Marble Mountains Memorial Day Weekend Tr ip

“Planning a 5 day Memorial Day Weekend trip in the NW corner of the Marble Mountains. Here's some of the details pasted from the Trips page:

5 Day loop trip through Marble Mountains Wilderness remote NW corner. The trip starts near Sulpher Springs (an awesome natural hot spring just perfect for an end of the trip soaking) on the Elk Ck Trail.

After 3 miles we head up Rainy Valley past Rainey Lk to the Salmon Crest at 9 miles. The trail leads west along the crest for 5 miles into Granitic lake filled terrain. The return is 8 miles down Granite Ck, closing the loop at Elk Ck.

What to expect:

Remote conditions
Very few people if any at all
Large mammals - Bear, Cougar & Elk
Steep, ill-defined trails
Copious amounts of snow
Beautiful lakes
Side trip otions
Good fishing
Ridge top hiking and camping
Sasquatch

More details to come.

Dunk
summit@gene.com

Likely attendees so far ChinaChas, Trinity Trekker, Oldtimer & Dunk

Wander, are you interested?”

“Is this place near Murphy, NC?”

“Woo Hoo, 4th Annual Bigfoot romp. Count me in.”

“Locale is Northern California just south of the Oregon border and north of the Trinity Alps.”

“Put me on the list.”

“think it missed Murphy buddr by just a bit.”

“Wish I could go! Beautiful places up there :)”

“I might go- I must look at my marbles map and see if I think I can pull it off, then I need to find a ride and get the time off. If I can do all that I can go :)”

“Free, if I'm not mistakin' don't you live in the Sacramento area? That's where I'll be leaving from. Did you feel comfortable with the Castle Crags hike's difficulty? Are climbing days in the Marbles will be about 5-6 miles and +/- 2000' climbing (side trips optional). You also have over 2 months to prepare. So it comes down to: Can you get the time off?”

“I will try :D!”

“I'm in as a 'maybe' on this one. Gonna have to wait and see if I get a work contract, or temporary unemployment”

“I could potentially be in on this one, Dunk. Will be a crazy time for me but I am all about getting out in the woods. Will keep you apprised but I can't commit right now. Will have to give my answer later.”

“How much snow do you think will be up there? if it is a lot I will not go, I don't have or know how to use crampons.”

“Hrmmm... Sound like fun! I might be able to pull this off, if I can get the time off work. Add me as a maybe.”

“Most likely, we won't need to use crampons or ice axe. I do anticipate snow across to trail in places but it should be condensed enough to walk on top of. The high sections of the trail (Salmon Crest between Rainy Lk and Cudihy Lks) mostly has a southern exposure where the trail dips below the ridge. When the trail is atop the ridgeline the snow shouldn't impede us.

Roseymonster, it would be good to hike (wait, we didn't hike together did we) or uh camp with you again. Hodgeman, it be good to see some more PNW hikers too.”

“BC, if you decide to go, we can carpool from Portland if you like. It's be great to see you again.”

“I was looking at my guide book and topo map of the area and other then a few wet crossings it looks like a trail I would be willing to try :D Since there is a couple months till then I probebly can get the time off (if I put in for it real soon) I will go ahead and say I am for sure then. :)”

“Marble Mountains - sounds like fun!! Put me down as a strong "maybe". Sacto folks - we'll have to plan a carpool/caravan!”

“Looking forward to hookin' up with ya, Chas. I'm sort of in 'wait and see' mode, for the spring. I still want to get into the Stein Canyon during the second week of May”

“I've done most of this trip at different times, it's a nice walk. Only real climb is the less than a mile up out of Rainy and the pull is a last quarter mile run to the pass. As for snow, with the way things are this year we may be wishing for some. If there is any it will be a cornise at the top of Rainy and some fields in the upper areas of Granite. Nothing that would even slow my grandson down. I expect bugs may be the only bad spot in a great trip. If anyone would like to see some pics of some of that ground let me know and I will post'em. Also if you are using a map DON'T belive the USFS Marble WA one, The best is the one from the book.”

“Trinity, post your pics, I'd like to see them. How does the Marble/Black Mountains look from the backside. It looks like the Marble Rim might be a pretty good side trip option depending on where we camp.

Here's my thoughts on camps:

Thurs - Last Elk Ck xing: 5 miles

Fri - At or near Spirit Lk (it might be nice to do some ridgetop camping): 5 miles

Sat - Cuddihy Lks: 5 miles

Sun - Bridge Camp: 4 miles

The best side trip options lie off the Salmon Crest. Those opportunities will be from Friday afternoon thru Sunday morning. With the short days on the trail, we should have time for morning and/or afternoon day hikes.”

“Hey Chas - What time would you be hoping to leave / return home. I'm guessin' I would need to get down as far as your place, on the Wednesday night, eh?”

“Oh boy - another chance to play with Topo! I have to see if I can bully my co-worker into taking a different weekend off work in order to make this happen.”

“BC, yeah. It's about a 7 hour drive from my place so we'd want to leave Wednesday evening sometime. We may not get all the way to the trailhead but we sure want to be closer by Thursday morning.”

“Dunk - were you going to post this on the trips page? Barring that, do we have a list of "yes" and "maybe" going? If so, put me down as a "maybe".

I drew this trip out on Topo last night and it looks like a sweet little loop! Trinity trekker's "only real climb" looks like a bit of a butt kicker but I guess we can take our time with only 5 mile days.”

“Pepp - It's on the trips page as "Leave Reality Behind"”

“Sometimes I need help with the stupidest things - thanks Hodge.”

“pepperDog, if that's a hard climb you better stay in the Central Valley. Say around Bakersfield. LOL
I will get some pics up if can find a place.”

“Hey Dunk, looking at the map, might I offer a modification of the route. On day 2, how about we head out of Rainy Valley and up and over Marble Mountain. Spend the night at the cabin where Michael, You and I were before. It would make the Day 3 hike through 4 Corners to Cuddhy Lakes a bit of a pull but nothing unmanagable. The big bonus would be the views along the way.

With the lack of snow this year, I don't think the climb over Marble Mountain would be too bad. No worse then when we were there.

Trinity T, what do you think?”

“If I understand right: take the north trail out of Rainy which goes between white and black marble? That's a right nice climb there, about 600' more than the other way. The last time I was in that area I ran the Salmon crest from Cuddity to Shadow. That took about 14 hours with some time at Spirit. Looks like about the same milage coming out of the valley. It will be a long day and expect snow around Cuddity with limited and damp camp sites. We can make up the time by taking an old trail down into Green Granite that takes off just after going through the pass. short, less than 1/2 mile, drop to the lake. Saves about 3 miles around the bowl and back up to the lake. If you want the view you have to climb the Marble.”

“Yeah, you're right, the haul to Marble Valley would make for a couple of long days. My intent is to get up on the Marble Mountain ridge for the views down Wooley Creek drainage and over to the Maneaten area. Awesome view it is!

Maybe we could just go to Rainy Lake, drop packs there hike up the ridge from there. I've never been to Rainy Lake but hear it might not be the best place to camp for the night.”

“My thoughts are to camp on the ridge above Spirit Lk. Then day hike that afternoon or the following morning to the Marble Rim. The day hike would be about 7 miles RT to the south summit of Marble Mtn. Of course we could always decide when we get there, but rest assured, I intend to be atop Marble Mtn again, this time I'm gonna go into that cave and pull that bear out.”

“the hike over to rim marble trail from spirit and up to the top is not much if you don't have the extra 60lbs on. China you aren't going to get to the top of marble Mt from rainy lk without ropes. It's at least a 300' drop off the top.

Why camp up on the ridge? Spirit lake is maybe 200' below the trail and there is alot of room.”

“EEEEKKKKKK!!!! That sounds even less like Bakersfield!! Don't worry, I will keep up just fine and hardly complain.”

“Trinity, I enjoy overnitin' on top of ridges and peaks. Spirit might be close enough to the ridgeline that we can achieve that sensation from the lake. I was thinkin' that the ridge just NE of Spirit is close enough to the lake that it wouldn't be too much of a hassle to camp there. Either way, I'm OK.”

“Trinity, you can get from Rainy to Marble Valley. There is actually a trail. It crests the ridge at a saddle just north of the summit of White Marble. I've stood upon it with my own two feet. Now, if you bailed straight off the summit down to Rainy Valley, well you best have a hang glider 'cause I don't think that Red Bull trick really works. :)

Dunk's idea sounds good too. Just so long as we get a chance to get over on the summit ridge for the views I'm okay. Now, as far as going in after the bear, well Dunk, I'll be right behind you, I promise. :O

Don't worry PepperDog, nobody has died on one of these trips ... yet. Well there was that one time, oh but never mind couldn't possibly happen twice. ;)”

“I've heard of a few axe murderers coming on the trips but deciding that the people were too cool to kill.

It is not looking good for me going on this trip anyway - my nasty co-worker took dibs on the Thursday and Friday to go to Seattle. But if there is a war and flying is wierd she may not go. I feel so conflicted - do I want war or not????”

“You sound like me and the work issue, Pepper. As much as I would like to get a contract without withdrawing my services, I'd also really like to make this trip”

“Hay China you wouldn't be talking about old Wrong Way there would you. Wonder if he's found the right trail yet...shame he didn't get any of the beer.

I've also stood on that pass, China. Once, even came up out of rainy to do it. In my younger days I climbed the headwall of rainy, it was alot more fun going back down.

Pepper, Bakersfirld it an't. don't speek Spanish yet, not sure about english either. Alot of grunts and pants tho'.

Dunk, I don't care much for camping around lakes either but there is no water between whiskey camp and spirit, however it won't be the first time I've packed water to where I wanted to camp.

Only one real important question...
where do we get the beer and pizza after this great trip is over. I mean have you been through Happy Camp in the last 20 years.”

“ChinaChas, you said we wouldn't mention that one time!

Trinity Trekker, I was countin' on there bein' a snow cornice on the north side of the ridge that would provide water.

Let's see, I went through Happy Camp about 5 years ago, not too many options, same with Seiad Valley (or Coffee Creek for that matter - just kidding). Our best Pizza & Beer options are likely to be in Fort Jones or Yreka and I don't think Trinity Trekker would want to go to Yreka.”

“How 'bout a burger joint?”

“Dunk, what over land route are you planning for getting to the TH.
Also most all that ridge line heavyly treed, not an area that has cornices.”

“Probably up 5 to 96 unless I exit Yreka to Fort Jones and then up and around to Happy Camp. When I get to the trailhead depends on when I can get off work on Wednesday. My normal shift has me getting off at anywhere from midnight to 2am. If I can swing it, I'd work a day shift and get off at 5pm to 6pm. If that were the case I'd aim to arrive at the TH late Wednesday. Anything later and I'd probably get there Thursday and hike directly in unless we knew we'd all be there at a certain time.”

“Of course it figures, of all the maps I can't find it's this one.

I suppose if the TH is out of Happy Camp, I'll come in via I-5 to Hwy 96. I'd like to leave Wednesday evening and at least get to Medford then the TH in the morning.

Since it is only a five mile day, there's no hurry to get on the trail too early.”

“I'm signed in for a "I would rather do this" maybe... If my other plans change for the weekend, I'm IN!”

“I once knew a LadyHiker who served a chocolate desert in a most unusual way...would you happen to know her?”

“Maybe if the conditions are right, I could "serve up" more pudding!”

“I sense some insider information going on here...what gives? Please explain yourselves. OT, I thought we were friends”

“Sorry Dunk, but some tales are best told while sitting around a campfire. You will just have to wait.”

“Some how, I just don't think I wanna know...”