Chain Lakes-August 1973

Sharon and I joined Doug, my second-year college roommate, and his girlfriend, Vicki, on a two day backpacking trip to Table Mountain near Mt. Baker. The lakes are the Chain Lakes which are northeast of Table Mountain. Mt. Baker is usually engulfed in clouds but we had a clear view of the mountain throughout the trip. We had a great weather. 

      Vicki leads the way around Table Mountain with Sharon on her heels. Did Vicki not carry a pack?                                                                  

According to this view, we must have taken the Ptarmigan Trail on the south side of Table Mountain to the junction with the Chain Lakes trail and then headed north to our campsite.

Not sure what Doug is doing. 

Sharon was always good at finding something to do while camping. 

John, Doug, Vicki, and Sharon share a pose for me.

We sat near the lake and enjoyed the play of the light on the water and Mt. Baker.

Our campsite at dusk. Beautiful.

Seems we were not the only ones camping on the lake.

Sharon tends to the campfire.

The next day Baker was out again in all its glory. The good weather held for us. I had Doug pose for me.

I don't remember this cave.

We hiked out by climbing the short distance from our camp to the top of Table Mountain and then hiking across the flat top and back to the trailhead at Artist Point.

Knob Lookout-August 1973

I don't remember much about the trip. By the looks of it we did two treks: one to Unicorn and one to Knob Lookout on two separate days. I have a feeling I have confused Knob Lookout with Castle Peak. There seem to be seven of us on a climbing practice trek on Knob Lookout. Greg led the group. Doug was a high school classmate who went into the Marines and was back home. Sharon told his girlfriend about a job opening at the FTC, which she later was offered and she did accept. The four of did a lot of trips together. These slides might be out of order and even from different trips.

Doug watches the route from below. He is next to climb the class 4 route.

Greg checks belay rope.

Gregs check status of climber below while Sharon adjusts something in her hand.

What is that in Sharon's hand?

That is one beautiful mountain.

Greg belaying Sharon on her climb.

Doug beginning his climb down.

 Doug making his way on the rock.

That looks like Castle Peak and not Knob Lookout.

 Susie, Doug, Sharon, and John

Unicorn-July 1973

I, Greg, and six others hiked to Unicorn Peak to practice rock climbing. Sharon had a serious accident on this trek. We were on the way back from improving our belay skills and encountered the steep slope of snow that we had climbed up on the way to Unicorn. Sharon started down the slope first and when she when into self arrest her ice ax popped out of her hands. She had planted it into ice. She lost control and slid to the shale rocks below hitting hard and bouncing. I was stunned. I slid down to her and Greg was right behind me. We administered first aid and painfully she walked out. That was a near disaster.

Greg makes his way through the alpine forest and small pond on his way to Unicorn.

Doug makes his way past the same pond.

Susie (last), Doug, Greg, Sharon, unknown, and unknown make their way up the steep half mile chute.

The chute becomes a steep, 40-degree snow slope. 

The top of the snow slope is where Sharon began her glissade. 

The rocks on the left are what stopped her glissade.

Someone forgot his ice axe.

Just below Unicorn's summit block is the saddle where we had lunch.

 L to R: Doug, Greg, Sharon, unknown, unknown (is that Paul, Sharon's younger brother?).

Looking south toward pre-eruption Mount St. Helens.

We made our way around the east side to gain access to the summit.

I wonder who took this photo of Doug, John, Susie, and Sharon?

Pinnacle Peak-July 1973

Sharon, her mother, and I hiked to the pass below Pinnacle Peak which is in the Tatoosh Range south of Mt. Rainier. It is an easy day hike with stunning views of Rainier.

Those were two strong hikers.

Sharon and her mom at the pass looking south.

Sharon and her mom rounding the south side of Pinnacle.

That looks like Unicorn, not Pinnacle Peak.

John and Sharon on top. What is with my pants?