Wedge Mtn May 4, 2008

author=movenhike link=topic=9981.msg40158#msg40158 date=1210017162]
Snowboarded down Wedge Mtn outside of Leavenworth on Sunday

Hello Movenhike, could you tell me how you did the drive approach.  Only time I was there we had to hike 2000 vertical of clearcuts from the main Mtn Home Road to reach the snow.  Then got about 2000 more on snow to the top.
Thanks,
John

Friends and I toured Wedge early this December.  We started at the bottom, Blewitt Pass side of Mt. Home Rd.  It was a very long day.  We skinned the road to the end, where the summer trail starts, then an easy skin to the crest.  We skied the main gully that runs parallel to the rd., and skied some excellent glades all the way down to Peshastin Crk, for a great descent.  Of course, it left us about 5 miles from the car...

Hello John,  Funny that anyone inquires,  because I had  a decent length trip report written.  I was dabbling with trying to get some of my pictures onto the report and managed to get one tiny pic, my trip report deleted, and myself quite frustrated.  I guess I'm better at slogging up a hill than programming computer stuff.  If anyone has any suggestions let me know.  I have the photo file from that day in Walgreens.com so it's on the internet but I'm encountering difficulties.  I know pictures add immensely to trip reports.

Now about access to Wedge. Sunday morning, From Leavenworth,  I went up Mtn Home RD to the 4-way Junction at the highest point on Mtn Home rd.  This can be reached from hwy 97A as well.  I took  7300(400), this road not suitable for sedans,  but ok for 2wd w/ high clearance climbs high on the mountain switchbacking mostly at a gentle angle.  The snow is melting fast on the road, yet the peak will be skiable for a few more weeks.
A pretty good sitch' really.  hiking straight up through the ponderosa-savannah is a good option,  shaving some roadwalk distance off.  One spur of this road angles into a small basin where deeper (2.5'-5'+) snowpack begins rather abruptly.  Hike through a short section of upper mt  forest (1/2 hour) and break out onto an open, steeper slope, gain the ridge and wah-lah,  there's the peak.  Careful on the ridge as theres tons of exposure on the enchantments side and skiing boarding off the true tippy top of the summit is not recommended because a steeep gully into massive cliffs separates the summit from the broad slope back to the lower basin, road, and vehicle.  There's another rd(7305) that climbs high on Wedge, but the aforementioned worked for me the other day.  If your touring in the Leavenworth area anytime,  look me up.  I've got a young family and an unpredictable work schedule, but I get my tours in.

Just to clarify Movenhike, the entire length of the Mtn Home road is plowed and driveable now?

Brian,  I didn't actually drive the portion of mtn home from the crest down to 97a, I came from the safeway side, but snows been melting by leaps and bounds this last week.  I drove several hundred vertical feet higher than the main road (mtn home), to start this tour. was pleasantly surprised.  Watch out for saturated snow on the steep open slopes, and the ridgeline, on hot sunny days this spring. Even with whiskey I was nervous here and there.

author=movenhike link=topic=9981.msg40205#msg40205 date=1210096931]
Hello John,  Funny that anyone inquires,  because I had  a decent length trip report written.  I was dabbling with trying to get some of my pictures onto the report and managed to get one tiny pic, my trip report deleted, and myself quite frustrated.  I guess I'm better at slogging up a hill than programming computer stuff.  If anyone has any suggestions let me know.  I have the photo file from that day in Walgreens.com so it's on the internet but I'm encountering difficulties.  I know pictures add immensely to trip reports.

Ah, been there myself.  I know your pain.  Many a great writeup I've lost before I learned to write it first in a Word doc. and then copy and paste it into the TAY text box.  Thanks for the approach info.  What you described is what we did a few years ago, except that we took a spur road south and ended up hiking up a lot of vertical in a clear cut absent of snow.  Sounds like it could be a good trip in the next couple of weeks.
Thanks,
John

...or before you do anything else (add pictures), hit Ctrl + A to highlight all your text and then hit Ctrl + C to copy it to your clipboard so if you do lose it, you can paste it right back in.  This all assuming you're not using a mac...but I think they too have similar shortcuts.