Putrid Pete's Peak

Yesterday's hike was a detour on top of a detour.  A WTA trip report described an easy hike from the Ira Springs trailhead along Dirty Harry's traverse to Dirty Harry's balcony.  The directions were excellent: start per usual and continue straight through the trees at the first switchback.  After clamoring over a few downed branches that are intended to obscure the way, an excellent trail heads west, parallel to I-90, gaining elevation very gently.  The trail crosses a couple of shoots and two new small signs, the second indicating Dirty Harry's balcony to the left.  The arrow right points to Putrid Pete's Peak or P3-- who could pass up an opportunity to see something named like like that?

First, a slight digression on Putrid Pete: aka Peter Schoening, a Seattle Mountaineer who passed away in 2004.  He gained fame by saving five fellow climbers on K2 in 1953.
 Obituary from the Seattle Times

Here is a shot from the Seattle Times (not on P3.)

Dirty Harry's Traverse

In the lower section the trail passes through second growth forest with almost no understory, which had presumably been cleared out by a fire some years ago.  A few switchbacks cross over a steep narrow creek, easily navigated on granite stepping stones.  Gradually the trail steepens and low ground-cover is interspersed between the trees before it opens to a small rock slide.  From that point on the path fades and follows a rocky alignment nearly straight up a ridge.  The steep grade is enough to convince most hikers to take a break or two to admire the southerly view across I-90.  McClellan Butte looms menacingly to the south, the only portions of the upper flanks that aren't snow-covered are sheer, rocky slopes.  A foggy mist floated up the ridge adding mystery to the afternoon.

The next quarter of a mile were the steepest yet and hands were required to pull oneself up from time to time.  Just past a small thicket of stunted pine, the first patch of snow appeared, just to the east of a spiny ridge.  Here, a short break to put on gators and yak tracks enabled a straight ascent up the snowfield.  The footing was near perfect: just soft enough to kick easy footholds but firm enough to avoid post-holing down to the underlying rocks.  After a few hundred feet of climbing, the grade became steep enough that a fall would have been disastrous, so the gear came off and safer slower means were used to continue up.  As the summit grew close, the sharp edged nature of the ridge line became increasingly apparent.

Knife-edged ridge

Snowfield below the summit

The last twenty feet or so are truly a scramble, not for the faint of heart.  Putrid Pete's Peak is a collection of rocky shards, with barely enough room to sit.  A small yellow box with a sign-in notebook is stashed under a rock recording the names of many a visitor over the years.  To the west, the ridge dips before climbing gently to Mount Webb.  Mt. Defiance lies to the east along the ridge.As steep as the southern approach is,  the drop to the north is even more impressive, especially with the amount of early summer snow remaining of the shaded slopes.

Putrid Pete's Peak

The way down proved to be slow going and more painful than the ascent.  A number of places were too steep to descend on two feet, necessitating dropping the trekking poles and scooting down on my butt.  Lower down, the track was a series of slippery roots where foot traffic had scrapped away the thin forest soil. It was slow going, especially on tired legs.

Early season flower

Overall, it was a challenging new hike but I don't think I will be back there for a while. Next time, I will stick with Dirty Harry's Balcony.

Scraggly tree trunk