Detour At Dusk

Tom Kenney · Post by **Tom Kenney** » Fri Nov 15, 2019 3:47 pm

I did a quick run up Mt. Baden-Powell yesterday, taking one of several alternate routes I have on my todo list, the North West Ridge - AKA Rain Gauge Ridge. The start is a parking pull-out near a low stone wall and a rain gauge, where the NW ridge meets the highway. I started at a little after 3:00 PM, and was back at the car by sometime after 8:00 PM, going up the NW ridge, PCT to the summit, then PCT to Vincent Gap and highway back to the start.

The route up the NW ridge is quite pleasant. Any potential bushwhack can be easily rounded, and a nice use trail leads all the way to the PCT, passing several very nice campsites along the way. Weather was decidedly un-November again, and I was in shorts'n'shirtsleeves until nearly at the PCT (~8800' el) and minutes before sunset.

This time, I bothered to drag my tripod for some longer exposures, and learned that clouds don't stand still for 20 seconds! Some pics:

Typical difficult, dangerous, unpleasant cross country travel on the North West Ridge

Sunset from just west of the summit

Last of the sunset, now on the summit

Route (counter-clock) and elev. profile

Post by **dima** » Sat Nov 16, 2019 11:00 am

Thanks for the post; I never thought of climbing any of the ridges up there. You walked back on the road from Vincent Gap to past Dawson Saddle? Was that as much of a slog as it sounds?

Tom Kenney · Post by **Tom Kenney** » Sat Nov 16, 2019 1:08 pm

Fortunately, my start was less than halfway from Vincent Gap to Dawson Saddle. Easy, but grueling after my knee-straining descent.

David R · Post by **David R** » Sat Nov 16, 2019 9:54 pm

dima wrote: Thanks for the post; I never thought of climbing any of the ridges up there. You walked back on the road from Vincent Gap to past Dawson Saddle? Was that as much of a slog as it sounds?

You can also go up the ridge that leads you directly to Burnham. I did that as a shortcut once while hiking Ross.

Post by **dima** » Sat Nov 16, 2019 10:00 pm

Oh, I see now. I just glanced at your map earlier, and thought the road loop near your start WAS Dawson saddle. I'm on board now. Seems less sloggy

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Sun Nov 17, 2019 7:00 am

That first sunset is spectacular. You should put some of those up on Flickr and make some money.

Post by **Sean** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 6:20 pm

Thanks, is this very steep?