May 26-27, 2017, WA Pass Rambling, Black Loop Tour

Paul and I left Seattle Thu pm to avoid the weekend traffic, camped at the overlook turn off for two nights.  I spent the first night on the overlook for gazing stars most of the night.







We did an easy tour up the valley up and over the Kangaroo pass, checked around the east side.  It was tempting to ski down a east slope but the large cornices made us decide to just enjoy the scenery.







Saturday morning was pretty busy at the Blue Lake TH when we drove by.  There must be over 3 dozen cars parked along the road, partially because the main lot was not yet open.  We parked at the Rainy Pass TH with only a half dozen cars.  The lot here was not plowed either, just a wide should so far.

I had been interested in doing "Black Loop" ever since Paul Russel and Monica Jonson did this tour maaaany years ago.  We weren't decided as we touring toward Black Peak.  After finishing the messy traverse down to Lewis Lake and up to Wing Lake, we didn't feel like going back late afternoon under big cornices hanging over the ridge top.  There was a couple w/ a dog ahead of us.  We found out they were doing the loop, and pretty confident about the way up to Last Chance Pass.  So we decided to continue the loop.  Skiing off the south slope off Black was nice.  We then followed their track steeply up the next ridge.



Paul skiing w/ Goode in the back:


South slopes off Black Peak:




Once over the Last Chance Pass, it was a long way down over avy debris to the valley bottom.  The snow was a bit rough but soft enough for enjoyable skiing.  We then had a long uphill form 4900' to the Maple Pass at 6600'.  Fortunately the rest was all downhill to our car!  It's a long tour, ~16miles/~6500', through beautiful alpine terrain. More pics here.