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Ascent of Rock Mountain on 2010-07-26

Climber: Jan Peter Eklund

Others in Party:

Emma

Date:

Monday, July 26, 2010

Ascent Type:

Successful Summit Attained

Motorized Transport to Trailhead:

Car

Peak:

Rock Mountain

Location:

USA-Washington

Elevation:

6840 ft / 2084 m

Ascent Trip Report

Hot & humid weather with little air movement, combined with many, many aggressive mosquitoes and biting flies made for a relatively unpleasant climb up to the ridge of Rock Mtn. Dunked head a few times in the creek on the way up along Snowy Creek. There is a big soggy meadow at the SW base of Rock Mtn - this is where the mosquitoes went from numerous & annoying to murderous hordes. In haste to pass through the meadow I headed to where I thought the trail, which became hard to see in the soggy muck, would pick up the slope. Unfortunately, missed it and ended up bushwacking up choked gullies diagonally to pick up the trail. Found it and headed up switchbacks until breaking out of the trees onto the open south slope. As dusk was approaching I spotted what I think was a black bear a few hundred yards away & downslope. Pretty sure it was a black bear. Nice sunset from ridge. Set up bag & slept under stars & full moon. In the morning headed up to the summit at sunrise - nice breeze. View down into Rock Lake basin where I could see several tents. Hiked over and climbed the small sub-peak to the south, noticed a Mountain Goat standing on the sub-peak ENE of main peak looking over at me. Headed down dreading the endless switchbacks and mosquitoes. Made it out in good time.

Summary Total Data

Elevation Gain:

3340 ft / 1018 m

Trailhead:

Snowy Creek TH 3500 ft / 1066 m

Quality:

5 (on a subjective 1-10 scale)

Route Conditions: