Trip Details:
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Arrive Parking lot |
10:40AM |
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Main trailhead |
10:52AM |
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Junction to Koppen trail |
11:15AM |
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Ridge trail junction |
11:50AM |
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Koppen Summit |
12:32PM |
|
Leave summit |
01:41PM |
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Ridge junction |
02:22PM |
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Lower junction |
02:58PM |
|
Car |
03:28PM |
|
Snow |
Yea right but it was cool and fall like. |
|
Bugs |
None of bother. I didn't even bug up for this. |
|
Weather |
Mostly sunny. Could see weather in other directions. Cool on summit, but sun kept it warm enough. No rain. |
| Crowds | A Passed two people on way up (and again on way down). Two more were coming up to summit when we were nearing ridge trail. Saw a few more on lower trail (probably going to lake). |
| Scenic Value | For the effort this is a great summit. Pure 360 degree views. You can even see you car below in the valley. Views of Hawkins, Ingalls, Stuart and many others. Stuart's upper portions played peekaboo in some clouds while we were hiking. |
| Difficulty | Lower trail suitable for horses (as evidence left proved). Above ridge trail a few kind of loose dirt spots to be a little careful on. Once you hit the ridge there are a few mailbox like steep parts but nothing too difficult and no do or die kind of exposure. |
Route map:
Narrative:
This was originally to be a trip up Defiance with EastKing (Greg) from NWhikers. When driving past North Bend it became obvious we would be hiking in clouds at a minimum and rain or snow at worst. When we hit near exit 42 it was pouring down rain. We changed the plan to Koppen figuring it couldn't be worse. Right we were. As we got more east, it got more sunny. We arrived at the parking and headed up Leroux Trail #1392 which is also the trail to access Gallagher Head lake and Hawkins (among other things I suspect).
In 23 minutes or thereabouts we reached the first fork to head up trail #1392.1 to get up to the Koppen ridge.
A few pictures on the way up to the ridge. The trail switchbacks uneventfully up to the ridge junction. A few views open up on way to ridge.
Soon the ridge junction is reached. Hang a left for Koppen and continue uphill (even though it looks like logs across the way (see 2nd picture). Right starts heading down to the west and goes somewhere else. No nice trail signs at this junction but it isn't too hard to figure out.
The trail eases at first then starts going up in short but steep chunks, almost mailbox like. The last 900-1000 feet will be gained in short but steep chunks. A few leveler spots open up to some nice views.
Further up you hit more climbs/slight easements. Also there are a couple of sections of kind of loose dirt/rock which while not exposed require some caution and were actually a bit slower coming down than going up.
Soon the summit is reached. No major false summit here. The views are very impressive and 360 degrees. No volcanoes today but most of the other peaks somewhat nearby in view.
I even managed to spot my black Maxima down below in the valley right about in the middle..
Some weather was brewing kind of over towards the Northeast which we watched a bit as we sat on the summit for an hour and 9 minutes eating lunch/snacks and enjoying the views/beautiful sunshine. Not a sole was to be seen as we had this rather smallish but nice sitting summit to ourselves.
It was time to head down. We saw the couple maybe half way down the ridge who decided to stop there on a nice view spot. We also met two others hiking up towards the summit. A few shots on the way down and we were back at the trailhead uneventfully having had a very nice hike on a very nice sunny fall day (even though it's still August).
Back at the car, a few views from where we had been.
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Last Updated 09/01/2008
