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Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Posted: March 8th, 2020, 6:01 pm
by Chip Down
Did you know there's a Skamania Mountain? I didn't either, although I've been there before. That was on a hot snow-free day, so must have been spring or summer. I wanted to go back again via a different route in winter.

Started at Duncan Creek TH, east of Archer Mountain. I didn't realize the Duncan Creek trail is so easy to follow. I expected no more than vague remnants.

At the top of the trail (Railcar Bridge) I was thinking about following Duncan Creek up/north, but decided to veer up/east to the crest of a ridge, which I followed, with a little help from an unexpected road I encountered. Then an expected road took me west to powerlines, which I followed to the summit.

I was expecting this to be really difficult, but it went well.

Other parties: none, but several cars at Duncan TH when I returned. Strange.

Re: Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Posted: March 8th, 2020, 6:01 pm
by Chip Down
and of course...

Re: Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Posted: March 8th, 2020, 11:38 pm
by Bosterson
Does 2 cans mean you made a couvee? Seems like better weather for a can of Dark Star (though maybe not, it'd be hard to warm it up).

Re: Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Posted: March 9th, 2020, 5:37 am
by retired jerry
does that make it a glacier? cool

Re: Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Posted: March 9th, 2020, 6:16 am
by johnspeth
Why would a sign advising calling an Oregon authority exist in Washington? Would OSP really respond to a call in another state?
6.jpg
Call OSP

Re: Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Posted: March 9th, 2020, 6:28 am
by johnspeth
johnspeth wrote:
March 9th, 2020, 6:16 am
Why would a sign advising calling an Oregon authority exist in Washington? Would OSP really respond to a call in another state?
I shall answer my own question: The sign location appears to be at an OSP radio site, designated F73701. There are a number of OSP radio sites that exist just beyond the Oregon state line, particularly on hilltops on the north side of the Columbia River.

Re: Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Posted: March 10th, 2020, 12:32 am
by Webfoot
Was this around February 18th, or a more recent snow?

Re: Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Posted: March 10th, 2020, 5:00 am
by Chip Down
Bosterson:
I did. And I will.

Jerry:
Okay, Skamania Glacier it is.

Johnspeth:
I wondered too, and reached the same conclusion.

Webfoot:
Hike was day of report, March 8. Snow was very fresh.

Re: Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Posted: March 10th, 2020, 6:13 am
by retired jerry
local warming will cause glacier to recede :)

Re: Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Posted: February 11th, 2021, 1:47 pm
by Chip Down
Spotted a road on Google Maps that wasn't there before. Satellite image showed it probably wasn't new (looked a bit rough at edges, overgrown). Had to go investigate. Explored a bunch on the way. That was fun, seeing how things tie together. There were deadends and some bushwhacking, but overall it was rewarding.

I wondered if my mystery road would be a gasline, as they tend to be perfectly straight, regardless of terrain. But no, it was an electric corridor. Almost made it to the top of the straight section, where it meets another road, but my road ended, and continuing up would mean a steep snowy bushwhack. Then, if I wanted to descend on roads SW of Skamania Mtn, I'd have to rely on memory, as my phone wasn't cooperating. It was starting to snow, and I had a lot of ground to cover on the way back, and that bottle of wine wasn't going to drink itself, so I chickened out.