"Go East, Old Man" (grass and rocks at the east end of gorge, Washington)
Posted: March 21st, 2019, 7:07 pm
Overslept, woke at 4:30, threw a pack together and ran out the door. Seeking new adventure in the gorge sans postholing or snowshoes, which dictates Washington side (melts out faster) and way east, further than I've been before, past Coyote, Catherine, Lyle, Doug's Beach, until the terrain flattened, and the highway is no longer pinched between river and cliffs. Turned around, west back to the cliffy zone, in search of the first parking space that was legal and safe.
From my car, headed up a bit, then west because it looked more scenic that direction, followed a frosty grassy bench, past a spring-fed waterfall, and finally picked a ridge to ascend up, north, away from the river.
Routefinding was fun. Although there were options, it wasn't overwhelming. Generally, it was a matter of deciding which ridges I would ascend and descend, and which side of crest I would take when the crest was too rugged.
I had assumed my ascent ridge was as far west as I would go, but on the way up, I realized there were better adventures to the west, so I vowed to go down over there instead of the ridge to the east. But first, after topping out on my ascent ridge, I wanted to explore east.
I walked through grassy hills, gentle and easy, until I hit oak and snow and a rugged canyon. It looked like continuing east would be pleasant enough, but not as enticing as what I had seen to the west. Besides, I started to see evidence I may have been on somebody's property. I happened to notice a tan rectangular speck at the highway below, and binoculars confirmed I was directly above my car.
I returned west, past the top of my ascent ridge, struggled a bit to find the top of snowsliver ridge (see pics for explanation) in the forest, then descended to a beautiful open grassy ridge. I followed it down to a sensible stopping point, then up and over to the next ridge to the west, down as far as I could, then explored on the way back east to my car.
Considering how wildly random this day was, it was amazing how things turned out: no dead ends, except for cliffy spots where I knew I would have to turn back. West and east extents were natural and satisfying. I felt good when I turned back from both ends. I never felt like I wished I had more time to explore more (well, maybe just a little). I had hoped for just a bit more snow, but I realize as recently as two weeks ago it might have been too much, so I guess my timing was good.
I took some heat for posting a TR on a mystery location a couple weeks ago, but this is a little different. This was an un-named place, and I don't even think I could accurately draw my route on an aerial photo. Anyway, sometimes the purpose of a TR isn't an enticement to follow in my footsteps, but an exhibition of what's out there if you just take a chance and go exploring.
From my car, headed up a bit, then west because it looked more scenic that direction, followed a frosty grassy bench, past a spring-fed waterfall, and finally picked a ridge to ascend up, north, away from the river.
Routefinding was fun. Although there were options, it wasn't overwhelming. Generally, it was a matter of deciding which ridges I would ascend and descend, and which side of crest I would take when the crest was too rugged.
I had assumed my ascent ridge was as far west as I would go, but on the way up, I realized there were better adventures to the west, so I vowed to go down over there instead of the ridge to the east. But first, after topping out on my ascent ridge, I wanted to explore east.
I walked through grassy hills, gentle and easy, until I hit oak and snow and a rugged canyon. It looked like continuing east would be pleasant enough, but not as enticing as what I had seen to the west. Besides, I started to see evidence I may have been on somebody's property. I happened to notice a tan rectangular speck at the highway below, and binoculars confirmed I was directly above my car.
I returned west, past the top of my ascent ridge, struggled a bit to find the top of snowsliver ridge (see pics for explanation) in the forest, then descended to a beautiful open grassy ridge. I followed it down to a sensible stopping point, then up and over to the next ridge to the west, down as far as I could, then explored on the way back east to my car.
Considering how wildly random this day was, it was amazing how things turned out: no dead ends, except for cliffy spots where I knew I would have to turn back. West and east extents were natural and satisfying. I felt good when I turned back from both ends. I never felt like I wished I had more time to explore more (well, maybe just a little). I had hoped for just a bit more snow, but I realize as recently as two weeks ago it might have been too much, so I guess my timing was good.
I took some heat for posting a TR on a mystery location a couple weeks ago, but this is a little different. This was an un-named place, and I don't even think I could accurately draw my route on an aerial photo. Anyway, sometimes the purpose of a TR isn't an enticement to follow in my footsteps, but an exhibition of what's out there if you just take a chance and go exploring.