverse, choose the right one and go up. Otherwise, like me, yo... |