|
HIKE |
Banana Ridge |
|
ROUTE |
Normal route |
|
DATE |
08/17/2006 |
|
ATTENDEES |
Chris, Mark, Damon, Daniel, Lori, Steve and Drew. |
|
NOTES |
xxx |
PHOTOS
Photo credits: Chris S.
TRAIL REPORT
(CHRIS)
WOW! What an introduction!
Our first time TNABbers Steve, Lori and Daniel put forth exceptional effort to tackle Banana Ridge in the face of exceptional adversity. First, I misrepresented the hike to you in underestimating it by about 1000 feet and 90 minutes. I also didn't give you guys a realistic start time for the trail head. In Steve's words, TNAB = "Totally Nuts and Bonkers". In the end, you showed your spirit and determination in conquering the ridge. A few photos attached.
Also, Steve, you requested a topo and summit point. The attached topo has our approximate routes plotted.
Black = all
Red = Chris, Damon, Mark
Blue = Lori, Steve
Green = Daniel
Yellow = Drew?
Mark, please fwd to Damon and Drew. Daniel, Lori and Steve, if you want to get trip reports and schedule for next hikes (later season are easier), forward your email address to him at mesachie@verizon.net.
-Chris
(MARK)
Hello, TNAB'ers:
Time for TNAB to try something new. Banana is one of many names given to the high point of the ridge (5335 ft el) that runs next to I-90, west of Mt Defiance. Putrid Pete's is the point on the far east of the ridge. Our route this evening, however, is to approach from the west via Dirty Harry's Peak (DHP) trail.
Attendance: Damon, Drew, Chris S and myself were the regulars on hand. Chris was on a recruiting tear last week, inviting Daniel, Lori and Steve to join us. Daniel was running late, so the rest of us took off at 5:50 PM.
The weather was warm and sunny.
For the first hour, it was a re-visit of familiar territory: Dirty Harry's Logging Road trail, the turnoff to the Balcony, the stream that has dried up to a trickle. The group stayed together pretty well up to the fork to DHP, but like the trail, things got a bit sketchy afterward.
Drew, who had powered ahead of the group early on, thought the route included DHP and took a left. Oops. Meanwhile, Damon and I were pulling away from Chris, Steve and Lori. Every so often, Chris tried to give Daniel directions by cell. Still, the five of us stayed in periodic visual contact as TNAB plunged into unknown territory.
The trail skirts under DHP's talus field, then rises up through the forest to the saddle. From there, it's head up and to the east, following a makeshift network of cairns and flagging, with some sections of obvious trail. Basically, we're funneling up the center of two merging ridgelines. We reached a nice meadow, from where I made the executive decision to ditch the trail and contour along the ridgeline to our right. It features abundant mossy talus and open forest bushwhacking - pure TNAB joy!
At about 4800 ft el, we regained the "trail" as it cuts sharply to the right. A short section of steep switches leads to the top of the southeast ridgeline - hello, there's I-90 way down there! We follow the trail along the ridge, then pop to the right and make a straight shot for the summit. Woo Hoo! It's 8:02 PM. Damon and Chris join me on top. Steve and Lori stop below us on the ridge - pretty good show for TNAB newbies! We take in the hazy views (forest fire smoke?) but don't linger long, as sunset is close at hand.
The descent was orderly and uneventful. Headlamps were required by 9:00 PM as we returned to the forest. Back on the road, the stars were out in force, requiring a lightless walk out. Awesome. At the cars, Chris greeted us with fresh cold ones - great way to end a great hike!
Loose threads: Daniel did find the trail, and made it up to about 4000 ft el - in motorcycle gear! Drew did summit DHP, wondered where the hell we were, then realized the error and returned to the cars. To Lori and Steve, the event didn't meet their definition of a "hike" - more like blundering through wilderness. I agree, this route was not the best one to introduce a newbie to TNAB. Still, I had a blast and will put it on the list for next year, maybe schedule it for the middle of July instead. :)
Cheers, -Mark