Trip Report

On Friday evening, following a full day's work, this Obsidian party met and drove to the Marion Forks restaurant for a late dinner "out" (way out). Then, after driving on to the Pamelia Lake Trailhead, the group "crashed" under the trees and enjoyed a full night's sleep.

On Saturday, the party walked on to Pamelia Lake and upward to the PCT, following it - seemingly all day - to Shale Lake. Leaving the PCT at this location, the Obsidians marched on up, and up closer to Mount Jefferson, setting up camp near the base of Goat Peak. Because this was a dry camp, the group set out on a dual mission prior to dinner. Our mission was to mark out a route using wands that we could follow in the dark the next morning and to find water. The only source of water was from small patches of ice hidden among the rocks in the large ravines at the southern base of Mount Jefferson. (Good thing we took the stoves.)

The group left camp at 3 a.m. following a route illuminated by a full moon. The south ridge was long and arduous as always but we made it to the Red Saddle by 9 a.m. The party was in no hurry as it carefully crossed the snowfield and climbed the summit pinnacle fully roped up. We summitted at noon and enjoyed fantastic views on a windless sunny day. Back at the Red Saddle, the Obsidians enjoyed pondering the incredible rouge character of White Water Glacier over lunch. This beautiful day became a very long one as the party returned to camp, repacked, then hiked for miles in the dark reaching the cars at 11 p.m. This ended 19 hours of almost continuous hiking.

Climbers were: Sherry Edwards, Don Orton and Ken Ball (leader).