Day 2
The
wind was still howling Friday morning.
On the positive side the mosquitoes were kept at bay. We had a slow
morning while folks recovered from the long day before while getting
the usual sub par first nights sleep on the trail. For some unknown
reason I slept better every night than I ever have while backpacking.
It was 11:00 am when we finally decided on an agenda for the day. We
had all done 8000' Armstrong Mountain and chose a trip up lesser
visited Rock Mountain instead. It is right above Louden Lake making for
a short trip. The slope above the lake is steep grass and gravel. The
footing is pretty good. We took a very direct route straight up. There
are larch trees all over the hillside. I'd love to see them when they
are golden in the fall. The grade lessened as we climbed. Near the top
it becomes very sub alpine with big boulders and small trees. A much
more interesting destination than Armstrong and Arnold Peaks.
The first high point was, of course, a false summit. An easy walk brought us to the 7613' top. We climbed up onto the big rock that sits on flat ground and signifies the summit. While Armstrong blocks to the north great views abound in every other direction. Back to Sunny Pass and Windy Peak to the south. I could see Haig, Teapot Dome and Bauerman Ridge, three summits I scrambled in 2009. Even Cathedral Peak, far to the west was now in sight. It is a great viewpoint.
All the rock provided for a wind free zone. Much nicer than back at camp. We spent a good long time soaking up the sun and views. On my previous visit to Rock Mountain we descended to the northwest on much more gentle terrain. We did the same this time. Staying a little to the right kept us out of the bog we had to cross the previous time. More wildflowers in bloom in the meadows along the way. After the descent to the main trail now west of Louden Lake we split up. Janet has had both knees replaced and after the hike in and a steep scramble she was ready for some easier roaming to be ready for another long day on Saturday. Gwen and I headed north for one more closes by summit.
When prolific hiker Sadie's Driver her canine companion we spent four days in the basin. We scrambled a 7850' peak to the west of Armstrong and dubbed it "Sadie's Summit". A narrow ridge running into Canada became "Sadie's Tail". I aimed for a return visit. We scrambled up a grassy, partly forested slope (more wildflowers to an open meadow that I recalled from 2007. The main Boundary Trail goes around the bottom of the ridge to Sadie's Summit. We took a more direct route that intersected the ridge higher up. The meadow climbs to the ridge top. Steeper at the top but not a problem. Views improved nicely on the ridge top.
We followed the ridge most of the way up. It included a little rock scrambling as well. At the top of the longest scramble it was apparent that a grassy gully would take us down with no scrambling at all. It was fun scrambling up none the less. The upper plateau is fairly flat. The summit is a series of rocks with vertical splits separating them. The last 20' was a little more scrambling. We could now see all the Rock Mountain views plus to the north of Armstrong way into Canada. Very very nice. We left the summit and wandered farther west on the summit plateau. The route to Sadie's Tail requires descending a narrowing ridge first west then straight north. We did not have the time this day. We did get to where the border swath is visible far to the west.
After another break we headed down. The grassy gully route was very easy. On the trail back to camp we ran into Steve. He ended up camping near us and we had the good fortune to speak with him again later about hiking. Back at camp I had a note from David. They had enough of the wind and headed to Sunny Pass for the night. They summited Windy Peak the next day. We took an evening jaunt around the lake. Late we enjoyed some very nice sunset colors then it was off to bed. Amazingly, when Steve arrived the wind died down. There was some wind on Friday night but nothing like the night before. Saturday would be our last full day in Horseshoe Basin and we had plans for a destination that none of us had ever visited.
The first high point was, of course, a false summit. An easy walk brought us to the 7613' top. We climbed up onto the big rock that sits on flat ground and signifies the summit. While Armstrong blocks to the north great views abound in every other direction. Back to Sunny Pass and Windy Peak to the south. I could see Haig, Teapot Dome and Bauerman Ridge, three summits I scrambled in 2009. Even Cathedral Peak, far to the west was now in sight. It is a great viewpoint.
All the rock provided for a wind free zone. Much nicer than back at camp. We spent a good long time soaking up the sun and views. On my previous visit to Rock Mountain we descended to the northwest on much more gentle terrain. We did the same this time. Staying a little to the right kept us out of the bog we had to cross the previous time. More wildflowers in bloom in the meadows along the way. After the descent to the main trail now west of Louden Lake we split up. Janet has had both knees replaced and after the hike in and a steep scramble she was ready for some easier roaming to be ready for another long day on Saturday. Gwen and I headed north for one more closes by summit.
When prolific hiker Sadie's Driver her canine companion we spent four days in the basin. We scrambled a 7850' peak to the west of Armstrong and dubbed it "Sadie's Summit". A narrow ridge running into Canada became "Sadie's Tail". I aimed for a return visit. We scrambled up a grassy, partly forested slope (more wildflowers to an open meadow that I recalled from 2007. The main Boundary Trail goes around the bottom of the ridge to Sadie's Summit. We took a more direct route that intersected the ridge higher up. The meadow climbs to the ridge top. Steeper at the top but not a problem. Views improved nicely on the ridge top.
We followed the ridge most of the way up. It included a little rock scrambling as well. At the top of the longest scramble it was apparent that a grassy gully would take us down with no scrambling at all. It was fun scrambling up none the less. The upper plateau is fairly flat. The summit is a series of rocks with vertical splits separating them. The last 20' was a little more scrambling. We could now see all the Rock Mountain views plus to the north of Armstrong way into Canada. Very very nice. We left the summit and wandered farther west on the summit plateau. The route to Sadie's Tail requires descending a narrowing ridge first west then straight north. We did not have the time this day. We did get to where the border swath is visible far to the west.
After another break we headed down. The grassy gully route was very easy. On the trail back to camp we ran into Steve. He ended up camping near us and we had the good fortune to speak with him again later about hiking. Back at camp I had a note from David. They had enough of the wind and headed to Sunny Pass for the night. They summited Windy Peak the next day. We took an evening jaunt around the lake. Late we enjoyed some very nice sunset colors then it was off to bed. Amazingly, when Steve arrived the wind died down. There was some wind on Friday night but nothing like the night before. Saturday would be our last full day in Horseshoe Basin and we had plans for a destination that none of us had ever visited.
 Morning Clouds |
 Clear Now |
 Campsite |
 Louden Lake |
 Sadie's Summit |
 Armstrong From Rock |
 Steep Climbing |
 Flatter Spot |
 Gwen On Rock Mt. |
 Janet On Summit |
 Puffy White Clouds |
 Windy Peak From Rock |
 Remmel Mt.? |
 Descending Rock Mt. |
 Near Boundary Trail |
 Rock Garden |
 Open Meadows |
 Rock From Sadie's |
 Climbing To Ridge |
 Cathedral Peak |
 Rock & Armstrong |
 Rock Scramble Ahead |
 Summit In Sight |
 Gwen Atop Sadie'ss |
 Sadie's Tail |
 Canada |
 Back Of Summit |
 Happy Girl |
 Heather |
 Back Near Camp |
 Nice Lighting |
 Dusk On Tarns |
 Fashionista |
 Setting Sun |
 Getting Good |
 Dear At Dark |
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