Bryant Peak - 10.6.2010
rodman's GPS route of our trip to Bryant Peak... 10.5 miles roundtrip, gaining 3728 feet of elevation... which included a side trip to Upper Melakwa Lake.
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The toughest part of the trip was finding a reasonable route through the dense brush between 4800 feet and 5000 feet.
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Take exit 47 off of I-90 and follow signs to the trailhead (2300').
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After hiking ~.25 miles we crossed under I-90.
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After hiking one mile, cross Denny Creek at the bathing rocks (~2800').
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Above the bathing rocks now and heading up valley... The Tooth is visible in the center of the photo.
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Keekwulee Falls at 1.5 miles.
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In the upper basin now and looking at the treed Hemlock Pass.
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A short distance on the west side of Hemlock Pass we left the trail at a boulder field... a quarter mile later BarbE and rodman are fighting dense brush at 4800 feet.
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At ~5200 feet we reach a boulder field... and no more brush to deal with.
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Nice color.
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Birthday Girl making a dash for the summit.
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rodman and Birthday Girl ascending.
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Birthday Girl and rodman getting close now.
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Reaching the Bryant Peak summit (5801')... with Kaleetan Peak and Chair Peak in our face.
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Bryant Peak is in the SW corner of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness... we are looking north (left) to west from the summit.
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I left Birthday Girl and rodman on the summit and walked NW along the summit area to see if there were any worthwhile views.
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Ah yes... looking down on Melakwa Lakes... with Lower Tuscohatchie Lake in the upper left hand corner of the photo.
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Pano shot of Kaleetan Peak (left) and Chair Peak.
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Snow Lake (upper left) and Source Lake (lower right)... with portions of both the old and new Snow Lake trails.
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Looking across Low Mtn and Granite Mtn to the big guy.
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McClellan Butte and Mt. Defiance.
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I finally convinced Birthday Girl and rodman to come on over and join me for a look down on Melakwa Lakes.
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Birthday Girl on her throne... with Kaleetan Peak on the right.
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Looking SE into the sun.
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Group shot from the Bryant Peak summit.
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Birthday Girl's tribute to EastKing... still a work in progress.
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A tribute to all of the nwhikers who post photos of the 'Shadow People'.
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Time to head down... some Class 3 work for 75 feet or so.
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Back in the boulders.
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After getting through the dense brush, we decided to go over to Melakwa Lake.
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Looking at Kaleetan Peak and Melakwa Pass from Melakwa Lake.
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Birthday Girl had never been to Upper Melakwa Lake so we followed the trail around the west side of Melakwa Lake... and got this shot of Bryant Peak.
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Upper Melakwa Lake... with Kaleetan Peak and Melakwa Pass beyond.
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Back at Keekwulee Falls now... only 1.5 miles of easy hiking to get back to our car.
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