Rock Mountain - 5.1.2009
Drive 8.2 miles east of Stevens Pass... turn north on the unsigned dirt road and park at the trailhead (2683')... ~9 miles roundtrip, gaining 4269 feet of elevation.
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After walking the dirt road for .25 miles, follow this sign when the road branches.
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It looks brushy... however, rdyhiker, madman and rodman show their happiness in being on a real trail.
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The terrain is steep, but the trail is nicely switch-backed.
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At ~4200 feet rdyhiker finds the first large patches of snow.
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At ~4600 feet we found continuous snow... rdyhiker, madman and rodman still going up.
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At ~5700 feet rodman watches madman and rdyhiker start their way around a rock outcropping.
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rodman got this shot of ragman, rdyhiker and madman crossing the rock outcropping.
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rdyhiker at the end of the rock cropping.
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madman and rdyhiker take a break after crossing the rock outcropping.
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Our first good look at the Rock Mtn summit... right-center of the photo.
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The GPS and map committee are always working.
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Only 400 feet of elevation left to reach the ridge that is SW of Rock Lake.
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Looking back on the Chiwaukum Mtns and Arrowhead Mtn in the right foreground.
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Mt. Daniel and Mt. Hinman appear in the distance to the right of Jim Hill Mtn.
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rdyhiker, rodman and madman near the ridge SW of Rock Lake.
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Our first good look at the route we will take up to the end of Rock Mtn's south ridge... the corniced ridge will not permit any short cuts.
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rdyhiker, rodman and madman are heading for the end of Rock Mtn's south ridge.
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The top of Rock Mtn's south ridge (~6640')
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On the Rock Mtn summit (6852') after a quarter mile ridge walk from the end of Rock Mtn's south ridge... views of Galcier Peak and others.
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The Monte Cristo peaks and Sloan Peak.
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Jim Hill, Daniel and Hinman dominate.
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Looking south from the Rock Mtn summit.
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Rock Lake... a 1000 feet below the summit.
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A closeup of the Chiwaukum Mtns, Mt. Stuart in the distance and Arrowhead Mtn in the lower right corner.
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A closeup... looking across Jim Hill Mtn to distant peaks.
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A closeup of the Ten Peak Range east of Glacier Peak.
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Seven Fingered Jack and Mt. Maude.
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Mt. Howard (7063') from the Rock Mtn summit.
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Time to walk the ridge back down to the end of the south ridge.
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Looking at the summit route from the end of Rock Mtn's south ridge.
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It's getting crowded... ragman will wait for two skiers to reach the south ridge before he starts down.
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rodman got this shot of ragman on the ridge as he waits for the skiers to ascend.
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Looking back on Rock Mtn's corniced south ridge.
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madman, rdyhiker and rodman above Rock Lake.
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Heading for the car.
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rodman and madman prepare to cross the rock outcropping.
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rodman and madman working across the rock outcropping... Big Chiwaukum Mtn stands out in the distance.
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madman, rodman and rdyhiker are almost past the rock outcropping... Arrowhead Mtn in the right foreground.
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Perhaps we should have worn our snowshoes on the way home?
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