2015-05-03 - Para Point & Thomas Mountain
A late start and some interesting route finding brought us to the trailhead at 10:30. We began to climb and found the trail to Para Point quite steep and to the point. We were graced with ever-improving views of the lakes, the surrounding ridges, and big mountains around.
We reached Para Point without incident and decided it was lunch time. As we ate, we realized we wouldn't be able to head towards Baldy, Dormerie, and Thomas. Deciding to pick just one, we picked the one with the highest elevation - Thomas.
The trail from Para Point to Thomas is in good shape, but is clearly not used too frequently. The saddle brought open forests and led to a mostly-trail jaunt up to Thomas mountain. At a certain point, you have the option of following the trail behind the summit or just heading straight up the ridgeline. We decided to take the ridgeline and were rewarded with great views for the last 1/10th a mile of a minor bushwhack.
We were rewarded with views of the Stuart range, Ellensburg, Cle Elum lake, Rainier, one of the Red mountains, and much of the surrounding cascades.
After a quick snack, we made our way down so we would get out with plenty of light and in time for me to get to an evening appointment.
Sometimes you need to fit the big truck through a small hole. It fit, with about an inch, inch and a half, on each side. Now, does that mean we were on trail? Maybe...
Detail on the distance between the truck and the tree at the narrow spot.
Our trailhead. The old greentrails map we were using said to take road 203 to the trailhead. It turns out that is not the currently blessed way to get to the spot we are looking for. In any event, this added a bit of spiciness to the beginning of our trip. Don't follow us in anything bigger than a full sized pickup. Jeeps more than welcome.
Trillium (Trillium ovatum?)
Chris
This is what appears to be the trail up to the ridge. This is an old trail and there wasn't a great way to cross the creek. Head upstream a few hundred feet to go find a nice bridge.
Nice waterfall feature as you cross the bridge. This was the last of the water we found on the trail and was at the starting elevation. Bring water.
Crossing the bridge.
The lowlands where we parked our car. What you really want to do is take the road north to the big east/west road. Instead, we took the powerline trail off to road 203.
One of the first viewpoints as you steeply climb up the trail.
Chris, after climbing a bit.
More peek-a-boo views of rainier as you get higher and higher. The whole ridge line opens up.
We hit snow at about 4700 feet on the ridgeline between Para Point and Thomas Mountain.
Abstract art created by nature. These were part of a series of interesting depressions made on the surface. They did not appear to follow a particular pattern or fall line. Our theory is that some animal made these as the snow settled on top and they were preserved.
Summit selfie. Thomas Mountain. The summit itself was nothing interesting, but the views were quite nice. Clear views of the Stuart range to the north, Rainier to the South, and Ellensburg to the East.
Slack admiring the Stuart range.
Our lunch spot. We stopped on the way down for some gear maintenance.
Slack has descent socks.
Cool snag on the ridge below Para Point.
