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Hamilton Mountain, Below, In and Above The Inversion

Posted: January 17th, 2013, 8:09 pm
by weathercrazy
One of my top 5 hikes in my 14 years...Hiking up through the fog (and amazing rime ice) into the 54 degree sunshine!

All the pics can be seen here:

http://weathercrazy.smugmug.com/Landsca ... 354_bbHg7P
244. G Hood and Clouds.jpg
I intentionally took this hike, knowing full well it would take me above the inversion. Checking the latest sounding from Salem (http://weather.uwyo.edu/cgi-bin/soundin ... STNM=72694)

I saw the inversion was approximately 2,000'. That means Hamilton's 2,400' summit would stick above it, and I could bask in the sun and warm temps.

Being a weather geek, I took a thermometer and tracked the temps.

The trail was in great shape with just mud in some places. There was ice starting around the 1,300' level and this continued until the 1,800' level. Then, the trail gave way to soft snow.

So here goes, the elevation, temp, and time, including some pictures as I went.

200', 37 degrees cloudy, 1117
500', 36, 1131
600', 36, 1132
700', 35, 1137
800', 35, 1140
900', 35, 1144, in clouds
12. G Foggy Trail.jpg
890' (Coopey Falls), 33, 1158
1000', 33, 1207
1100', 33, 1210
1200', 32, 1217
43. G Rime Berry Close V.jpg
1300', 31, 1228
1400, 31, 1237
65. G Rime, Moss and Trail V.jpg
1500, 29, 1243
1600', 31, 1250
1700', 29, 1256
82. G Rime and Trail V.jpg
106. G Fir Rime Close.jpg
126. G Branch Rime.jpg
Here's where things started to warm up :)

1800', 33, 1312
158. G Trail and Fog Sun V.jpg
1900', 38, 1319
2000', 41, 1324
2100', 44, 1330
182. G Hood Above Fog V.jpg
2200', 50, 1337
2300', 50, 1352
Summit, 54, 1359
205. G View East.jpg
Notice the glory here:
215. G Adams and Glory V.jpg
Leaving Summit 1420
1900', 41, 1445
1800', 36, 1450
244. G Hood and Clouds.jpg
1700', 33, 1455
287. G Rime Chandelier 2.jpg
1600', 31, 1504
1500', 29, 1508
296. G Rime Flowers V.jpg
1200', 32, 1520
1100', 32, 1523
850', 33, 1530
302. G Trail Fog V.jpg
800', 34, leaving fog
200', 36, 1558

Re: Hamilton Mountain, Below, In and Above The Inversion

Posted: January 17th, 2013, 8:31 pm
by zee
Oh lordy, lordy
You've had one fine day
My, my
You've had one fine day

Re: Hamilton Mountain, Below, In and Above The Inversion

Posted: January 17th, 2013, 8:55 pm
by kepPNW
Wow wow wow! That rates as one of the best TRs I've seen here. You really brought it all together. Outstanding photos. Just outstanding. The temps round it out beautifully. Only thing I missed is when you went -- today?

I'm sick that I've had to be inside. Given your passion for this, do you suppose Saturday will offer anything comparable?

Re: Hamilton Mountain, Below, In and Above The Inversion

Posted: January 17th, 2013, 9:03 pm
by weathercrazy
I'm sorry, it was yesterday (Wednesday).

I highly doubt much of the rime will be left, temps were warming as the inversion lowered. In fact, while I was up there, it was like shards of glass (the sound anyway) as the rime broke off. It was heart breaking to see that this beautiful work of art was being destroyed. Today the east wind kicked in and blew out the low clouds. However, the warm temps should remain near the summit.

For the record, in all my trips, in, up and through the gorge, I have NEVER seen fog/low clouds settle in like I did yesterday.

I think the only better hike was at Mt. Rainier when I took a similar hike up through the clouds. I was on a saddle and the low clouds were sloshing back in forth (like water) and occasionally would spill over the saddle, it was amazing.
kepPNW wrote:Wow wow wow! That rates as one of the best TRs I've seen here. You really brought it all together. Outstanding photos. Just outstanding. The temps round it out beautifully. Only thing I missed is when you went -- today?

I'm sick that I've had to be inside. Given your passion for this, do you suppose Saturday will offer anything comparable?

Re: Hamilton Mountain, Below, In and Above The Inversion

Posted: January 17th, 2013, 9:15 pm
by BrianEdwards
Very impressive documentation of the inversion. Hard to fathom that only a couple hundred feet of elevation would be 20 degrees difference, and such opposite conditions

Re: Hamilton Mountain, Below, In and Above The Inversion

Posted: January 17th, 2013, 9:23 pm
by Eric Peterson
Great pictures WC!

I've probably asked this before but what camera are you shooting with? And
did you PS any of those?

Thanks :)

Re: Hamilton Mountain, Below, In and Above The Inversion

Posted: January 17th, 2013, 9:36 pm
by Peder
Very cool! Makes me regret that I did not make it to Table Mtn yesterday as planned. :(

Re: Hamilton Mountain, Below, In and Above The Inversion

Posted: January 17th, 2013, 9:39 pm
by kepPNW
weathercrazy wrote:I'm sorry, it was yesterday (Wednesday).
I was thinking, as I took my lunchtime walk yesterday, that that was the day to be "out there!" What a fabulous stroke of timing you had there! :)

Re: Hamilton Mountain, Below, In and Above The Inversion

Posted: January 17th, 2013, 10:10 pm
by pablo
Ditto on the wow - that first photo really set me back - the transition between cloud and clear is so abrupt. And the travel through the transition - great stuff - a TR for the ages.

--Paul

Re: Hamilton Mountain, Below, In and Above The Inversion

Posted: January 17th, 2013, 10:51 pm
by Roy
Good stuff :D I still remember your Burroughs Mt hike tr you refer to and then I see Mark Nelson showing one of your photos on his weather segment.

Inversions are pretty fun for those who venture out . I was not as good a recorder as you but Sunday It was 33 at the trail head 26 on top very normal for a non inversion day. That 3 degree per thousand feet is pretty accurate under a normal atmosphere.