Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

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Chip Down
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Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Post by Chip Down » March 8th, 2020, 6:01 pm

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.
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Those bare ridges to the right are enticing.
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I arrived here with the towers at my back, and laughed when I turned around to discover how close I was.
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The clouds put on a show today.
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Highest powerline tower, just south of the radio towers. Spent a loooong time here watching ice tumble off the warming steel.
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Last time, I came from there, via Hardy Ridge.
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That's about as much authority as I came up with to call it Skamania Mountain.
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Notice how a slab slowly creeped down the roof and curled under at the bottom.
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Funnest part of the day was sliding down that roof into the snow pile.
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Slushbomb Alley on the way back down. No surprise, I figured it would be.

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Chip Down
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Re: Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Post by Chip Down » March 8th, 2020, 6:01 pm

and of course...
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Bosterson
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Re: Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Post by Bosterson » March 8th, 2020, 11:38 pm

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).
#pnw #bestlife #bitingflies #favoriteyellowcap #neverdispleased

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retired jerry
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Re: Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Post by retired jerry » March 9th, 2020, 5:37 am

does that make it a glacier? cool

johnspeth
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Re: Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Post by johnspeth » 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?
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Call OSP

johnspeth
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Re: Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Post by johnspeth » March 9th, 2020, 6:28 am

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.

Webfoot
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Re: Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Post by Webfoot » March 10th, 2020, 12:32 am

Was this around February 18th, or a more recent snow?

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Chip Down
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Re: Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Post by Chip Down » March 10th, 2020, 5:00 am

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.

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retired jerry
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Re: Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Post by retired jerry » March 10th, 2020, 6:13 am

local warming will cause glacier to recede :)

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Chip Down
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Re: Skamania Mountain via Duncan Creek

Post by Chip Down » February 11th, 2021, 1:47 pm

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.
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That straight road by the question mark was my goal. Skamania Mtn summit is that high point just a little to the north.
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Felt soooo good to get out of that coarse gravel.
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somebody is taking the Subaru ads a little too literally.
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Here's my goal road.

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