Kachess Ridge (Point 5525) and French Chin - 10.11.2016
We started our hike/scramble at the trailhead for French Cabin Creek Trail #1305... a 7 mile drive on FS-4308 in the Salmon La Sac area... our trip was 6.2 miles roundtrip, gaining 2169 feet of elevation. Click on the 'Trailhead Directions' link above this photo for complete directions.
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After we hiked 1305 for a short distance we got this look at French Chin (left)... French Tongue is on the ridge between the two tall trees in the middle of the photo.
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After hiking ~1.5 miles we will turn left (south) and hike Kachess Ridge Trail #1315 over to a pass between French Chin and French Tongue.
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On Kachess Ridge Trail #1315... and heading for the pass between French Chin (left) and French Tongue (right).
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French Tongue from the pass between the chin and the tongue.
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Off trail now... working our way around the south side of French Tongue... we can see Point 5525 on Kachess Ridge above.
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We found this rock outcropping between French Tongue and Point 5525... which we named French Pimple.
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On Kachess Ridge... looking back at French Tongue in the left foreground... and the west summit of French Cabin Mountain on the far right.
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Lots of rock outcroppings along Kachess Ridge... here looking down on Kachess Lake... and across Keechelus Ridge to Silver Peak, McClellan Butte, Bandera Mtn, Mt. Defiance and Granite Mtn.
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Working our way south along Kachess Ridge... with Point 5525 on the far left.
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Continuing south along Kachess Ridge... with the Stuart Range on the horizon... between French Tongue and French Chin.
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Standing on Point 5525... looking north... Kachess Lake below.
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Izzy waits patiently for us as we continue south along the ridge... the west summit of French Cabin Mountain on the left... and Silver Creek Basin below left.
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Continuing along the ridge... at some point we will leave the ridge and head down to Silver Creek Basin to pick up the Kachess Ridge Trail.
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Still on the ridge and looking back at part of our ridge route.
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Looking down on Kachess Lake... and across Amabilis Mountain in the foreground to Mt. Rainier in the distance.
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Izzy and Snowdog on Kachess Ridge... with the Stuart Range in the distance.
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The Stuart Range from Kachess Ridge.
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Continuing south on Kachess Ridge... the ridge looks pretty gnarly up ahead... the west summit of French Cabin Mountain on the left.
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The knife edged ridge has pushed us onto the east side of the ridge... ~40 feet below the ridge.
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Following a path of sorts on the east side of the ridge... ~70 feet below the ridge... we are trying to reach Point 5349 where we can get on easier terrain before dropping down to Silver Creek Basin.
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We gave up on reaching Point 5349 and headed straight down to the basin on steep terrain... here we are back at the pass between French Tongue (above) and French Chin.
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Scrambling for the top of French Chin now... looking back across the pass to French Tongue (right) and Point 5525 (left)
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Izzy and Snowdog heading for the top of French Chin... easy Class 3.
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Selfie stick at work on top of French Chin... the tongue on the left... looking up Box Canyon on the right to Alta Mountain and Hibox Mountain. Only a two mile hike to get back to the car.
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