Gamma Peak

In 2006, Jake Barker and I tried to make an assault on Gamma Peak and Gamma Hot Springs located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness within the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington. Back then, the trek was 40 miles (round trip) of brutal hiking through unmaintained trails, wash-outs and a rough river crossing since the bridge across the Suiattle River washed out in 2003. In two days, we came within 1/4 mile of the summit but decided it best to turn around because we ran out of water. We agreed to return in the future to conquer the peak.

Last week we got our revenge! Since 2006, more of the trail had washed out, adding 25 miles to the trip. However, bicycles helped make the first (and last) eleven miles tolerable. Over the course of four days, we were able to summit Gamma Peak and find the Gamma Hot Springs although we could not scale the 40 foot cliff to soak our feet in the warm water. Here are the photos taken on the trip.

PS We have included a subtle joke in four of the photos. Jake's water bottle (Kip from Napoleon Dynamite) is hiding in four of the pictures.

Jake is reading information near the trail head near the place where we stashed our bikes.

We ate lunch on the river bank before completing our next 12 miles.Water was plentiful until the Suiattle river crossing. The next 14 miles would offer one opportunity for water. Fortunately, we knew about the only water source (this time).

This bridge spans Canyon Creek and is one of the only remaining bridges on the trail.

On day 1, we burned 23 miles of trail and made this camp using logs and granite from the creek.

This image was taken just before we broke into alpine on day two as we approached Gamma Peak.

This photo shows Gamma Peak in the distance. You can see Glacier Peak beyond Gamma.

The sun was setting as we reached the top.On the back side of the peak, we spotted a lone billy that probably hadn't seen a human in at least two years. Across the next saddle were about 30 more goats grazing on the hillside. Jake found a registry hidden in a film canister underneath a large boulder at the summit. We both signed our names. The most recent entry was written on the same day exactly two years before us.
We tried to think of something creative to add..........

We experimented with various poses at the peak, taking turns with the camera.

The wildflowers on the hillside were very diverse and beautiful. What you can't see, are the flies crawling on every portion of exposed skin available.

There's been talk about an assault on Glacier Peak (background)........but it was only talk.

We had to find a place to camp in the dark. Luckily we knew of a great place to take shelter from the storm.........the "Lunch Spot." Watching lightning from a high ridge is spectacular even if it is a little spooky.

On day 3, we prepared to drop 1000 feet into the canyon to find Gamma Hot Springs. I can't say I was very motivated after being swarmed by mosquitoes starting at 4:00 am. Thankfully, Jake had prepared motivational words for this occasion.

As we dropped in elevation, we tied pink ribbons to trees so as not to lose our path. A wrong path in this terrain could lead a person to dangerous places.

This marmot seemed curious enough to let us take his picture. The air was filled with high pitched whistles and the ground peppered with holes from these little dudes.

We found a snow cave on our way to the hotsprings and had to take a photo.

This is as close as we would get to the hot springs since we did not have the means to safely scale the 40-foot cliff to the creek below. It was obvious that this same scenario had happened to other hikers in the past. The ground at this very spot was littered with evidence of crushed dreams. We found an old blue tarp and a blue trowel that was once helt together by duct tape. Someone had obviously been disgusted with the difficult terrain and ditched the weight as their vision disintegrated.

While a hot soak would have been nice, I settled for a cold one. Don't be fooled by the smile. The water was probably a single degree above freezing.

Sometimes a trip is not about the results. Rather, it is about the effort and adventure of two buddies in the wilderness. As we climbed out of the hole, we held on to tree limbs saturated with goat hair. What amazing animals they must be to survive in this jagged terrain.

The slight breeze on the ridge kept the flies off us momentarily while we wolfed down lunch.

The Suiattle had risen and turned to chocolate when we returned to cross but our log was still there. It is amazing that a flower could survive in such a harsh environment.
The huckleberries were ripe and we picked enough for Jake to make a pie. We also ate a plethora to get the much-needed nutrients.

We found six species of edible berries on the trail and sampled each one.

The hiking was arduous but we will not remember the hardships along the way. Instead, we will remember the fun we had in accomplishing a difficult task.