[Jim Dockery]

I was in the mood for a solo overnighter so an easy, close to home, old standard I hadn't done yet this year was in order. I made a casual start from the car at around 11:30 AM. The sunrise mine trail is in good shape, with a pretty good makeshift bridge over the second crossing. I left hiking shoes at the start of Wirtz Basin and started skinning. A couple of skier/boarders swished down Headlee Pass as I was booting up, and a number of climbers passed me along the way, but I was happily on my own heading up the peak.

Previous skier's tracks heading down to the lake

Clouds and a breeze kept things pleasant on the final climb. When I got on top I kicked out a platform for my little 1 man tent next to the summit rocks. I could stand up, lean on the snow, and look over the drop down the north face.

View down north face - ski run for the next generation

With shelter secure it was time to play. Years ago I'd skied the beautiful west face snowfields, which are so enticing when viewed from the lowlands, but hadn't been back. I decided that had to be the run so I could catch the sunset. The snow was a bit mushy, but not too sticky, so I followed it ~1,500 ft. down to a final drop off into cliffs. Sure enough on the way back up I enjoyed a first sunset when the sun passed through a layer of clouds.

West Face Ski Run

Mt. Pilchuck from bottom of run

First Sunset

Sunset cornice

My Tracks

Looking back down skin track to Spada Lk.

Back on top it was 8:30 PM when I got my stove going. I snapped a few pics of the peaks to the east in nice evening light.

Del Campo & Morning Star

Gothic

Vesper evening

While my freeze dried was rehydrating, I shinnied through the chimney in the summit rocks and looked down the north face to Cooper Lk. just at sunset.

Sunset slabs on Vesper

Sunset from Vesper

Sunset from Vesper

After dinner I got a final panorama looking north and went to bed.

North from Vesper

With my head bundled in two hats and snuggled down in my bag I didn't hear the alarm, but luckily woke up before sunrise. The lowlands to the west were covered with low clouds, but luckily it was clearer up high.

Glacier Pk, Sloan, Sperry

Glacier Pk.

View south

Sunrise from Vesper

Vega Pk.

I hadn't slept very well, so I went back to sleep and woke to full sun and softening snow. After a cup of coffee I made a run down to the lake and came back up to pack things up. The snow was getting pretty mushy by 11 on my final run down.

summit camp

View north from my tent platform

1 label

Monte Cristo Peaks

I was back at the car just after 1, having met only a mom & young son on the hike out. A shower, hot tub, then a big salad & beer ended a perfect day.

Sunset from Vesper

[Fletcher]

Awesome photos!

[GeoTom]

Nice looking trip.

[iron]

nice choice!

[Jetlag]

Wow - just love the photo of your tracks on the West side of Vesper . . . and the shot of Vega. No avalanches?

[GaliWalker]

[olderthanIusedtobe]

Great pics of a cool area, one of my go to hikes every year. I haven't seen many sunset/sunrise pictures from around the summit. Good choice for an overnight destination.

[n16ht5]

Oh man, great shots.

[BarbE]

Stunning! such an amazing place in your backyard

[Rainie Too!]

What a great solo overnighter idea! Will have to remember this one... although I am not sure about the size of your campsite. May have to even bring my skis!

[Ingunn]

Whoa.

[jcocci]

Nice photos indeed.

[zephyr]

[JimK]

Great idea for a summit camp and really nice photos.

[contour5]

Nice Pictures!