Stats
Distance: ~20 miles
Elevation Gain: ~6500'
Date: 7/30/2011
John Kirk, Steve Knapp I met in Morrison at 5 am on Saturday morning. We met Mike Rodenak at the Gore Creek TH around 6:30 am. We hiked up the Gore Creek Trail, then up the Gore Lake Trail and finally left the trail to follow the drainage from Snow Lake north. We then ascended a gully east to a broad bench between "Hail Peak" & "Mount Silverthorne". From there, we ascended the southeast ridge of "Hail Peak" finding large, loose boulders and used caution not to knock any down on each other.
"Hail Peak". Photo: John Kirk
"Snow Peak". Photo: John Kirk
"Hail Peak". Photo: John Kirk
Looking west from "Hail Peak". Photo: John Kirk
"Mount Silverthorne". Photo: John Kirk
"Snow Peak" above Snow Lake. Photo: John Kirk
We descended the southeast ridge of "Hail Peak" then ascended the southwest ridge of "Mount Silverthorne" finding more loose junk.
"Mount Silverthorne". Photo: John Kirk
Willow Benchmark atop "Mount Silverthorne". Photo: John Kirk
"East Thorn". Photo: John Kirk
Zodiac Spires. Photo: John Kirk
Red Peak. Photo: John Kirk
We descended the south ridge of "Mount Silverthorne" to the "Mount Silverthorne"-"Zodiac View" saddle. John and I made the quick trek up to "Zodiac View". I encountered more loose rock up here and managed to roll a rock over onto my ankle.
"Zodiac View". Photo: John Kirk
"Libra Spire", "Taurus Spire", "Scorpio Spire", "Gemini Twins" & "Cancer Spire" from "Zodiac View". Photo: John Kirk
"Sagittarius Spire" from "Zodiac View". Photo: John Kirk
Zodiac Spires from "Zodiac View". Photo: John Kirk
"Hail Peak". Photo: John Kirk
We made the long hike out to the trailhead, said our goodbyes to Mike, then stopped briefly to get some cool fluids before heading to the Shrine Ridge Trailhead at Shrine Pass. We followed the Shrine Ridge Trail to just below the summit ridge, then headed directly for the peak. I was surprised to see most of this ridge was corniced this late in the year.
Shrine Mountain. Photo: John Kirk
Wingle Ridge. Photo: John Kirk
Ptarmigan Hill. Photo: John Kirk
Sugarloaf Peak in front of Elk Mountain. Photo: John Kirk
Wingle Ridge summit. Photo: John Kirk
"Hail Peak", "Mount Silverthorne" & "Zodiac View" Map
Wingle Ridge Map