Ingalls Peak, North Cascades
Heading south and east worked, though we got stuck for an hour in Seattle's traffic... all part of the fun I guess. Morning found us driving north from Cle Elum to get to Ingalls Way, Ingalls Peak and Mount Stuart. We had 2400 feet of altitude to gain, and if we packed expeditiously, we could sneak in a route on Ingalls Peak in the afternoon. But - and an important but it was - the main objective was the West Ridge of Stuart - a rather long day, even by Ram standards - so we musn't get knackered at ALL by the day's activity. The sunshine felt good...
Really, really psyched to be re-packing for another hike in... well, not really.
No pictures on the hike in, until we got to Ingalls Pass - and a killer view of Mt Stuart!
We chose a campsite with the best view, some slickrock, and hopefully high enough to catch a breeze. Mt Stuart, pink granite, Aaron.
Out targets for the day --- Mt Ingalls, 7662 feet. Bucky and I would go for the South Face, Ram and Aaron would go for the East Ridge.
Nice meadows of flowers up here, including a rather extensive blooming of:
Dodecatheum alpinum
Primulaceae (Primrose family)
Common name:
Alpine Shooting Star
Location:
Ingalls Pass, Alpine Lakes Area, Washington State Cascades; July 24, 2008.
Elevation:
approx 6600 feet
NAD83:
Lat/Lon: 47.46054�N / 120.9382�W
Dominance:
Scattered large patches.
Comments:
Source:
(1) Spellenberg, Richard. (1979, 1994)
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Western Region
. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. ISBN 0-394-50431-3. Plate # 503; Description page 688.
Basically, a whole field of these...
After dumping our gear and hanging our food, we wandered over to climb Ingalls. A couple Marmots were around, whistling to amuse us?
At the edge of Ingalls lake, we saw our first goats in this area. They kinda freaked us out because they were no not-shy. Bucky readies his ski pole, if needed...
Bucky gearing up near the base of our climb.
Bucky racks up for the first pitch.
Bucky heads up the primary pitch...
... and cranks toward the skyline.
Tom follows up the pitch (nice pic, buck!).
We top out on the summit ridge, then head up for the actual top (50 feet away)!
We arrive at the summit to find Aaron belaying and Ram coming up.
Here's Ram and Aaron's story: they left camp before us and headed up. A short stretch of steep snow was required to reach the ridge.
Ram climbing up on the blocky ridge.
Some nice ridge climbing.
Ram climbing, Ingalls lake in the background.
Classic pose - Ram, rock, Mt Stuart...
nice shot of Buckaroo near the summit.
Bucky and Aaron on the summit block.
Rapping down the South Face. Ram decided to downclimb around, to take pictures.
The BIG THING - tomorrow, Mount Stuart, the West Ridge.
Tom and Bucky, working out the Rack for the West Ridge.
A really pleasant bivy - except for a few, pesky visitors.