TNAB Trip report for West Granite 8/7 2003

Date: August 7th, 2003
Hike: West Granite
Route: Up the Pratt lake trail, bushwhack to Talus, up the Talus to summit. 2 folks continued on to Granite, and down the Granite Mt. trail.
Attendees: Larry, Joan, Damon, Matt, Gretchen, Dan, Mark D.
Comments: Nice loop! Mild-Medium bushwhack rating

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Photo Credits: Matt K.

Matt's Hike Summary: Tour de Granites

Hike last night was West Granite - or North Granite. It's the peak that you see across the short ridge to the northwest when standing on Granite Proper. We took the Pratt Lake trail from the usual Granite Mtn. trailhead and did the long, fast, relatively flat run around the ridge and on up past Talapus lake. You catch glimpses of the talus field through the trees on occasion, and when we figured we were at the closest point, and the woods looked favorable for walking, we headed off the trail. Dan and Mark D. were ahead of us, and had gone a bit further up before starting the bushwhack, but heard Larry and headed back over. The bushwhack to the Talus was mostly in clean, easy walking pine forest, with the last 50m being in more brushy scrub. From there's it's talus picking up to the ridge. The Talus is pretty big blocks, but a surprising number of rather large blocks can and do move when stepped on. Dan almost got himself pinned at one point, and Mark D. was all set to amputate whatever limb was necessary, but Dan got free before Mark could dig out the pocket knife. There's more scrub on the last bit to the top, and a nice summit. Very VERY hazy - zero volcano night, couldn't see Seattle either. Nice blood red sunset through the murk though. Mosquitos were moving in as well, so we didn't stay on top long.

At this point, Gretchen and I decided to finish the last link of the I-90 traverse and head over the ridge to the summit of Granite proper, while everyone else went down the way we'd come up. The ridge is in and out of trees, stay left at first while dropping about 400 ft, and then move right as you start heading up to Granite again (we stayed left too long under my misdirection). It took about 35 minutes to go from one summit to the other. Mosquitos were even worse on Granite - almost up to Olympics standards, so there was no loitering before heading down the trail. We actually beat the other group out by about 5 minutes, so it's no longer either. great loop!

Next week: Overnight in Commonwealth Basin with a summit of Red Mtn! Hope the weather's a little nicer, or, more to the point, all the mosquitos roll onto their little backs and die. There will be quesadillas (of course) and beverages of the intoxicating variety. Overnight is not required of course, just be prepared to hike out on your own if not staying.