June 16, 2006, Ingalls Peak

After seven months of unsuccessful attempts, Jim H. and I finally found a ski day we could agree on.  Initial plans had been to attempt Silver Star; however, a soggy Friday forecast for the entirety of northern Washington made us reconsider on Thursday evening.  In fact, all of the Cascades looked to be wet, save perhaps the Teanaway.  Choosing prudence over intention and hoping for the best, we opted to attempt Ingalls Peak.

During the drive the following morning we largely avoided discussing that the rain began only after crossing to the east side of the crest. 

It was cold at the parking lot and felt like rain, although it had thus far abstained at the trailhead.  Booting from the car, we made good time to a col up-ridge from Ingalls Pass and crossed over into Headlight basin.  Choosing not to lose elevation, we continued to ascend the ridge above a small cliffband (which was slightly airy given the soft top-layer) and up to a pass at 7300€™.  Although it had begun to mist somewhere in the area of Ingalls Pass, it began to shower in earnest at this point.  The wind, too, was a bit squirrelly.

And then:

 


Being at the bottom of the cloud deck, we soon were treated to erratic changes in scenery: periods of heavy fog followed by dramatic openings of blue sky and peaks.  The fog-sun cycle repeated throughout the remainder of the day, commanding your attention with each shift.  It was lovely.





After booting the last 300' to the summit rocks, we made a descending traverse to Ingalls Lake, backtracked a bit after poking around, and continued down Headlight basin to 6000'.  Skinning back to a point at 7300', we exited the basin, downclimbed a section we mistakenly believed to hold snow, then skied another 1200' until the snow petered out at 4600'.




In sum: 4400' climbing for 2800' skiing.  It was a good day for June by most measures.