Granite Mountain - 11.5.2012
Directions from the Preston Park and Ride to the Pratt Lake Trailhead.
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rodman's GPS route from December 2009... 8 miles roundtrip... gaining ~3800 feet of elevation.
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A google earth look at Granite Mountain... but there wasn't any snow on this trip.
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We started at the Pratt Lake Trailhead (~1800')... Exit 47... north side of I-90.
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We are on the Pratt Lake Trail and still haven't reached the junction with the Granite Mountain Trail... I don't remember the avalanche gully extending this far down the mountain.
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Vine maples showing their fall colors.
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After hiking the Pratt Lake Trail for one mile, we took the Granite Mountain Trail.
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The terrain steepens on the Granite Mountain Trail.
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Crossing the first avalanche gully at ~3800 feet.
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Crossing the second avalanche gully at ~4000 feet.
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After crossing the second avalanche gully we traversed west for a half-mile underneath Granite's SE ridge... and are now turning the corner to get on the SE ridge.
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Nice fall color on Granite's SE ridge.
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Can't quite see the lookout yet.
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Beautiful little shelf at ~4800 feet.
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A closer look at the small shelf.
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Continuing up Granite's SE ridge.
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Looking back down at the small shelf... and can barely see Keechelus Lake through the gap.
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Looking across I-90 to Silver Peak and Abiel Peak on the left... with Mt. Rainier barely visible beyond Humpback Mountain on the right.
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Looking back on the small shelf as we continue up Granite's SE ridge.
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The Granite Mountain Lookout is in view.
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Continuing up Granite's SE ridge... the trail is in the basin below... Kaleetan Peak (left) and Chair Peak in the distance.
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I'm going to take the Class 2 scramble route along the SE ridge (left)... while the trail is in the basin on the right and comes up the ridge on the right to the lookout.
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A better look at the trail in the basin.
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Big boulders on Granite's SE ridge... where I will definitely be using my hands in places.
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No question that the easiest route to the lookout is via the trail in the basin on the right.
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Gaining elevation on Granite's SE ridge... looking down on the trail in the basin below... I-90 crossing Snoqualmie Pass in the center of photo... broad views from Snoqualmie Mountain (left) to Rampart Ridge on the right.
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Views broaden with each step up... Kaleetan Peak on the left to Lemah Mountain on the far right.
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Almost to the lookout.
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Looking back down at my boulder route on Granite's SE ridge.
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A closeup of Snoqualmie Mountain (left)... with Overcoat Peak, Chimney Rock and Lemah Mountain in the center... and Chikamin Peak and Four Brothers on the right.
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A closeup of Kaleetan Peak (left), Chair Peak and Bryant Peak... the snow covered Glacier Peak in the distance on the right.
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On the Granite Mountain summit (5629') now... looking south to Mount Rainier.
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A closeup of Mount Rainier.
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Looking across Crystal Lake and Tuscohatchie Lake to the foreground peaks of Kaleetan, Chair, Bryant and The Tooth... with Big Snow Mountain in the distance on the right.
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Tusk O'Granite from the Granite summit... Bandera Mountain, Mt. Defiance and Pratt Mountain to the left.
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Looking across Alta Mtn, Three Queens and Hibox Mountain to the sunshine hitting Mount Stuart in the distance.
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Looking back up at the lookout as I return via the trail in the basin... Granite's SE ridge on the left.
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Back to the small shelf at 4800 feet.
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Looking across Humpback Mountain to Mount Rainier.
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Silver Peak, Abiel Peak and Humpback Mountain... ~3 miles to get back to the car.
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