July 3, 2010, Snowking, Wetter and Whiter

Tobae, Sean, Tim and I camped at the roadblock past the washout on Friday under clear and starry skies.  Awoke to rain.  No matter, got going a little after 5 am and 10 minutes later we were wet and questioning the objective.  Walking the road took a long time as we were soaked and stopped every 15 minutes it seemed to see who would 'call it' first or examine options made up while hiking - Eldorado, Sahalee, etc were discussed.  Tobae prompted to at least walk to the trailhead to see if it would clear.  Got to the trailhead and it had not cleared, but there were maybe some hope.  Suckers we are, clung to the hope and battled uphill.  First 200' of the trail sucked with skis on the pack, but after that it is very efficient ;-)

Sneakers gave way to boots at 4700 or so.  Ran into fresh bear tracks before saddle at 4800.  Cool.  Follow ridge up (skis on at 5400) and over 5791 and down to 5250 and up again to 5695 and down again to Cyclone Lake at 5350.  Skis on for 75% of the ridge traverse.  Went up the northern (climbers right) ridge from the lake as we had wanted to take a look at one of the chutes that foes from the upper snowfield to the lake.  Not able to get on the lake to cross it and monkied around with that effort a while.  Too melted out.  Ridge was navigated in 10-20' visibility.  Never cleared.  Think it was sunny another 1000' up ;-)

Skiing was good I guess.  Making the summit was better.  Company was the best.