Guye Saddle Snowshoe Trip from the Washington Alpine Club!

Left to right, Mike Garrison, Ira Rushwald, Doerte Mahanay, Brenna Owen, Tilmann Gneiting, Mike Sheehan, and Dan Davidson.

Guye Saddle Snowshoe Outing!

A Washington Alpine Club trip!

February 01, 2003

WAC outings happen every quarter. Bryan Allen has led trail crew outings at Rattlesnake Ledges and Squak Mountain. Bill Higgens led a trip to Sunrise at Mount Rainier last fall. Our next trip will be the Olympic Coast cleanup in April.

We met at the Guye Cabin parking area, about 3,000', a little before 9 am on Saturday morning. It was not very cold, and there was a little light rain. Andy Wappler promised us a mixed day. There were eight of us. Mike Garrison, Brenna Owen, Mike Sheehan, Mike Mahanay, Doerte Mahanay, Tilmann Gneiting, and Ira Rushwald, led by Dan Davidson. He made sure we had the 10 essentials and were prepared for the day.

Brenna is a new member who has summited Mount Rainier, Adams, Hood, and Mount Stuart. Mike Shehaan and his wife Florence have been bagging some of the I90 Snoqualmie Peaks of late including Mailbox, Granite Mountian and McClellen Butte. Tilmann has gone through the Mountaineers scramble class and has done a lot of snowshoes and hiking trips.

After looking over the map and planning our route, we started up the far left side of Sahale. The snow was soft and snowshoes were necessary to keep from postholing. Dan let a brisk pace.

Our leader, Dan Davidson doing the pre-trip with Brenna, Tilmann, and Mike Sheehan. Making sure we all had the ten essentials and laying out our plan for the day.

Soon we had to make our first crossing of flowing water. The warm temperatures has caused considerable snowmelt over the last few weeks and Commonwealth Creek was running more like April, and not at all covered by the snow like it should be.

Each time we came to a creek, we would have to look to find a safe place to cross. The snow was about three to six feet above the creek.

The team going through some old growth trees on the way to the saddle.

Mike Garrison took over breaking trail for Dan until we turned left to head up to the saddle. Mike Sheehan took over at this point and broke trail all the way to the saddle. The snow had stopped.

We passed through the majestic old growth, and had fine views of waterfalls off Guye Peak and across the valley. When Kendall cam out from the fog and clouds there were many signs of recent avalanches up high.

The snow got lighter and deeper as we gained the saddle at 4,700'. We stopped for a lunch and rest. Dan even produced hot tea! Mike gave everyone a landjaeger, except new Mike, who already had one!

The clouds began lift. After exploring around the saddle for a while, and debating a winter ascent of Guye Peak, the team headed back down.

Tilmann, Mike, Dan, in the front row and
Mike Garrison, New Mike, Brenna, Doerte, Ira (back row) at Guye Saddle in a foot of new powder!

Back at Guye Cabin most of us headed in to the kitchen to have hot drinks. A wonderful, fun trip with great folks. It is always a treat to have Dan Davidson as the leader. About 6 miles for the day, and 1,700' of elevation gain.

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