TR - Taboose Pass & Striped Mountain, 17-18 May 2014
Posted: Mon May 19, 2014 2:27 pm
Wanted to get this report out in case people are thinking of heading up to Taboose Pass. Photos at the end.
The goal of the trip was to get some altitude exposure with lots of gain, camping for 1 night in the backcountry. For peakbagging purposes, Striped Mountain and Goodale Mountain were both in the cross-hairs. The drive to the Taboose Creek TH was much easier than I remembered it from 2 years ago - the road is in good condition and any passenger car can make it provided they are careful. No washouts or anything as gnarly as reports from September made it sound. It still takes about half an hour to drive there from the campground, but no complaints.
We got going around 7:30 am. It was already warm at the time, making the first couple of miles a miserable slog. Starting with no warmup pedal to the metal as we usually do, the heavy pack, heat and sand were a total shock and I fell back. Luckily a thin cloud moved in front of the sun to provide some relief and with enough persistence I got above 6000 ft and into the canyon, where a cool breeze was flowing from the west. The higher we climbed the better I started feeling, and soon enough we were at the first stream crossing. The creek is flowing well, though not anything near where it should be at this time of the year. No snow on the trail except some isolated patches until the top of the switchbacks above the second stream crossing, then coverage was more extended and deeper. We crossed the snow without major postholing. We reached the tarn where an unnamed creek from the SW meets Taboose and decided to set camp here. Elevation was around 10,300 ft and north-facing slopes had big snowfields.
Due to scheduling considerations, the decision was made to go for the summits the same day. Based on previous failed attempts, I knew this was a bad idea, but I wasn't the main organizer so I went along with it. After setting up the tents in a really cramped space, we continued up the trail to the pass. The trail was mostly clear, whatever snow we encountered we bypassed by boulder-hopping around or taking the snow straight up. The pass had pretty much continuous coverage and the winds were howling. We angled south without reaching the sign and alternated snow with boulder-fields up the drainage between Striped and Goodale. The snow was very soft despite the altitude, leading to repeated postholing. We skirted Point 3933 on the east and got within sight of Striped's true summit. However, it was getting late and becoming quite clear we were not going to make it. Sometime around 4 pm one person called it a day. The rest of us continued up the shoulder a ways before getting driven back by the screaming winds and the deep snow on the summit ridge, where an exposed traverse also gave pause to those without crampons. I turned back around 11,800 ft; others got up to 12,200 ft before finally calling it. Of course, there is always one who will not give up. Look for eric1234's report on making it, and adding Goodale Mountain for good measure!
The return to the pass was marked by more postholing, then an exhausted drop back down to camp. No break from the wind even below the pass, and temps plummeting along with fading daylight. We prepared dinner outside, around a corner slightly abating the wind, and some had already hopped into their sleeping bags when our last outstanding member appeared. He explained he followed the same track back after Goodale, but instead of going to the pass, he dropped down a chute that opens in the drainage of the unnamed tributary stream, and from there plunge-stepped his way to camp. We'd have marveled some more at this incredible feat if we weren't freezing outside, so unceremoniously we retreated to the tents to pass a night to the sound of constant flapping and howling.
In the morning it didn't sound like the wind was ready to give any pause. We packed up, then some of us roped up and proceeded to work on maneuvering as a team on the slopes above camp (we had also brought climbing equipment to practice). Finally having had enough of the wind, we grabbed our packs and headed down, meeting up with the rest of our companions a few hundred feet below. The descent was not noteworthy. Temps increased as we dropped elevation, though the wind kept at it until at least the first crossing. I took advantage of every water event to cool off and drink that cold soothing liquid. It felt heavenly. Not far below where the trail meets the stream, I came a across a rattler that looked like it had been bitten in two. We joked about eric1234 imposing his will on it. The sandy slog at the end was an annoyance that had to be dealt with.
Definitely another learning experience on this one. We had a super strong group, yet the Sierra easily defeated us, except for one. It was definitely good to push the boundaries even though we didn't make the summit. And, given the dearth of snow this spring, that roped practice was a much needed opportunity to keep improving the skills.
Entering the canyon of Taboose Creek
The east side of Orange Ogre (first time I heard of this peak) from between the first and second stream crossings
Tarn at the confluence of Taboose Creek and the unnamed stream coming down from the SW. Our camp was in the trees on the right edge.
Looking up the remainder of the way to Taboose Pass
Looking south from above Taboose Pass. The peak in the center is not Striped, but Point 3933.
Cardinal Mountain from the shoulder of Striped. This was taken from where I turned around.
Goodale Mountain from the shoulder of Striped.
Taken on the descent. The true summit of Striped is the farthest bump in the background.
Enjoying a short break on the bank of Taboose Creek on the hike out.
Rattler ripped in two, in the middle of the trail
The goal of the trip was to get some altitude exposure with lots of gain, camping for 1 night in the backcountry. For peakbagging purposes, Striped Mountain and Goodale Mountain were both in the cross-hairs. The drive to the Taboose Creek TH was much easier than I remembered it from 2 years ago - the road is in good condition and any passenger car can make it provided they are careful. No washouts or anything as gnarly as reports from September made it sound. It still takes about half an hour to drive there from the campground, but no complaints.
We got going around 7:30 am. It was already warm at the time, making the first couple of miles a miserable slog. Starting with no warmup pedal to the metal as we usually do, the heavy pack, heat and sand were a total shock and I fell back. Luckily a thin cloud moved in front of the sun to provide some relief and with enough persistence I got above 6000 ft and into the canyon, where a cool breeze was flowing from the west. The higher we climbed the better I started feeling, and soon enough we were at the first stream crossing. The creek is flowing well, though not anything near where it should be at this time of the year. No snow on the trail except some isolated patches until the top of the switchbacks above the second stream crossing, then coverage was more extended and deeper. We crossed the snow without major postholing. We reached the tarn where an unnamed creek from the SW meets Taboose and decided to set camp here. Elevation was around 10,300 ft and north-facing slopes had big snowfields.
Due to scheduling considerations, the decision was made to go for the summits the same day. Based on previous failed attempts, I knew this was a bad idea, but I wasn't the main organizer so I went along with it. After setting up the tents in a really cramped space, we continued up the trail to the pass. The trail was mostly clear, whatever snow we encountered we bypassed by boulder-hopping around or taking the snow straight up. The pass had pretty much continuous coverage and the winds were howling. We angled south without reaching the sign and alternated snow with boulder-fields up the drainage between Striped and Goodale. The snow was very soft despite the altitude, leading to repeated postholing. We skirted Point 3933 on the east and got within sight of Striped's true summit. However, it was getting late and becoming quite clear we were not going to make it. Sometime around 4 pm one person called it a day. The rest of us continued up the shoulder a ways before getting driven back by the screaming winds and the deep snow on the summit ridge, where an exposed traverse also gave pause to those without crampons. I turned back around 11,800 ft; others got up to 12,200 ft before finally calling it. Of course, there is always one who will not give up. Look for eric1234's report on making it, and adding Goodale Mountain for good measure!
The return to the pass was marked by more postholing, then an exhausted drop back down to camp. No break from the wind even below the pass, and temps plummeting along with fading daylight. We prepared dinner outside, around a corner slightly abating the wind, and some had already hopped into their sleeping bags when our last outstanding member appeared. He explained he followed the same track back after Goodale, but instead of going to the pass, he dropped down a chute that opens in the drainage of the unnamed tributary stream, and from there plunge-stepped his way to camp. We'd have marveled some more at this incredible feat if we weren't freezing outside, so unceremoniously we retreated to the tents to pass a night to the sound of constant flapping and howling.
In the morning it didn't sound like the wind was ready to give any pause. We packed up, then some of us roped up and proceeded to work on maneuvering as a team on the slopes above camp (we had also brought climbing equipment to practice). Finally having had enough of the wind, we grabbed our packs and headed down, meeting up with the rest of our companions a few hundred feet below. The descent was not noteworthy. Temps increased as we dropped elevation, though the wind kept at it until at least the first crossing. I took advantage of every water event to cool off and drink that cold soothing liquid. It felt heavenly. Not far below where the trail meets the stream, I came a across a rattler that looked like it had been bitten in two. We joked about eric1234 imposing his will on it. The sandy slog at the end was an annoyance that had to be dealt with.
Definitely another learning experience on this one. We had a super strong group, yet the Sierra easily defeated us, except for one. It was definitely good to push the boundaries even though we didn't make the summit. And, given the dearth of snow this spring, that roped practice was a much needed opportunity to keep improving the skills.
Entering the canyon of Taboose Creek
The east side of Orange Ogre (first time I heard of this peak) from between the first and second stream crossings
Tarn at the confluence of Taboose Creek and the unnamed stream coming down from the SW. Our camp was in the trees on the right edge.
Looking up the remainder of the way to Taboose Pass
Looking south from above Taboose Pass. The peak in the center is not Striped, but Point 3933.
Cardinal Mountain from the shoulder of Striped. This was taken from where I turned around.
Goodale Mountain from the shoulder of Striped.
Taken on the descent. The true summit of Striped is the farthest bump in the background.
Enjoying a short break on the bank of Taboose Creek on the hike out.
Rattler ripped in two, in the middle of the trail