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Jim Dockery Member
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Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 3092 | TRs | Pics Location: Lake Stevens |
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](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14328989922_529x360.jpg) 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](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14307591666_529x360.jpg) 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](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14144740849_640x360.jpg) West Face Ski Run ![Mt. Pilchuck from bottom of run](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14144101340_563x360.jpg) Mt. Pilchuck from bottom of run ![First Sunset](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14144213087_329x480.jpg) First Sunset ![Sunset cornice](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14330007934_564x360.jpg) Sunset cornice ![My Tracks](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14330008214_564x360.jpg) My Tracks ![Looking back down skin track to Spada Lk.](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14350918123_529x360.jpg) 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](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14330006624_530x360.jpg) Del Campo & Morning Star ![Gothic](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14307587866_530x360.jpg) Gothic ![Vesper evening](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14144059499_530x360.jpg) 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](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14327395111_530x360.jpg) Sunset slabs on Vesper ![Sunset from Vesper](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14330007654_315x480.jpg) Sunset from Vesper ![Sunset from Vesper](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14307586756_329x480.jpg) Sunset from Vesper
After dinner I got a final panorama looking north and went to bed.
![North from Vesper](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14144091609_1131x360.jpg) 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](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14330011844_564x360.jpg) Glacier Pk, Sloan, Sperry ![Glacier Pk.](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14328991602_564x360.jpg) Glacier Pk. ![View south](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14144216667_530x360.jpg) View south ![Sunrise from Vesper](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14144216857_530x360.jpg) Sunrise from Vesper ![Vega Pk.](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14350921483_553x360.jpg) 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](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14330717565_529x360.jpg) summit camp ![View north from my tent platform](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14330747125_405x360.jpg) View north from my tent platform
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](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14328985642_530x360.jpg) Sunset from Vesper
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Fletcher Member
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Posts: 1878 | TRs | Pics Location: kirkland |
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Fletcher
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![Post Post](templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif) Mon Jun 02, 2014 11:38 am
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GeoTom Member
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Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 3217 | TRs | Pics Location: Earth |
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GeoTom
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![Post Post](templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif) Mon Jun 02, 2014 11:57 am
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Nice looking trip.
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iron Member
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Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 6394 | TRs | Pics Location: southeast kootenays |
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iron
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![Post Post](templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif) Mon Jun 02, 2014 12:43 pm
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Jetlag Member
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Joined: 17 Aug 2010 Posts: 1410 | TRs | Pics
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Jetlag
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![Post Post](templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif) Mon Jun 02, 2014 12:44 pm
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Wow - just love the photo of your tracks on the West side of Vesper . . . and the shot of Vega. No avalanches?
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GaliWalker Have camera will use
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Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 4956 | TRs | Pics Location: Pittsburgh |
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GaliWalker
Have camera will use
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![Post Post](templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif) Mon Jun 02, 2014 1:34 pm
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Fletcher wrote: | Awesome photos! |
I especially liked "Sunset slabs on Vesper"...my kind of shot!
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olderthanIusedtobe Member
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Joined: 05 Sep 2011 Posts: 7744 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
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.
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n16ht5 Member
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Joined: 21 Jun 2010 Posts: 592 | TRs | Pics
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n16ht5
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![Post Post](templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif) Mon Jun 02, 2014 3:08 pm
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Oh man, great shots.
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BarbE Member
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Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 1154 | TRs | Pics
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BarbE
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![Post Post](templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif) Mon Jun 02, 2014 6:54 pm
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Rainie Too! Member
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Joined: 12 Dec 2008 Posts: 377 | TRs | Pics
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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!
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Ingunn Hiking Viking
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Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 1751 | TRs | Pics Location: Redmond |
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Ingunn
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![Post Post](templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif) Mon Jun 02, 2014 7:41 pm
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Whoa.
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jcocci Member
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Joined: 16 Jul 2009 Posts: 484 | TRs | Pics Location: Longmont, CO |
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jcocci
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![Post Post](templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif) Mon Jun 02, 2014 7:45 pm
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zephyr aka friendly hiker
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zephyr
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![Post Post](templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif) Mon Jun 02, 2014 9:24 pm
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Jim Dockery wrote: | ![Glacier Pk.](https://cloud.nwhikers.net/14328991602_564x360.jpg) Glacier Pk. |
That's a rather stunning image of Glacier Peak, especially full size. ~z
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JimK Member
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JimK
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![Post Post](templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif) Mon Jun 02, 2014 9:42 pm
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Great idea for a summit camp and really nice photos.
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contour5 Member
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contour5
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![Post Post](templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif) Tue Jun 03, 2014 11:48 am
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