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Ascent of Rogers Benchmark on 2009-08-22

Climber: Eric Noel

Other People:

Solo Ascent
Only Party on Mountain

Date:

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Ascent Type:

Successful Summit Attained

Motorized Transport to Trailhead:

Car

Peak:

Rogers Benchmark

Location:

USA-Washington

Elevation:

5775 ft / 1760 m

Ascent Trip Report

Note that Rogers Mountain is aka Rogers BM 5whereas Mount Rogers is another nearby mtn that is lower. Some signs on the drive in refer to a different TH for Mount Rogers which you do not want; you want Rogers Mtn (=Rogers BM).

The TH for this peak, approaching it from the NE on foot, is actually a couple hundred horizontal feet SW of where the map shows it. This may be due to new logging currently taking place. There is a turnoff to the L maybe 300 feet S of where it is indicated on the map and then within 50 feet you find the relavant trail signage and parking. The signs indicate it is 2.5 miles to Rogers Mountain, I was thinking maybe more like 2 miles.

The trail is clearly oriented towards motorcycle use with curving switchbacks and tire tracks but no boot prints.

The trail as shown on the map looks like a 3 year old drew it. The map shows it squiggling back and forth with no vertical rhyme or reason. In actual fact the trail goes more or less in the area as mapped as a route but as you would expect the trail doesn't unnecessarily go up and down and instead more or less remains on a normal uphill gradient. It dips just a bit on the ridge. The highest ground is within ten horizontal feet of the BM which can be found in a clearing. The HP is about where it is mapped but the trail is to the E of it and not to the W as the map shows. Foundations of an old lookout are nearby.

I crossed an old road that looked quite driveable at about 5600'. It came in from the NW (or NE?) and while the trail stayed on the W side of the ridge the road curled around the E side. No idea where this comes from or if it is accessible but I would guess that if you follow the 500 road around the edge of the ridge you might see if the road goes beyond where it is mapped. Probably this road is inaccessible as I saw no tire tracks. Or perhaps just ignored.

Wide views at the top. Terrain is fairly open forest with tons of berries.

Summary Total Data

Elevation Gain:

1155 ft / 352 m

Extra Gain:

50 ft / 15 m

Distance:

5 mi / 8 km

Route:

Rogers Mtn Trail 131

Trailhead:

Rogers Mtn TH 4720 ft / 1438 m

Grade/Class:

Class 1

Quality:

3 (on a subjective 1-10 scale)

Route Conditions:

Maintained Trail, Open Country

Gear Used:

Ski Poles

Weather:

Pleasant, Calm, Clear

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